Maintaining a clean car goes beyond just appearances. Regular care extends its lifespan and helps it preserve value. However, having a washed, vacuumed, and shiny car is especially challenging in certain places because of their climate and other environmental factors. Arizona is one of those places, and this guide will look at the importance of keeping your car clean if you live in the Grand Canyon State.
The Effects of Arizona’s Unique Environment on Vehicles
First, let’s review some of the distinct conditions that make Arizona such a challenging place for vehicle owners:
The Heat: When people think of Arizona, they immediately think about the heat. It’s no wonder that Yuma, Arizona famously holds the record for being the world’s sunniest place! This state is hot, dry, and sunny for large parts of the year, and in summer, it's not uncommon to see average highs over 100°F. The heat and intense sunshine take a toll, causing paintwork to fade, interiors to deteriorate, and delicate car components to wear down faster.
The Sand: Large parts of Arizona are desert at least semi-arid landscapes, with a lot of sand and dust floating about in the air. These little grains of sand wreak havoc on vehicles – especially those that aren’t regularly cleaned and protected. They scratch paint, make a mess on the interior, and infiltrate vehicles in other ways, too.
The Extremes: Over the course of an average year, the weather in Arizona can go from one extreme to the other. You can have back-to-back weeks of nothing but dry, extreme heat and sun. Then, the monsoon season rolls along, bringing increased humidity to the air, as well as storms, strong winds, and loads of rain. Many cars struggle in such intense and changeable conditions.
The Importance of Regular Car Detailing in Arizona
As you can see, Arizona's conditions create something of a natural minefield for vehicles. But regular professional car detailing and thorough cleaning can help you navigate that minefield. Here’s how:
Clearing Away Sand and Dust
Arizona has the unique distinction of being the only state with four different desert regions! It’s hard to understate how dangerous and damaging the Arizona sands can be for a vehicle, both inside and out. They’re not just a simple nuisance – they can wear away at your car’s paintwork, infiltrate vital engine components, and accumulate within the vehicle’s interior, making a real mess.
Sand clogs car filters, too, like the air filter that feeds clean air to the engine or the cabin filter that cleans the air you and your passengers breathe. Cleaning this sand away with a thorough car interior cleaning and exterior washings so important to limit the damage.
Battling Back Against the Heat
Even the most thorough and regular car detailing schedule can’t undo or cancel out the effects of Arizona’s heat. But it can go some way towards protecting your car and minimizing the negative impacts of the state’s blazing sun.
Leading auto detailers, for example, often apply special UV protectants to a car’s exterior. These protectants act as a shield, absorbing some of the sun’s rays and preventing them from damaging the paint. They can also apply waxes and ceramic coatings which protect your vehicle from extremely high temperatures.
Extending Tire Lifespan
Car tires have it hard in Arizona, as they are regularly exposed to blazing hot asphalt. The heat can increase the pressure inside them, which can affect your fuel economy and, even worse, may lead to blowouts. Dirt and dust also tend to build up below the wheel arches and can wear away at tire treads with time.
All of this means that more than 8 million registered vehicles in Arizona need their tires changed more regularly than those in other states. Owners here often have to invest in special heat-resistant tires, too. However, regular cleaning of the entire vehicle, tires included, can help your vehicle last a lot longer.
Preserving the Paintwork
If you’ve spent a lot of time in Arizona or lived there all your life, you may have noticed that so many cars have a faded or washed-out look to them. That’s primarily down to Arizona's harsh weather and desert conditions. The intense sun and sands rapidly cause paint to lose its original luster.
But there are ways to prevent this. Regular cleaning, professional detailing, and the application of protective products will all help your car’s paint stay bright and shiny for longer, maintaining that “new car” look for years.
Improving Visibility
Arizona has many clear and sunny days, so you might assume that visibility isn’t that big of a problem in this part of the world. But actually, the intense sunlight, coupled with the reflective nature of the desert landscape, creates glare that can severely impair a driver's vision.
These issues are compounded if you have a dirty, smudged, or scratched windshield or windows on your vehicle. Keeping those areas clean, therefore, is crucial. With the help of streak-free window cleaning products, drivers will have a much easier time seeing the road and their surroundings.
Maintaining Resale Value
It’s no secret that vehicles tend to depreciate in value quickly. That process tends to be even faster in states like Arizona, where the hot desert climate and conditions often lead to technical faults and degrade a vehicle’s appearance much faster than in other states or regions.
When the time comes to sell your car and switch to a different model, it can be hard to get a good price. However, by looking after your vehicle with the help of auto detailing pros, you should stand a much better chance of keeping the resale value from dropping too much too quickly.
