How To Keep a Clean Family Car

Doing everyday chores are the best way to have a fun time with your kids while teaching them how simple tasks can make a big difference. From cleaning their rooms to tossing out the trash, I got my kids involved in basic household upkeep from an early age, making basic maintenance feel natural and automatic for them. You can prep your kids for their teen years and even adulthood by letting them “help” in small ways with adult jobs, such as fixing things, balancing the budget, and more. Start small with a project all kids love—washing the car! Here’s how to keep a clean family car and to make it a fun family project.

Explain That It’s Not Just About Making the Car Pretty

In case y’all didn’t realize it, washing your vehicle is about more than making it sparkly. A clean car looks better, runs better, and retains value. As you work on it, let them know how much of an investment a car is. When you wash and wax the body, clean off the wheels and polish up the cabin together, you’re working toward protecting and preserving the car so that it drives more efficiently, lasts longer, and serves your family better.

I think cleaning it up helps them feel more invested in keeping it clean when I’m driving them to practice, school, lessons, or a restaurant. A trip to a drive-through car wash might be easier and more fun, but participation teaches a better lesson.

To Each Age a Different Job

So, it’s time to wash the car together, but who can do which job? Obviously, y’all need to take the supervisory role, but make it a participative one. When your kids see you taking an interest and doing a good job, they’re more likely to imitate you.

I break up duties by age. Teenagers can do almost any job but still need me to explain the specifics of detailing, the proper use of cleaners to wipe down the dash and seats, applying wax, vacuuming the cabin, cleaning the engine bay, and—if I’m feeling thorough—removing the tires to get inside the wheel wells.

I find little kids are better at simple stuff such as rinsing the car with the garden hose before and after cleaning, mixing up solution, and cleaning the knee-high portions of the car with soapy sponges. I always explain why they’re doing what they’re doing and how to do it properly.

Take the Time To Teach

Someday, I tell myself, they’ll be driving themselves. While that makes me a little nervous, I also realize it’s going to happen, and it’s best if I make sure they have a head full of car knowledge before that day arrives. Washing the car together lets me explain how a car works and how to take care of them, too. Basically, what I’m saying is, if y’all want to know how to keep a clean family car, make it a group effort early on!