Protecting your car's new paint properly requires knowing what can hinder your progress. Here are common car paint protection mistakes and how to avoid them.
Most vehicles will last around 10 to 15 years before they need a fresh coat of paint. Although, this can be impacted by car paint protection mistakes that you may be making.
For your car to stay looking good as new, you have to put the time into caring for it. Cars are exposed to the elements, and the paint can often suffer because of this.
If you do not care for your car, you may have to pay for new car paint. This is not a small expense, so you want to keep your car looking nice for as long as possible.
Keep reading to find out more about common car paint protection mistakes people often make.
1. Not Washing the Car Regularly
Washing your car should be a frequent part of your car maintenance routine. A car washing routine can help to preserve the paint job and keep it looking nice.
If your car is left to stay dirty for weeks at a time, this can wear on the paint. Grime can even begin to scratch and damage the paint job, leaving it exposed to the elements.
Over time, grime will have a negative impact on the paint, damaging and weakening it. Shortening the lifespan of the paint job and costing you more later on.
You can avoid this by washing your car every week or every other week. This is going to depend on the weather in your area and how often your car gets dirty.
2. Using the Wrong Products
You may wash your car often, but are you using the right kinds of products? Using the right products is just as important as caring for your car on a regular basis.
Harsh chemicals or hash cleaners can take a toll on your car's paint job. You may think you are cleaning it, but you are actually damaging the paint.
You should be using products designed for cars so that they are safe to use. These won't be as harsh or as abrasive on the paint.
You could also invest in paint protection products to help preserve your car's paint. Or use a paint protection film provider so that you can keep your car looking fresh and new.
The most important thing is to only use vehicle products on your vehicle. Avoid harsh chemicals or acidic cleaners that can break down the paint.
3. Leaving the Car in Direct Sunlight
Leaving your car in sunlight for long periods of time can have a negative effect. Though car paint is meant to withstand the elements, that doesn't mean that it is invincible.
Leaving your vehicle parked in direct sunlight can be damaging to the paint. The heat and UV rays can start to fade and dull the paint, damaging the protective layer.
Over time, this can cause the protective layer and the paint to chip and bubble up. The color will also be affected, making your vehicle look older than it is.
The best way to avoid this is to park in shady areas during the day. Try to always park your vehicle under some kind of shelter, especially on hot and sunny days.
4. Leaving Grime to Build Up
It is important to often wash your car because letting grime build-up is bad for the paint. Not only does this look bad, but certain kinds of grime can also be damaging.
Some examples of this are bird droppings and tree sap. Both can easily get on your car, and both types of grime are highly acidic.
Acidic things break down paint and protective layers, exposing the paint to the elements. When this happens, there is no reversing the damage.
These types of grime can also be hard to remove if you leave them on your car. Resulting in you scratching your vehicle when you try to clean it.
You should always wipe away bird droppings and sap as soon as you see them on your car.
5. Waxing Too Much or Not Enough
If you are not waxing your car, you are leaving the paint exposed to all kinds of damage. Wax creates a protective tire layer that shields paint from things that could harm it.
Not waxing your car is going to put the paint at risk of being damaged in some way. Although, you should also avoid waxing your car too often.
Waxing too much can strip your vehicle and leave the paint exposed, which is the opposite of what you want. The best thing to do is wax your vehicle once every few months.
6. Scratching the Surface
Getting scratches on your car is a huge problem that many face. This may just be the worst of all the car paint protection mistakes car owners make.
Scratches are unsightly but may seem relatively harmless, especially if they are small. But scratches can get worse over time and even expand.
Scratches expose your vehicle and leave that area of paint vulnerable to wear and tear. Oftentimes, scratches will become larger and start chipping even more over time.
To avoid getting scratches, never wash or wax your car with jewelry on your hands. Also, park in areas that are more vacant, and preferably, park your vehicle in sheltered areas.
Car Paint Protection Mistakes That Are Easy to Make
If you want to preserve your car's paint, there are certain things you should know about. There are many car paint protection mistakes that you will want to avoid.
Do you want to keep your car's paint job looking like new? Contact us today at
Top Line Tints & Audio for car protection film options and other auto services.
