01/09/2023
During periods of national lockdown and heightened restrictions, such as those experienced under the Tier system across the UK, many aspects of daily life that we once took for granted become subject to strict rules. Among these, the seemingly simple act of washing your car has emerged as a point of confusion and debate for countless motorists. With non-essential travel forbidden and many usual car services, including car washes, temporarily closed, drivers have been left pondering whether maintaining their vehicle's cleanliness is permissible, whether for upkeep or merely to pass the time. This guide aims to clarify the guidelines, ensuring you stay compliant while keeping your vehicle in appropriate condition.
The Core Question: To Wash or Not to Wash?
The fundamental principle underpinning the UK government’s instructions during lockdown periods is to "stay at home" and "only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)". This clear directive suggests that engaging in leisure activities, such as spending an hour or two meticulously polishing your car, does not fall within the permitted reasons for leaving your home or for extended outdoor activity. The spirit of the rules is to minimise movement and social interaction to curb the spread of the virus.
This interpretation was echoed by medical professionals when the issue gained public attention. Dr. Hilary Jones, speaking on Good Morning Britain, explicitly advised against non-essential car cleaning. When pressed by presenter Piers Morgan about washing a vehicle like an Aston Martin on the street, Dr. Jones emphasised that car washing is generally considered non-essential. However, he did make a crucial distinction: the only exception for cleaning your vehicle is for safety reasons. This means ensuring you have a clear view through your windscreen, side windows, and rear window, and that your lights are visible and clean. For those undertaking essential journeys – such as key workers commuting or individuals making necessary trips for food or medical appointments – maintaining visibility is paramount for road safety. Beyond this, a full, cosmetic wash, wax, and detailing session is definitively deemed unnecessary and therefore discouraged during strict lockdown measures.
Furthermore, beyond mere visibility, there’s a critical hygiene aspect to consider, especially if your car is being used for essential travel. Keeping common touch points inside and outside your vehicle germ-free is vital for preventing the transmission of viruses. While this doesn't necessitate a full wash, it certainly encourages regular cleaning of surfaces like door handles, the steering wheel, gear stick, and any infotainment controls.
The government's approach to various services, including car washes, has been tiered, with different rules applying based on the level of restrictions in a given area. Tier 4, representing the toughest level of lockdown, saw significant closures across many sectors. Understanding which car wash services could operate under these stringent rules became a key concern for many.
Automatic Car Washes in Tier 4
Under Tier 4 restrictions, automatic car washes were explicitly permitted to remain open. This decision was a strategic one, primarily because these facilities typically require no staff interaction with customers. Many automatic car washes are conveniently located at petrol stations, which themselves are classified as essential services and therefore allowed to operate. The Car Wash Association (CWA) actively lobbied for this classification, arguing that automatic car washes contribute to motorist safety by enabling clean windscreens and also help safeguard jobs within the industry. The CWA highlighted that these operations pose minimal risk of virus transmission due to the lack of direct human contact.
Manual/Hand Car Washes in Tier 4
In stark contrast, manual or hand car washes were required to close in Tier 4 areas. The primary reason for this closure was the inherent risk of virus transmission associated with the close contact between staff and customers, as well as among staff members. Concerns included the practicality of maintaining social distancing, the availability and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the prevalence of cash payments, which could facilitate germ transfer. The government and industry bodies agreed that the operational model of hand car washes presented a higher public health risk, making their closure a necessary measure to protect workers and the wider community.
Car Washes in Tiers 1, 2, and 3
For areas under Tiers 1, 2, and 3, the rules concerning car washes were generally less restrictive. While the government's official guidance did not always specifically detail car washes in these tiers, the general understanding was that manual car washes could operate, provided they strictly adhered to COVID-secure guidelines. This meant implementing measures such as social distancing, enhanced hygiene protocols, and potentially contactless payment options. Automatic car washes, being lower risk, were also permitted to remain open in these tiers without specific additional caveats.
Other essential vehicle-related services that remained operational across all tiers, including Tier 4, included petrol stations, vehicle repair garages, MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi services, and vehicle hire businesses. This ensured that essential travel and the maintenance of vehicles crucial for key workers and necessary journeys could continue.
Understanding the Logic Behind the Rules
The differentiated rules for car washes reflect a broader strategy designed to balance public health protection with the continuation of essential services. The core principles guiding these decisions include:
- Minimising Contact: Reducing opportunities for people to interact, both in person and through shared surfaces, is key to slowing virus transmission. Automatic car washes excel here, as they are largely self-service.
