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With the warmer and longer days quickly approaching, people are bringing their prized possessions and toys out of hibernation. Unfortunately, summer also brings road construction with rough gravel roads, harsh sunrays and tree sap, all of which can be harmful to your car’s paint. Though newer vehicles these days are sprayed with a better quality, clear coat paint when they roll off the assembly line, it doesn’t hurt to take a few precautions to preserve your paint job. There are a few solutions out there to help keep your vehicle’s paint looking brand new and to protect it from the elements.
Invisible Protection
Long gone are those black faux-leather hood and bumper “bras” for your car. Upon peeling it off in the spring, it would reveal the build-up of salt and sand that was sandwiched between the paint and the cover. Clear protection film is now one of the more visually cleaner ways to protect your paint and it isn’t easily noticed. A well-known brand is 3M’s Scotchgard Paint Protection Film. You can either have it installed by one of their affiliate professionals or by a dealership that offers it. For those who are brave or want to save some cash, you can purchase a pre-cut sheet for your vehicle from an online vendor and install it yourself. If you are unsure about attempting it yourself, get help from someone who has done it before or opt to get it done professionally. It might be worth the money to save you the frustration.
The film can be used in other areas of the vehicle as well, not just the hood and front bumper. You can get pieces for the rocker panels, tailgate, the backsides of mirrors, headlights and around the wheel wells. Requiring no maintenance, the film can last for several years and protect your car from small scratches, stone chips and insects.
Wax On, Wax Off
A good wax application on your vehicle has more than one benefit. It leaves your car looking impossibly shiny and glossy, as well as helping the paint colour preserve its vibrancy. The clear protection acts as a thin shield, reflecting strong UV rays from the sun and acting as a barrier against tree sap and road tar.
Wax comes in two types: natural and synthetic. Natural protectants are made of natural ingredients, such as the wax from Brazil’s carnauba plant. Synthetic waxes are also known as paint sealants and are manmade, using polymers. Wax in the natural form tends to give a nicer shine and gloss, but is prone to getting stripped off in a powerful car wash. A synthetic wax tends to last a bit longer, but usually doesn’t give the same depth of shine as a natural wax would.
Wax also comes in two forms for application: paste and liquid. Similar to the natural versus synthetic negative and positive properties, people have differing preferences when it comes to the wax form. Those who treat their car with extra special care and like to pamper it tend to lean towards the paste, as it requires application by hand. A liquid wax is preferred by others for its ability to be applied by either hand or buffing machine. In price comparison a paste generally costs a little more than a liquid, but usually yields enough product for at least another waxing for next time.
How often you should wax your car depends on a number of factors. Do you store your car in a garage? How often do you wash your car? What is the surrounding environment like? Meguiars, a popular car detailing product brand, offers this tip:
After washing and drying your car, take a clean, dry 100% cotton terry cloth towel fold it until you have a thick towel that your hand fits comfortably across. Now, with fingers hanging over the edges, push down on it and twist it in a clockwise/counter clockwise manner. If you hear squeaking, that's a sure sign you need to wax.
Keep It Clean
A simple solution to protecting your car’s paint is regular, gentle washing. Firstly, use a wash solution that is made for vehicles. Using a dish detergent is not as gentle, but is good if you’re trying to remove the wax. Use a soft wash brush or mitt when you’re soaping up the car as bristles could scratch the paint. One thing to be wary of is the dirt and grit clinging to the brush as you wipe. You don’t want the dirt to scratch against the paint as you scrub, so give the brush a rinse every so often. Try to avoid washing the car in direct sunlight to prevent the soap from drying on the surface. Working from top to bottom in sections can help with this. Lastly, finish the job by using a 100 per cent cotton towel to dry your ride.
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