How Long After Car Painting Can You Wash the Car?
2 Answers
Generally, after standard painting procedures, the paint surface can be touched after 2 hours, and the hardness of the paint surface reaches 80% after 24 hours, at which point the car can be washed. The functions of car paint are as follows: 1. Protective role: 90% of a car's main material is steel. Without the protection of a paint coating, the car's lifespan would be significantly reduced. Painting protects the car from corrosion. 2. Decorative role: Applying various bright-colored paints to the car's surface makes the vehicle appear beautiful, lively, and pleasant, giving a sense of beauty. It also highlights the vehicle's personality, and a full paint film can enhance the car's grade. 3. Identification role: The color of car paint can distinguish the type and function of the vehicle. For example, postal vehicles are green, ambulances are generally white, and fire trucks are red.
I recommend not washing the car immediately after painting, wait at least a week. Fresh paint is like newly applied cement—the surface may be dry, but it takes time to fully cure inside. Washing too soon with high-pressure water can force moisture into the paint layers, leading to bubbling over time, and even cracking under sunlight. As a repair shop owner, I often see customers washing within three days, only to face bubbling paint that requires rework—wasting both money and time. Especially in rainy seasons with high humidity, curing is slower; waiting 10+ days is ideal. Of course, paint baked in a booth can shorten this to three days due to accelerated curing from high heat. Remember, if the car gets dirty, gently wipe with a damp cloth—never scrub harshly with chemical cleaners.
