If it rains on valet day, the job usually still goes ahead. Interior cleaning does not depend on the weather, and the exterior can be washed during light rain because the car is getting wet anyway. What rain affects is the finish: drying and waxing need the paint dry, and heavy or steady rain will spot a freshly dried car straight away. If the forecast shows persistent heavy rain or strong wind, we contact you and agree whether to go ahead with the interior, split the job, or move it to another day. Here is how that decision works.
Which parts of a valet can be done in the rain?
- Interior work: vacuuming, wiping surfaces, vents and glass all carry on, working one door at a time so as little rain as possible gets in.
- Wheels and arches: fine in light rain, because brake dust and road grime come off whether or not it is wet.
- Washing the paint: possible in light showers; rain is not abrasive and the car is being rinsed anyway.
- Drying, glass and wax: the parts that suffer. Wax needs a dry surface to bond and buff off evenly, and exterior glass dried in rain gets spotted again immediately.
For a full rundown of the job, see our car valeting service.
How do we decide whether to go ahead?
We look at the hourly forecast for your postcode the day before and again in the morning. The things that matter are how heavy the rain will be, how long it will last, and the wind. A short shower in an otherwise dry window is easy to work around. Steady rain all day, or gusty wind that blows dirt and leaves onto wet paint, usually is not.
It helps to read the percentages correctly. The Royal Meteorological Society explains that a 30% chance of rain means roughly 30% of forecast simulations suggest it will rain, usually in a given hour at that location. It does not mean rain for 30% of the day or over 30% of the area. Hourly chances are not added together, so four hours at 25% does not make rain certain.
What are your options if heavy rain is forecast?
- Go ahead with everything. Fine if you are happy for a fresh wash to get rained on, for example before a long journey anyway.
- Do the interior now, the exterior later. Popular when the inside is the bigger priority.
- Move the whole appointment to the next dry slot. We work Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and an out-of-hours slot can sometimes be arranged.
- Use shelter. A carport or open-sided garage lets the exterior be finished properly, as long as there is room to work and ventilation is good.
What does rain do to a car that has just been valeted?
The AA notes that letting a car air dry can leave a streaky finish or watermarks, and suggests that after rain you wait until the weather dries up so drip marks and water spots can be removed. Rain on a freshly waxed car is not the disaster it looks like. The fresh wax makes the water bead and run off, and it carries less dirt with it than on unprotected paint. Once the rain stops, the spots can be lifted with a quick detailer and a clean microfibre towel, using light pressure. Our guide to drying a car without scratches shows the safest method.
Does wet weather affect interior cleaning?
It can affect drying time. In cold, damp weather, fabric and carpets dry more slowly, so we keep moisture to a minimum, and steam cleaning helps because it uses heat and relatively little water. After any interior wet work, leave windows slightly open in a secure place, or run the heater with fresh air for a while, so the cabin does not mist. If damp is already a problem, such as wet carpets or a musty smell, we look at steam cleaning or treatment rather than standard cleaning.
How can you prepare if the forecast looks uncertain?
- Leave a phone number where we can reach you that morning.
- Tell us if there is a carport, garage or covered space we can use.
- Decide in advance which matters more to you, the inside or the outside.
- Empty the car anyway, so interior work can start straight away.
For the rest of the preparation list, read how to prepare your car before the valeter arrives.
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