Give Longer Life to Your Auto Paint with These Steps
Posted on: 14 September 2016
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When you see an older vehicle that still looks pristine, one of the astonishing things that you'll notice is often what good shape the auto paint is in. This is no coincidence; clearly, the vehicle's owner has taken a proactive role with the vehicle's paint. Whether your vehicle is old or new, you can take the same steps. You don't have to be a car buff to learn a handful of simple tips that can help the paint on your car last as long as possible. Here are some things you can do.
Wax Your Vehicle Regularly
Waxing your car has an immediate visual benefit—this layer surely makes the car's body shine. There's an added bonus to taking the time to wax your car, though; the wax forms a barrier on top of the paint, thus protecting it from damage and increasing its longevity. Ideally, you should aim to wax your vehicle about every three months. You can do the work yourself or visit an automotive detailing service to have the job completed by a professional.
Avoid People, Plants, and Animals
Smart choices when it comes time to park your vehicle can also help to extend the life of your paint. Try to avoid parking in locations in which other motorists can scratch or chip your paint by bumping it with their vehicles' doors or bodies; for example, the zipper of an open coat can easily scratch the paint. You should also ideally try to avoid parking directly under trees. Bird droppings and sap from the trees' branches can stick to your car's paint and be tough to remove. The removal process will involve lots of vigorous scrubbing, and that could potentially damage some of the paint, too. If there's a tree branch that directly hangs over your driveway, think about hiring a tree service to cut it off for you.
Seek the Shade
When possible, it's ideal to keep your vehicle out of direct sunlight. The intense power of the sun has the ability to damage your auto paint; in many cases with older vehicles, you can clearly tell that the paint has lost some of its original luster. Of course, it's not reasonable to avoid driving on a sunny day, but try to limit your vehicle's exposure to the sun's rays when you can. This can include parking underground when the option is available, keeping your vehicle in your garage, and simply parking in the shadow of a building.
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