4 Ways You Can Make Your Car’s Paint Job Last Longer
Many people take their car’s paint job for granted, thinking that it’ll stay lively and healthy for as long as they own it. However, if you don’t properly care for your car’s exterior, you’ll find your car’s paint chipping and losing its luster sooner than you hoped. Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent this. Keep your vehicle looking sharper for longer with these tips for maintaining your car’s paint job.
Handwash Regularly
The best way to keep your car’s paint job looking vibrant is to keep it as clean as possible as often as you can. It’s simple and obvious, but the best advice usually is. If you can, wash your car by hand as it’s easier on the paint. Also, avoid using dishwashing detergent since it uses chemicals that can be harmful to your car’s paint.
If you live in a colder climate, road salt during the winter is particularly harmful to your car’s exterior. We don’t expect you to wash your car every time you take it out, but even rinsing the salts off your car’s surface can do wonders. Also, it’s always helpful to prepare your car for driving in the winter with our essential checklist for a winter car emergency kit.
Keep It Waxed and Sealed
Washing your car cleans the dirt off of it, but waxing it protects it from dirt, dust, mud, salt, pollution, and other contaminants for the future. Waxing your car provides it with a protective seal that acts as a shield for your car’s paint job against the various containments that the road throws at it. You should wax your vehicle to give it a new protective coat every couple of months.
Avoid the Damaging Sun
If you live in a warmer climate, you may not have to worry about snow and road salt attacking your car’s paint job, but you have other worries, like the sun. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your car’s paint job by oxidizing the paint and making it fade faster. Keep your vehicle out of the sun by parking in the shade or in a covered parking spot whenever you can.
Buff out Those Scratches
It may seem like a small, harmless scratch on your car, but it’s always best to buff it out immediately. Scratches on your car’s paint job are like holes in its armor, letting in the dirt, dust, mud, and everything else. Keep your car’s paint job healthy and vibrant by buffing out those scratches as soon as you see them.
The road can be punishing on your car’s paint job, so you must help it stay strong and healthy. These simple tips for maintaining your car’s paint job can add years to its life and save you the expense of having to pay for a new paint job. Keep your car’s exterior clean and well-maintained, and stay on the lookout for signs your car needs a new paint job.
