THE WORKSHOP / Before you wash
Check the temperature, time of day and shade before you reach for the shampoo.
This checks the conditions you enter; it does not fetch live weather.
HOW IT DECIDES
The checker scores the four things that most affect a safe wash in Indian conditions: air temperature, time of day, sun or shade, and season. It starts from a perfect score and takes points off for risk. The biggest deductions are for extreme heat (45°C and above), the 11 am–3 pm window and direct sun on a warm day; smaller ones apply from 32°C upwards and in the late afternoon. "Just after rain" is capped at Proceed with care, because wet roads and splash make a careful wash harder. A score of 70 or more is Suitable, 40–69 is Proceed with care, and below 40 is Better to wait.
The problem isn't comfort — it's drying. On a sun-baked panel, shampoo and rinse water can dry in under 90 seconds. Dried shampoo leaves streaks, and hard tap water leaves mineral spots that can etch into the clear coat if they are left. Air temperature also understates the problem: a dark bonnet in direct sun can be 30°C or more hotter than the air around it.
Summer: wash before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. Monsoon: rain leaves dirt and pollutants behind as it dries, so rinse the car soon after heavy rain and wash it at least weekly. Cooler months: most of the day is fine — which is also why October to February is the best time for correction and coating work.
The checker uses the conditions you enter; it doesn't fetch live weather. Read next: the two-bucket wash method, detailing in Indian summer heat and removing water spots.
