Automotive Bad Habits to Leave in 2025 (And What to Do Instead)
As we roll into 2026, most people are setting goals around fitness, finances, and maybe finally sorting their diet out. But if you’re the type of person who actually names your car, or looks back at it every time you walk away, then it makes sense to give your vehicle a fresh start too.
So today’s blog isn’t about selling you paint protection, paint correction or ceramic coatings. It’s just a fun but honest look at the automotive bad habits we’re all guilty of, and how to leave them behind for good.
Whether you drive a hot hatch you love, a daily runner, a weekend performance car, or something you only take out when the sun’s shining… let’s do better in 2026.
1. The £7 Drive-Through Wash (AKA “Swirl Factory”)
We’ve all done it. It’s freezing, you’re busy, and that glowing “HAND CAR WASH” sign is calling. But here’s the truth:
Most of these washes reuse the same mitts on dozens of cars.
Grit trapped inside those cloths acts like sandpaper.
High-pressure jets can force dirt deeper into scratches.
Then they dry it with a towel that’s seen better days.
What to do instead:
If you can’t do a proper wash at home, look for a reputable safe wash detailer or use a contactless wash (snow foam + rinse only). It takes slightly longer- but your paint will thank you.
2. Wiping Dust Off Dry Paint With Your Hand or Sleeve
This one hurts to admit, especially after you’ve just cleaned it. But brushing dust off dry paint is one of the quickest ways to inflict micro-scratches and swirl marks.
You wouldn’t scrape sand off glass with your palm… so don’t do it to your car.
What to do instead:
Use a clean microfibre with lubricant or quick detailer.
Or just leave it and clean it properly later. Ignore it like that unread email.
3. Using One Cloth for Everything
The wheel bucket towel… used to wipe your bonnet?
The "interior cloth" that ends up on the exhaust tips?
The trusty “rag” that’s lived in your boot since 2019?
This is not character building. This is paint damage waiting to happen.
What to do instead:
Have separate cloths for:
Wheels & arches (dirtiest areas)
Lower panels
Upper paintwork
Glass
Interior
Even better if they’re colour-coded. And yes, your car is worth that level of effort.
4. Washing Once Every 3 Months and Calling It “Low Maintenance”
If you treat cleaning your car like a quarterly tax return, it’s probably already too late. Dirt hardens, contaminates, and becomes abrasive.
Modern cars are designed to be cleaned little and often. A quick maintenance wash regularly is safer than a full battle cleanup after months of neglect.
What to do instead:
Light wash every 2–3 weeks during colder months.
Dry it properly (with a blower or towel).
Save the deep clean for spring.
5. Leaving Road Salt to “Wash Off When It Rains”
Salt is not a flavouring for paintwork. It’s corrosive and eats metal and lacquer, especially on lower panels and under arches.
What to do instead:
After every few winter drives, rinse under arches and along sills. Doesn’t have to be a full clean - just get the salt off.
6. Ignoring Light Scratches Because “It’s Only Cosmetic”
Those light swirl marks? They dull the overall finish and make the paint appear flat. Even if they don’t bother you now, they will when the car is really clean, or the sun hits it.
It’s easier to fix them early than after years of compounded damage.
What to do instead:
When the car starts to look dull, consider a light correction or even just a gloss enhancement polish. You don’t have to go heavy - just revive it before it’s too late.
7. Washing in Direct Sunlight (And Watching Water Spots Appear)
It feels efficient. “It’ll dry faster.” Yes - and bake water minerals into the paint and glass before you’ve even got to the drying towel.
What to do instead:
Clean in shade or cooler hours.
Use filtered water if you can.
Dry immediately after rinsing.
8. Waiting Until Spring to “Deal With the Paintwork”
A huge one.
Winter is when your paintwork is getting battered by grit, frost, wash damage and contaminants. Spring cleaning is great - but winter preventative maintenance is better.
Even if you don’t go for a full detail, just focus on keeping the exterior as clean and contaminant-free as possible.
9. Only Caring About Looks When You’re Going to a Show or Taking Photos
It might not be show season now, but daily wear and tear impacts the long-term finish. Treating it well all year round means you don’t need a huge rescue job when summer hits.
What to do instead:
Minimal consistent effort > occasional grand gesture.
10. Believing “It Was Fine Last Year” Is Still Fine Now
Just like your gym membership intentions, things change. Cars age, products advance, and your 2026 mindset should embrace better habits.
You don’t need to obsess. Just avoid the worst ones.
Final Thought: 2025 Was for Convenience. 2026 Is for Care.
Improving how you look after your car doesn’t require more time - it just requires doing things the right way, not the fast way. Think of it like swerving speed bumps rather than bouncing over them.
Even if you implement just two or three of these improvements next year, your car will look noticeably better in summer 2026 than it did in summer 2025.
Ready to Give Your Car a Fresh Start?
No big pitch here - just a gentle nudge.
Pick one habit from this list and change it next wash.
That’s where caring for your pride and joy properly begins.
Want advice on safe wash setups, winter storage tips, or how to revive dull paint before show season? Drop us a message - we love talking cars.
Here’s to a better-looking, better-cared-for vehicle in 2026.