10 Simple Steps you can take to Protect Your Car’s Paint. 

Your car’s paintwork requires regular maintenance if you want to retain the value of your vehicle and keep it looking great.

Here are ten suggestions for keeping the paint finish on your car in top condition:

Regularly wash and dry your car. 

There are a number of factors that make the routine washing of your vehicle a necessary undertaking. First of all, it helps clear away contaminants like dirt, grime, and other impurities that may cause harm to your vehicle’s paint. Given time, these contaminants accumulate and can cause fading, cracking, or even peeling of the paint. Regularly cleaning your vehicle can also enhance its appearance and add to its resale value.

Make use of a premium car wash soap. 

It’s a good idea to invest in a high-quality car wash soap as they are less abrasive and less prone to remove wax or other protective coats. Premium car wash soaps are manufactured especially for use on vehicle paint and are therefore less prone to harm the paint finish. Additionally, they are often composed of specialist cleaners and conditioners that are more effective at removing pollutants from the paint than cheaper alternatives. Using a good quality product can add to the gloss of your vehicle while also providing additional weather protection. 

Use a wash mitt made of sheepskin or microfiber. 

It’s important to clean use a sheepskin or microfiber wash mitt to clean your vehicle as it causes less damage to the paintwork. Cheap washcloths and sponges can be abrasive on paint, resulting in scratches. Sheepskin or microfiber cloths are considerably less abrasive and won’t scuff or harm your vehicle’s paintwork, but they are still very effective at removing dirt and grime.

Use a clay bar to get rid of the impurities. 

A clay bar is a supple, soft material that is employed to remove impurities from the surface of the paint. Road tar, tree sap, and salt from the roads are all impurities that are more challenging to clean using conventional washing techniques. This grime and dirt can diminish the appearance of the vehicle and will eventually cause damage if left on the vehicle. The purpose of a clay bar is to extract these impurities from the surface of the paint leaving behind a smooth and lustrous finish. 

Regularly wax your vehicle. 

Your vehicle benefits in various ways from regular waxing A coat of wax provides protection from the sun, rain, and snow all of which are factors that can cause damage to the paint of your car. A coating of wax is a defensive layer against the elements that help protect the beauty and value of your vehicle. Additionally, it makes it easier to clean the vehicle and maintain its appearance.

Keep strong chemicals away from the paint. 

Wax and other protective coats are susceptible to damage by harsh cleaners and chemicals like petrol, leading to fading, chipping, and other sorts of damage. It’s therefore important to take extra care handling these harmful chemicals when in close proximity to your vehicle in order to preserve the paintwork. Obviously, care should be taken at all times when handling harmful substances but it pays to be extra careful when these chemicals are near your car or van.

Use a Car or Van Cover. 

A car or van cover is a great way to prevent the paintwork o your vehicle from becoming damaged over time by the sun, dust, and other elements and pollutants. Dust and other irritants can result in all sorts of damage including scratches and fading. The sun’s UV rays will cause all paint to fade over time so using a barrier to help shield the paint is a great idea for maintaining your vehicle’s appearance and value. For the best fit and protection, it’s vital to get a car cover that is specifically manufactured for your vehicle’s make and model.

Do not use pressure washers on your vehicle. 

This is a mistake I made on my grandfather’s prized Honda Jazz many years ago. Pressure washers are too abrasive for vehicle paint so avoid using them on your car. They will power straight through wax and other protective coatings and the high-pressure spiralling water jets have the power to cause real visible damage. Always choose hand washing over pressure washing in order to protect the paint on your car as the paint needs to be treated with more care to prevent any possible harm.

Fix scratches and dings as soon as you can. 

Taking care of minor dents and scratches in your vehicle’s paintwork as soon as it is noticed is vital as it can save additional harm from being caused down the line. If ignored, even little scrapes and scratches can develop into more serious issues in the future. Exposure to the elements alone will cause general wear and tear and will turn a minor scrape into a larger one over time. Additionally, these scratches and exposure to the vehicle can cause rust and corrosion, which can harm the paint and the integrity of the vehicle even more. So to prevent further damage, you should take care of the scratches as soon as possible. Whether you decide to do it yourself or bring your car to our state-of-the-art EASR Bodyshop where our skilled professionals can restore your vehicle’s paintwork often within the hour.

Avoid driving through standing water or puddles.

There are a number of reasons why driving through standing water or puddles can be harmful to the integrity of your vehicle’s paintwork. Firstly the water is likely to contain dirt and other impurities that could damage your car’s paint by sticking to it. These particles will spray up when you drive through a puddle or standing water and stick to the car causing damage over time or scratching the paintwork from the force of the water hitting the car. You can also experience ageing and discolouration of the paint as a result of splashing and overspray. So try and safely avoid driving through standing water or puddles whenever you can to help prevent these potential issues.