How to keep your car looking Great?
There is nothing like the feeling than the one you get when you pickup and drive your new car home
With its paint gleaming, wheels shining brightly, and fresh smell, it looks and feels great.
However, if left alone it will deteriorate, the paint will fade, the wheels will blacken, and it will soon loose it fantastic appeal. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a regular car wash program and attention you can keep it looking as good as new for the years to come.
Doing that will not only be personally satisfying it can make your car more attractive to buyers when it comes to time to sell.
THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU PARK
Think about where you park your car, at night and during the day. It’s easy at night; park it in your garage, that’s what it’s there for.
Don’t leave it in the street where it can come under attack from above from possums, bats and other critters at night.
Tree sap, bird droppings, bat droppings, and possum pee can quickly damage your paint.
It’s not as easy during the day, but if you can always park your car under cover. That way it won’t be exposed to the damaging effects of the sun’s rays that can cause the paint to fade, and birds won’t be able to leave their corrosive calling cards on it.
If you can’t park it under cover avoid parking it under trees, power lines, or other things which birds perch on. Tree sap, bird droppings and possum pee can quickly damage your paint.
REMOVE DEPOSITS STRAIGHT AWAY
Time is of the essence when you find something deposited on your car. Don’t put it off until tomorrow; clean it off as soon as you can, but carefully.
If you don’t you could find it’s much harder to remove later on, you might have to scrub it quite hard and risk scratching the paint in the process. Leave it long enough and you might find your paint is permanently stained.
WASH YOUR CAR REGULARLY
Wash your car once a week and you’ll find your car not only retains its new-car look longer, you will also find it easier to clean.
Wash it by hand using a ph neutral car washing detergent. Dishwashing detergents will take away any wax and polish applied on the paint surface as well as the dirt and grime. Thoroughly rinse the car when you’ve finished to wash away any detergent left.
DRYING YOUR CAR
Don’t walk away and leave your car to air dry when you’ve finished washing it, dry it using a quality microfibre cloth. DO NOT use a chamois; it will scratch your paint.
Squeeze out the excess moisture after each pass and repeat the process until you’ve dried every panel. The best is to have 2, one to remove the bulk of the water and the second to finish.
POLISH REGULARLY?
Polishing your car not only makes it look good, it also protects the painted surface. That being said, polishing the paint will also reduce the thickness of your clear coat, diminishing its life ultimately. However, if you do like waxing your car and find it therapeutic, depending on the quality and durability of the wax, you should apply it every 2-6 months. Or, you could have a premium ceramic paint protection applied to almost eliminate all your woes.
AVOID CAR WASH CAFES
Commercial car washes are convenient, but they can easily damage your car’s paint. Unfortunately, very little concern is taken for the longevity of your cars finish. This ultimately will great swirly and marring in the paint that diminishes the cars appearance and reduces its value.
We recommend a professional detailer to do your car washing for you, not only do they have the best products, techniques, but also they are passionate about keeping your car looking its best. Otherwise, washing your car yourself is by far the second best option.
You will almost certainly be pressured by the dealer to buy a paint protection product with your new car. It’s an extra cost item, generally expensive, and it’s a profit maker for the dealer.
I’ve heard some bad stories and dissatisfied customers when they have signed up for their so-called paint protection. Generally, dealership coatings are PTFE based, meaning that it’s like and extra durable wax, offering very little protection and in most cases failing within six months. Even some offer ceramic coatings that are generally very cheaply and poorly manufactured which ultimately translates into failures and loss of effectiveness after 12 months. Others will require top-ups, or boosters, that is only because the coating is loosing or lost functionality.
If you’re after high quality ceramic paint protection, make sure to talk to a professional detailer. This way you’ll get exactly what you paid for.
Happy Motoring!