Keeping your car spotless might seem like a pastime for new car owners. However, regularly putting effort into maintaining your car’s paint job helps you retain your car’s beautiful shine and keeps that color looking great. Whether your vehicle is new, or only the paint is, to keep a well maintained paint job to stop your car from having that weathered appearance and keep it looking new.
1. Limit Your Car’s Exposure to the Sun
Parking your car in the sun for long periods of time is the surest and quickest way to fade your car’s paint color. Sunlight and heat can oxidize the paint on your car leaving it looking faded and much older than it may actually be. Opting to park your car beneath trees may be a quick fix, however, you risk your car’s paint getting damaged by sap, insects, leaves, twigs and even branches.
It’s important that you park your car in a shade, preferably under a physical structure like a garage to protect its paint from direct sunlight. Ultraviolet rays not only harm you but also dry out the resin in your car paint causing it to shrink and crack. Protecting your car from the sun will add years to the life of your car’s paint job and keep it looking fresh. Know more about PPF Calgary Experts.
2. Use a Paint Protection Film Wrap
Paint protection film wraps are a smart and effective way to safeguard your car’s paint job. They are transparent and create a barrier that protects your car’s paint from environmental hazards like rock chips, UV rays and minor scratches. Getting the right paint protection film services in Tampa Bay can ensure that you get a well done wrap crafted to fit specific areas such as your car’s bumper, hood, fenders and any other vulnerable parts.
Paint protection films are resistant to chemicals from harsh cleaning agents, corrosive bird droppings and tree sap making it almost like a safe measure for your paint job. Protection wraps also easen your car maintenance because they do not require any special treatment and you can clean your car as you normally do without worrying about the protection film. When applied correctly, paint protection films are nearly invisible and maintain the original look of your car while prolonging your car paint’s lifespan.
3. Remove Dirt and Other Elements Quickly
Leaving dirt and grime on your car’s surface for too long slowly degrades your car’s paint. Dust and dirt can bond with your car’s paint over time and start taking away from its shine. Other elements like bird droppings and bug splatter can react with your paint job leaving color stains that make your car’s color uneven.
Honeydew and tree sap are one of the notorious elements that when paired with sunlight burn into your paint while your car is parked under a tree and can cause irreversible damage on your paint. Making accidental spills like gasoline drips, acidic coffee or soda on your car’s surface can also slowly deteriorate your car’s paint if not cleaned on time. The best way to deal with these harmful substances is to clean them off your car as soon as you notice them to preserve your car’s paint.
4. Wash Your Car Regularly
Regularly cleaning your car’s exterior as part of your weekly routine will maintain your car’s paint. Having a professional do it can even expose you to new cleaning methods such as steaming to get rid of ants in your car. While taking your car to a car wash seems convenient and quick, knowing how to wash your car will help you monitor what cleaning tools and products you use on it.
Some unprofessional car washes may use harsh cleaning chemicals and abrasive brushes that can be damaging to your car’s paint. Start off with a thorough rinse or a pre-wash foam to breakdown and rinse off grime that can scratch your car’s paint during the wash.
5. Rinse Your Car and Dry It After Your Wash
As soon as you’re done washing your car, rinse off the detergent thoroughly to ensure no potential residue from your car’s washing agent sticks to the paint surface. Ensure that you use soft water that lacks minerals that can be harmful to your paint. If you are using a pressure washer, keep your distance when spray rinsing your car because if the water pressure is too high, it may damage your car’s paint.
Properly drying your car with soft towels is vital to maintaining your paint job because water that lingers on the panels of your car can leave permanent water spots when you let your car air dry. At your convenience, you may utilize an electric blower to remove any pockets of water in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies containing pools of water that can cause your car to rust.
6. Use Specially Formulated Car-Washing Products
Household cleaners such as dishwashing soap and other detergents may contain high salt concentrations and strong chemicals that can be harmful to your car’s paint. As much as car paint technology has progressed your car’s paint is still quite delicate and can be easily damaged from using the wrong washing products. Opt to invest in specially formulated car-washing products that are not only gentler on your car’s surface but also potent your paint job.
Practice using a soft natural sponge or cloth to prevent scratching up your car’s paint when cleaning it. Use lateral motions across the panels of your car when scrubbing and spreading the soap to save your car’s paint from circular scratch marks from abrasive scrubbing. If you have a matt painted car, consider washing your car by hand with specialized cleaning and care products for matt paint to maintain your car’s distinctive look.
7. Touch up the Paint and Stay On Top of Scratches
It’s common to get small dings and scratches on your car once in a while. With the current technology you can purchase an appropriate car paint pen to reduce the visibility of scratches on your car’s surface. While paint pens are efficient at hiding scratch marks, it’s vital that you seek a professional’s help who knows how to repair any serious scratches that may cause further damage on your car’s paint.
Taking your car for an auto body service will help assess the severity of the scratches to know the best repair method for your paint. Sometimes, a rubbing compound, sanding or a whole new custom paint job can be the solution to restore your car back to its original look.
Drive Cautiously
Your hard work to protect your vehicle’s paint can be all for naught if you are not careful to maintain it while driving. Driving too closely behind another car can have high speed road debris scrapping up your paint and leaving pockmarks all over your car.
To prevent paint damage from road debris, consider giving yourself a reasonable following distance when trailing behind other vehicles. Additionally, when driving on unpaved surfaces, maintain a low speed to avoid kicking up rocks to keep your paint job at its best.
Endnote
It may sound too simple, however, cleaning really is the key to maintaining the paint on your car. Reducing the amount of time you expose your car to the elements will help you maintain a beautiful paint job for longer. Proper car paint maintenance will not only boost your reputation on the road, but also, add to your car’s resale value when the time comes for you to sell it.