- Supporting Essential Travel: Ensuring vehicles used for critical purposes (commuting for key workers, delivering goods, emergency services) remain roadworthy and safe, which includes maintaining clear visibility.
- Protecting Workers: Manual car washes involve close proximity and physical interaction, posing a higher risk to employees. The decision to close them aimed to safeguard these workers.
- Discouraging Non-Essential Activities: The overarching goal of lockdown is to keep people at home. Activities that are purely cosmetic or leisure-based, like a full car valet, detract from this goal.
Practical Advice for Essential Car Cleaning at Home
If you find yourself needing to clean your car during a period of strict restrictions, focus on what is essential. Here’s how to do it safely and efficiently:
- Prioritise Visibility: Use a window cleaner and a microfibre cloth to thoroughly clean your windscreen, rear window, and side mirrors. Ensure your headlights and taillights are clear of dirt and grime. This is crucial for safety, especially during adverse weather conditions or reduced visibility.
- Clean High-Touch Surfaces: For hygiene, regularly wipe down interior surfaces that you frequently touch. This includes the steering wheel, gear stick, indicator stalks, door handles (inside and out), infotainment screen, seatbelt buckles, and dashboard buttons. Use an appropriate automotive interior cleaner or a disinfectant wipe that is safe for your car's materials.
- Be Quick and Efficient: If you are cleaning your car at home, do so quickly and efficiently. Avoid prolonged, leisurely sessions that could be interpreted as non-essential outdoor activity. The aim is maintenance for safety and hygiene, not a full detailing project.
- Use Your Own Equipment: If using a hose or buckets, ensure you are doing so on your own property and not creating a public nuisance or violating any local water restrictions.
Comparative Table: Car Wash Operations by Tier
| Car Wash Type | Tier 4 Status | Tiers 1, 2, 3 Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Car Wash | Open | Open | Minimal human interaction, often located at essential petrol stations, deemed low risk for virus transmission. Supports vehicle safety (visibility). |
| Manual/Hand Car Wash | Closed | Generally Open (with COVID-secure guidelines) | High risk of close contact between staff and customers, challenges with social distancing and PPE, potential for cash handling transmission. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I use a jet wash at home during lockdown?
A: If the jet wash is on your private property and you are using it to clean essential areas for safety (like windows and lights), or to maintain basic cleanliness for essential travel, it is generally acceptable. However, avoid extended, non-essential cleaning sessions that might breach the spirit of stay-at-home orders.
Q: What are "essential touch points" to clean inside my car?
A: These are surfaces you frequently come into contact with: steering wheel, gear stick, indicator/wiper stalks, door handles (interior and exterior), seatbelt buckles, infotainment screens, radio controls, and window switches. Cleaning these regularly helps maintain hygiene.
Q: Why are automatic car washes considered safer than manual ones during a pandemic?
A: Automatic car washes are safer because they are largely self-service, eliminating the need for direct human interaction between staff and customers. Manual washes, conversely, involve close contact, making social distancing difficult and increasing the risk of virus transmission.
Q: My car is really dirty from essential work travel. What should I do?
A: You should prioritise cleaning the glass areas (windscreen, windows, mirrors) and lights to ensure clear visibility for safety. You can also clean high-touch interior surfaces for hygiene. A full cosmetic wash should be deferred until restrictions ease or until you can use an open automatic car wash.
Q: Is it okay for key workers to wash their cars?
A: Key workers who rely on their cars for essential travel are encouraged to ensure their vehicles are safe to drive, which includes having clear visibility. They should also focus on keeping their vehicle's interior germ-free. A full, non-essential wash should still be avoided if it means spending excessive time outside or using services that are closed.
Conclusion
Navigating vehicle maintenance during periods of strict government restrictions requires a clear understanding of what constitutes essential activity. While the urge to keep your car pristine might be strong, especially when you have more time at home, the overriding directive during lockdowns has been to limit non-essential movement and interaction. Prioritise safety by ensuring clear visibility and maintain interior hygiene for health reasons. For anything beyond this, it’s best to adhere to the guidelines and wait until restrictions ease or until you can safely use an open automatic car wash. Staying informed and compliant helps protect not only yourself but the wider community.
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