How long after painting can you wash the car?
2 Answers
If the painting is done at a professional shop, you can wash the car immediately after picking it up. Generally, professional shops will apply a protective coating after painting. In winter, it's best to let the paint dry for a week before washing the car. In summer, you can wash the car after two to three days. If the painting is done at a professional shop, you can wash the car immediately after picking it up. Generally, professional shops will apply a protective coating after painting. Typically, when the paint hardness reaches 80%, it's safe to wash the car. Usually, after one day, the paint surface dries to about 80%. If you want to be extra cautious, you can wait an additional two days.
I just had my car door repainted last week, and the technician specifically advised waiting at least a week before exposing it to water. For a full-body respray, you need to be even more cautious—it’s best to wait a full two weeks. The paint may seem dry when it comes out of the booth, but the inner layers take time to fully cure, like chewing gum hardening. My neighbor rushed to wash his car and ended up washing away the fresh paint at the edges, wasting 3,000 yuan. If the dust is unbearable, gently wipe the affected area with a damp cloth—avoid high-pressure washers near fresh paint at all costs. And never use the big rollers at automatic car washes—they’re like sandpaper. If your car gets bombarded by bird droppings under a tree, use a wet wipe soaked in water to dab it off slowly; rubbing hard will leave marks.
