Kids should wash the car for a soap-er Father’s Day

Report this content

Research reveals dads want their cars washed just as much as a material gift

  • Research from Halfords shows dads would prefer to wash car with kids than watch sport
  • Riding a bike and playing sport together topped poll
  • Four out of 10 dads want their car washed this Father’s Day

WITH World Cup fever currently spreading across the nation, new research from Halfords reveals parents rate washing the family car with the kids as a better bonding experience (34%) than watching sport together (31%).

The poll of 2,000 UK adults ahead of Father’s Day also shows that dads across the country would like to wake up to a squeaky clean car as much as they would a traditional gift, showing families still want to make time to spend together.

More than a third (34%) of parents confessed their kids hadn’t rolled their sleeves up to wash the car during the last seven months or more, 15% hadn’t during the last two years and a further third (33%) had NEVER had the family car washed by their kids – in spite of the fact nearly half (48%) would trust their children to clean up.

To persuade the kids to complete the chore, 12% would pay £10 or more, while a quarter (24%) wouldn’t part with their money at all to get this household job done.  

The top bonding moments for parents and kids included;

  • Riding a bike (52%)
  • Playing sport together (43%)
  • Washing family car (34%)
  • Watching sport (31%)
  • Playing video games (22%)

Halfords car washing expert, David Howells said “This research shows dads love having a clean and shiny car in the driveway, but even we were surprised to see dads would rather wash the car with the kids than watch sport like the World Cup together – showing spending time doing traditional bonding activities is still popular this Father’s Day.

“So during this weekend’s heat wave, if you are one of the third of Brits who has never washed their parent’s car, roll your sleeves up and get scrubbing!”

Halfords top car washing tips include:

  • Start at the top of the vehicle and work your way down
  • Make sure all the windows are closed
  • Don’t wash your car when the bodywork is hot – it will mean cleaning products could dry too quickly and leave marks
  • When you’ve finished the exterior, rub dry in small circles to avoid streaking
  • Don’t forget the interior – start by vacuuming to remove any dust so you’re not just moving dirt around

-ENDS-

For further information please contact Halfords@z-pr.com or 020 7896 3404

The Halfords Group is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, leisure and cycling products and through Halfords Autocentres also one of the UK's leading independent car servicing and repair operator.

Halfords customers shop at 467 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from around 290 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices. Halfords employs approximately 12,000 colleagues and sells around 10,000 product lines in stores, increasing to around 30,000 lines online. The product offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment.

Halfords own brands include Apollo and Carrera cycles, augmented by exclusive UK distribution rights for the premium-ranged Boardman cycles and accessories. In outdoor leisure, we sell a premium range of camping equipment including brands such as Outwell. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called "wefit" for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a "werepair" service for cycles.

Tags:

Quotes

“This research shows dads love having a clean and shiny car in the driveway, but even we were surprised to see dads would rather wash the car with the kids than watch sport like the World Cup together – showing spending time doing traditional bonding activities is still popular this Father’s Day. “So during this weekend’s heat wave, if you are one of the third of Brits who has never washed their parent’s car, roll your sleeves up and get scrubbing!”
David Howells, Car Washing Expert