There's more to maintaining your car's paint job than just washing, waxing and polishing. It's not just about watching out for gravel flying off gravel roads or taking care not to anger your exes enough for them to scratch your car; there are plenty of seemingly benign things in your everyday life that may be degrading your paintwork without you giving it a second thought. Read on to find out more.
1. Spilled petrol
Next time you're filling up your tank, you want to ensure there aren't any accidental drips onto your car. 'Topping off' is an especially risky practice, since petrol can overflow onto the car body. If not wiped off immediately, dried petrol or diesel will leave a permanent stain on your body paint. It's important to have an instant detailer product in your car at all times. Use a little of it on a clean microfiber cloth to wipe off the spillage before it dries out.
2. Coffee and soda
Forgetting your morning coffee of soda can on the roof of the car then driving off does more than just ruin your drink. Coffee, soda and other beverages have acidic properties, and they can etch the clear coat of your paintwork. Such spillages should be cleaned off thoroughly and immediately—allowing them to dry not only give more time for damage it also makes the stain much harder to remove later. Your microfiber cloth and instant detailer can come in handy for this.
3. Tree sap
There's a reason that tree sap was used as glue in ancient civilizations. If tree sap gets on your vehicle, however, avoid wiping it off while still wet—this just spreads it around. Allow it to dry, then use mineral spirits or bug and tar remover (available at a car-parts store) and use according to instructions. You can apply clay bar treatment to remove remaining residue. Wax the car once you're through to provide a protective coat.
4. Writing on dirty cars
You've seen the well-meant but mischievous "Wash me" tags printed on dirty cars, but they do more than just embarrass the vehicle's owner. The dirt acts like grit on sandpaper, and dragging it across your paint job can cause permanent scratching. Wipe down your car every day to prevent dirt build-up. If you find your vehicle tagged, polishing or using scratch remover can remove those tiny scratches. Ensure that the car surface is properly clean and dry before polishing and waxing. Of course, keeping your car clean would give taggers no reason to go for your car.
5. Wildfires
If you live in wildfire-prone areas, you may want to think twice before driving anyway near there. Ash from wildfire, when combined with moisture, creates an alkaline solution which degrades your paint-finish. If you can't avoid that road, resist the temptation to turn on your windshield washers, since this gives the ash more water to mix with. Simply drive off and allow the ash to be blown away. Before your next wash when you get where you're going, use a soft, dry cloth to dust off any ashy remnants before pouring water on the car. If you live near a wildfire-prone area, keeping your car covered and frequent waxing can provide additional layers of protection.
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