Tips To Protect a Car's Paint Finish

After a few years, the paint finish on your vehicle will become dull unless you take necessary steps to protect the paint finish.  Wear and tear from the elements of nature can ruin it. Safeguarding your vehicle is the most important thing that you can do to keep it looking new.  Simple precautions such as the type of soap and parking in a garage or using a car tent. 

• Keep your car clean. Wind, dirt, sand and rain are dangerous to the exterior painted surfaces.  Keeping it washed will keep grit off. 


• Use a car wash, not a dish soap, to prevent stripping the wax off your vehicle.


• Use a soft mitt or sponge when you wash.


• Never allow it to air dry.  It will leave water marks that are hard to get rid of.


• Wax your car at least once a month with a good quality car wax. 


• Never wax in direct sunlight, this will cause the wax to bake.


• Have a paint sealant applied when you have your vehicle detailed.


• Keep your car covered.  Park in the carport, garage, or use a car cover to protect your vehicle when your are not using it.


• Clean mud, snow, sleet, road salt and rain from the undercarriage.


• Don't use a brush car wash system, they can scratch the surface.


• Clean away bird droppings as soon as you find them; they have high acid levels that will damage the finish.


• One of the most critical times to wash your automobile is right after a rainfall.  The acid from the rain remains after the rain has evaporated and should be washed away to avoid any damage.