If you’re a teen who’s experiencing the joys of the open road for the first time, it’s likely you’ve discovered that your newfound freedom comes with a lot of responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is keeping your car clean. While it might seem like a waste of time, there are actually very good reasons to keep your car clean that can save you time, money, and sanity.

It Keeps You Clean

How many times have you been squeezing between cars in a parking lot, only to brush up against the exterior of a car and get your clothes dirty? If you want to ensure that happens as infrequently as possible, it’s important to keep your car clean. Whether its road salt, mud, dust, or general grime, it can all wipe off and make your clean clothes look more like a dust bowl. If you live in a cold-weather climate and need to rinse the salt off, you can utilize a car wash like Quick Quack Car Wash so you can get your car clean without having to drag the hose out at home.

It Protects Your Car

Dirt of all kinds can cause unnecessary wear and tear to your car. That’s why it’s important to remove these contaminants as quickly as possible, to ensure your car lasts for a long time. Pay special attention to the front of the vehicle and the areas around the tires, as these are the areas that are exposed to the highest levels of road contaminants. Additionally, take the time to properly clean your tires to help extend their service life.

It Gives You a Better Car

No matter what kind of car you drive, you can still make it look pretty decent if you take the time to give it a deep cleaning. With properly vacuumed floors, a washed and waxed exterior, and a little wet shine on the tires, you can rock your vehicle, even if it’s not the latest and greatest. If, on the other hand, you don’t take any time to keep your vehicle clean, it will end up looking even older than it actually is, taking away any pride you might have been able to have in it.

It Helps You Find Stuff

If you’re driving your car to school, a big risk you might encounter is losing your papers when you’re in a rush to get in and out. If you keep your car clean (specifically your interior), however, even if papers get mixed up or thrown all over, they’ll be easy to find, even when you’re running late. In addition to school papers, a clean car will help you find tools you need, such as ice scrapers, sun shields, and other important equipment to ensure you always get the most out of your vehicle.

It Takes Responsibility

Keeping your car clean is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate to your parents that you’re taking seriously the responsibility of driving. Anyone can drive a car from point a to point B, but to do so responsibly instills confidence in your driving skills that may even cause your parents to open up other privileges to you. While other demonstrations of responsibility, like no tickets or accidents, are sometimes out of your control, you can always control how clean your car is, so take the time to keep it that way.