Does Rain Make a Car Dirtier? 4 Reasons to Wash After Rain

It might seem like rain would clean your car, but you could be surprised that it can actually make it look worse. It’s best not to wait until the rainy season, especially since mud and other debris can ruin the car’s paint if they dry for too long. So, will the rain wash away the dirt or will your car look worse after the storm passes?

Rain makes a car dirtier because it contains all sorts of debris, including pollen, dust, and chemicals. The rain will spread mud and debris that’s settled on your car, making the dirtiness much more noticeable. It’s best to wash your car after it rains to keep the paint in good condition.

Throughout this article, we’ll break down why rain makes a car look and feel dirtier, what you can do about it, and whether or not the rainwater is cleaning the paint as it falls on the car. We’ll also talk about what rainwater does to car wax and why it’s important to regularly clean the vehicle after it rains.

Why Does Rain Make a Car Look Dirty?

Rain makes a car look dirty because it spread the debris all over the paint rather than washing it away. It’d take a very powerful rainstorm to wash away all of the dirt on a vehicle, especially if the dirt dried before the rain. Another reason rain makes cars look dirty is that it can hold chemicals from oil spills.

Here’s why rain makes your car look and feel dirtier than before:

• Rain contains all sorts of pollutants that can make your car much dirtier. When the water evaporated from dirty puddles, oil-covered pavement, and other places, it brings some of the contaminents with it. This debris falls on your car, making it dirty.
• Rainwater carries debris from the air onto your car, which could include pollen, dust, and dirt. According to Island Detail and Color, rain water is much dirtier because it collects all sorts of additives on the way to your car. When the water dries, the debris is left behind.
• Rain can make your car rusty, much like a rusting grill, tools, rims, and other metal surfaces. Failure to scrub the rust away can corrode the vehicle and make it look much worse over the course of a few months or years.
• The water will spread dirt all over your vehicle if it’s messy. Whether there’s ash, mud, pollen, or other debris on the car’s surface, a little bit of rain will smear it all over your vehicle. Unfortunately, it only takes one rainy day to make your car look a lot worse.

For these reasons, it’s wise to clean your vehicle when the rain passes. If you’re looking for further instructions, try a couple of the tips from the next guide.

Should I Wipe My Car After It Rains?

You should wipe your car after it rains to remove the excess calcium, dirt, acidity, and chemicals found in rainwater. These additives can damage your car’s paint, so it’s important to wash your vehicle right after it rains to stop them from settling on its surface. You can use a chamois to wipe the paint when it’s wet.

Try these tips to clean your car after it rains:

1. Use a chamois to wipe the rain off of your car’s windows, rims, and paint. Review my article about drying a car with a chamois to learn the proper motions and techniques. I’ve used a chamois to dry my car for a while, and there’s no way I’ll go back to regular towels or microfiber cloths any time soon!
2. Consider using a Magic Eraser to clean the windows and mirrors. Magic Erasers work wonders on glass and many types of metal, making them an excellent option for quick cleaning and drying. However, make sure you don’t get the erasers that are infused with dish soap or you’ll make a sudsy mess.
3. For the best results, wash the car with soap and water every time it rains. Although it might be tedious and repetitive, washing your car after it rains is essential to preserve the paint. We’ve discussed numerous issues associated with rainwater drying on car paint, so it’s important to wash it away with car soap and hose water.

Wiping your car after it rains is a step in the right direction. If you live in an area where it rains every other day, you might not have the time to wash it that frequently. However, using a chamois or Magic Eraser on the windows, rims, tires, and mirrors can make a big difference.

Will Rain Clean Your Car?

Rain won’t clean your car because it doesn’t have enough pressure to remove the excess dirt, pollen, and dust. If there’s not a lot of debris on your car, it might look a bit cleaner after the rain passes. However, the dirty appearance will return once the water dries and the dirt dries again.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection explains that rainwater often contains motor oil and phosphates from the ground that pour into lakes, rivers, and, yes, your driveway. If your car is parked outside, these contaminants will do the opposite of cleaning your car.

Some people believe rain cleans their cars because the paint looks a little shinier when it’s wet. However, the appearance quickly goes away, as mentioned above. Your car’s paint will dry and eventually chip if you don’t wash it after each rainstorm.

It’s best to not rely on rain to clean your car. Instead, park your vehicle in a garage or under a car cover. Better yet, use the Kayme 6-Layer Car Cover to protect your vehicle’s paint every time it rains. This durable, multi-layer cover comes in multiple sizes to fit almost any vehicle. You won’t have to wash your car after each rainstorm with it.

Using a car cover also prevents pollen, dust, and other debris from settling on the car. If you drive when it’s raining, you won’t have to worry about these pollutants drying or spreading from the rainwater.

The same rules apply for using luggage in the rain, parking a motorcycle outside, or leaving a bicycle out in the storm. Protect your belongings with covers to stop the rain from leaving debris on them if possible.

Does Rain Wash Off Car Wax?

Rain doesn’t wash off car wax, especially if you use rain-resistant wax. Many companies produce car wax to shine and polish the paint, but also because it lets rainwater flow off the paint without drying on the car. Regularly waxing your car will drastically lower the chances of rain damaging your vehicle’s paint.

There’s not enough pressure for the rain to wash away the wax. In fact, it’ll more than likely bounce off the car and fall to the ground. Nevertheless, it doesn’t clean the paint or wash away the debris.

Another way to protect your car from the rain is to use Rain-X Spot-Free Car Wash. This concentrated solution cleans your car like most other formulas, but it prevents the water from settling on the surface. Instead, it’ll pour down the sides and off the vehicle, stopping debris from spreading or drying.

Being completely transparent, car covers are vastly superior to most waxes and washes when it comes to keeping the rain off the vehicle. If your goal is to maintain a clean car, you shouldn’t rely on the rain; It’ll make things worse, leaving you with a bigger mess to clean up.

Wrapping It Up

Waiting for the rain to wash your car’s troubles away is a bad idea. You’ll end up with a dirty car and damaged paint. Instead, clean your car every couple of weeks, ensuring debris doesn’t settle on the vehicle for too long. Wash your car after it rains to prevent calcification, acidic corrosion, and other paint problems.