People often take it for granted that the paint on their car or truck will continue to look great without any intervention, especially if the vehicle is newer. However, paint will fade over time unless you take some steps to protect it. Scratches can also jeopardize the car’s appearance, and environmental factors can cause the paintjob to begin looking splotchy.
Luckily, taking care of your car’s exterior does not take a lot of time and will help ensure that it continues to look great even decades down the line. With some regular upkeep, you can also avoid costly touch-ups and the need to completely repaint the vehicle.
Some tips to keep in mind when it comes to caring for your car’s paint include:
Keep the vehicle clean.
One of the central tenets of keeping your car’s paint looking fresh is washing the vehicle regularly. Beyond regular washing, it is important to remove corrosive materials from the finish whenever you notice them. A common corrosive substance is bird excrement, which can actually eat into clearcoat and cause permanent blemishes. Additionally, in the spring you may notice a sticky substance on your vehicle if you park under certain trees. This substance can also burn into the paint if left in direct sunlight. This kind of damage is irreversible and will require professional intervention. Insect remains can also damage paint. Luckily, auto stores sell special cleaners for removing insect remains with a simple wipe.
Choose the right car wash.
To keep your car’s paint fresh, wash it weekly. Doing this by hand can quickly eat up your time, so you may want to choose a drive-through car wash. If you’re interested in conserving water, know that going to a commercial car wash typically uses less water than washing your car at home. Commercial car washes also have systems for catching the dirty water running off your car, which may contain oil, soot, and other pollutants. Washing your car on your driveway can send these pollutants down the storm drain and into local creeks and waterways.
If you opt for a drive-through car wash, keep in mind that some use brushes while others use cloth. Neither is better than the other, but both can trap sand and dirt so that they act almost like sandpaper. You should choose a car wash that is well maintained. Do a little research instead of going to the cheapest option, as you may end up causing more damage to your vehicle in the long run.
Wax the vehicle regularly.
Wax seals the topcoat on the car’s paint and helps protect it from the elements. The ideal time to apply wax is immediately after a wash, but you don’t need to wax after every wash. There’s no universally recommended schedule for waxing your vehicle. As a general rule of thumb, pay attention to how rainwater drips from the vehicle. If the water forms beads and runs off normally, no wax is necessary. However, if the water pools and streams down, consider applying wax. If you keep your car in a garage, you will not need to wax it as often as you will if it sits outside. Waxing your vehicle just before winter is a good idea to help protect the paint from the worst of the rain, snow, and ice.
Choose the right washing implements.
It’s not always possible to take your vehicle to the car wash, so it’s a good idea to buy the right tools to wash it at home. Purchase a mild soap with a relatively low pH value. Sponges, cloths, and brushes should be soft and clean. If you wish, you can use a pressure washer, but keep your distance to avoid damaging the paint. If the sprayed water hurts your hand, it will likely damage the car. Use two buckets when you wash your vehicle: one with soap and one with just water. Rinse the washing tool regularly in the water to avoid spreading debris that can damage the surface.
Polish the vehicle when necessary.
A great way to refresh the paint on your vehicle is by applying polish. A good polish contains micro-fine abrasive material that helps clean the paint surface without damaging it. Polish both freshens paint and helps protect it from the elements. As with waxing, there’s no rule for how often you should polish your vehicle. In general, if you notice that your car does not shine like it used to, even after fresh wax, it could be time to apply polish. In addition, if you notice tiny scratches in the paint, polish is a great way to remove them. Be careful not to polish your vehicle too often, because the process actually removes a bit of paint. This can reduce the overall lifespan of the paintjob.
Avoid the sun as much as possible.
Think of the sun as the enemy of your vehicle’s paint. Ultraviolet rays will damage the paint and cause it to fade and oxidize. With persistent direct sunlight, your car will age very quickly. Keeping your car out of the sun can be difficult if you don’t have a garage or carport. Try to park in the shade as much as possible, or consider purchasing a car cover with UV protection.