The car’s paint has a tough job to do. Sure, constantly looking sleek and shiny is one of them but imagine doing that while also being constantly bombarded by the elements, such as the sun, rain, dust, etc. What’s worse is when the car owner doesn’t regularly maintain the car’s paint job properly and only pays attention to it whenever they want to change the paint job entirely.
And not only that, nowadays, car owners tend to keep their cars longer now, more than ten years. This is because cars nowadays are safer and more reliable. And the longer the car is in use, the more it is subject to damage and deterioration, including the car’s paint job.
Of course, no one wants to go on a road in a car that has seen better days; instead, everyone wants to roll around in a car that looks like it just got out of the dealership. That said, how exactly can you maintain your car’s paint job? Here are some tips.
Wash and Dry Regularly
Washing your car regularly, at least once a week if you’re using it every workday, is simple. By doing this, you can reduce the harmful effects of UV rays and remove all the grime and dirt accumulating on your car, damaging its exterior finish.
Okay, that sounds good on paper. But unfortunately, not many car owners understand the importance of regularly cleaning their cars after using them. If you’re one of those people and want to start thoroughly cleaning your car regularly, here’s what you need to do:
- Choose a shady place to wash your car. It would be best if you avoid direct sunlight.
- Get a wet soft cloth or water sprayer and wash down all the dirt and grime on the exterior.
- Next, give your car a thorough wash with an automotive cleaner with a clean cloth, or you can also spray it down. Use the proper cleaner as dishwashing soap since detergents can damage the paint job.
- Remove hard mud and bird droppings gently. You can use automotive cleansers and clays for this.
- Rinse it off with water to remove all the chemicals.
- Dry it off with a clean rug. Make sure to do this thoroughly.
Polish with Wax
Waxing your car regularly doesn’t only maintain its clear coating and keeps it looking brand new, but it also acts as a protective layer for your car’s paint job against UV rays, bird droppings, mud, etc. It also reduces the drag force of your car, increasing its efficiency. Car waxes come in many forms, such as liquid formulations and solid paste. In addition, most products contain both natural wax and synthetic chemicals.
Some products in the market focus on keeping your car’s luster and giving your car a great finish, while other products focus on keeping it protected from the elements and giving your car a great polish. Many car owners like waxing their cars because it protects their cars, but most waxes in the market only provide basic protection and don’t even last that long.
Typically, waxes need to be reapplied every six weeks. Also, if you’re not careful in applying the wax, it can trap dirt and other debris beneath it, keep it trapped for a long time, and damage your car’s paint job when left unattended.
Use a Car Cover
When parking our cars, most of the time we can’t choose where we park them, especially if you’re in a place where it’s crowded. Because of this, sometimes we have no choice but to leave our cars out in the open and at the sun’s mercy. This can be damaging, especially in areas with harsh sunlight and temperature. For example, if you live in Australia and opt for a car wrapping Newcastle, you must remember that prolonged exposure to the sun can damage our cars’ paint.
That said, to avoid it being damaged by the sun, why not try using a car cover? With this, you can protect your car from the elements set out to destroy its great finish and paint job with a car cover.
Even if you have a garage in your house, you can still use the car cover to protect it from dust and insects. Also, if you’re prone to leaving your car unused for a long time, you can use the car cover to avoid the dust from settling on it, which can also damage your car’s exterior finish.
Final Words
Maintaining a car can be a tough job, but it’s necessary if you want to keep it looking sleek and beautiful. If you want to maintain the exterior of your car, following the points above should be the basic things you should do regularly. Or you can visit a car wash shop to have it cleaned regularly.
