Buying a brand or even a used car is a substantial investment, and you want it to seem as good as possible for as long as feasible. When it comes time to sell or trade-in the car for something newer, this upkeep will come in handy.
The fact that your automobile is continually exposed to the weather, especially in Canada's severe winters and road salt, makes keeping it looking new a problem.
It is, however, extremely simple to maintain your automobile looking new for many years if you take proper care of it. It will, however, take some time and work, but it will be well worth it.
Several auto care techniques may help keep your vehicle looking new for many years. Let's look at some of the tips and tactics for maintaining your new car's appearance.
Hand car washes on a regular basis
The basis of auto washing and keeping your car looking new is the basic car wash. Hand washing your automobile removes all of the dirt, filth, debris, salt, insect guts, bird droppings, and other impurities that might harm the paint over time.
Plan to wash your automobile at least once every two weeks when creating a timetable. Owners may do it once a week in certain circumstances, but that may be too much for other people's hectic schedules.
Taking your motor to an automatic car wash to speed up this vital process is never a good idea. These car washes' brushes frequently pick up pebbles and other debris that might cause harm to your vehicle.
Use the correct equipment for the job while washing an automobile. The following are some essential instruments for a thorough car wash:
• Use two buckets.
• Wash mitt made of microfiber
• Towels made of microfiber
• Car wash soap (do not use dish soap; it will corrode the paint over time)
• Brushes for cleaning wheels
• Window washer for automobiles
• Ladder or step stool
• Using a pressure washer or a hose with a compression adapter
Open the doors and wipe out the door sills as part of the procedure, since dirt, dust, and salt tend to gather here and cause damage or rust. Also, keep an eye on the wheel arches and other locations that front the road. Salt tends to accumulate in these locations, causing major corrosion problems. To eliminate all of the salt and debris, blast these spots with a high-pressure water blast.
You could also want to think about using an undercoat. This creates a protective coating that keeps water and road salt out of the wheel wells, rocker panels, and beneath the car, avoiding corrosion.
Also, wash your automobile in the shade to avoid magnifying the sun's rays and damaging the paint.
Finally, dry the car with two microfibre towels: one to gather significant volumes of water and the other to wipe clean the vehicle.
Paint Shielding
The paint and clear coat on your car's exterior are what keep it looking new. You should preserve them with vehicle wax or paint sealant since they give your automobile its rich gloss and shine.
Car waxes are widely available and well-understood at local auto parts stores. Natural waxes or synthetic polymers can be used to make a liquid or paste wax. It doesn't matter what sort of wax you use; they all operate in the same manner. Waxes form an invisible barrier that protects your car's paint and clear coat from the elements such as sun, rain, snow, salt, and more.
Paint sealers are comparable to waxes, but they're usually synthetic and last four to six months, whereas waxes only last a few weeks to three months. Paint sealants, on the other hand, provide the diamond-like gleam seen at auto exhibitions, and waxes produce a richer-looking finish.
Between Full Washes, Do a Touch-Up Wash
There will be a two-week gap between car washes, and a lot may happen during that period. You're going to acquire some tiny messes here and there, from bird droppings to insect guts.
Touch up these issue spots every few days with a microfibre cloth, a pail of water, and vehicle wash detergent. Leaving these impurities, particularly insect bits and bird droppings, on the wall can permanently harm the paint.
Clay Bar Treatment regularly
Have you ever passed your hand over a car after a professional detailer has completed their work and it feels like smooth glass? This is due to the use of a clay bar.
This isn't modelling clay; instead, it's a specialist detailed clay with fine abrasive qualities. It thoroughly polishes away all the small environmental dirt on the paint surface when used with good lubrication, such as detailing spray or water and car wash soap. This results in a smooth-as-glass finish that is impossible to obtain with ordinary cleaning.
It takes time to clay bar a car, but the instant effects and long-term advantages are well worth it. Fortunately, this only needs to be done three to four times each year, but it should always be done shortly after a manual vehicle wash.
Remove Swirl Marks
Even the best-kept automobile may develop swirl marks in the paint over time due to cleaning and ordinary wear and tear. These markings are imperceptible in many automobiles, but they are impossible to miss in dark-coloured vehicles. Fortunately, with the correct products, you can simply get rid of them.
Use a mild to medium auto polish after a thorough wash and clay bar treatment. This is an abrasive, like the clay bar, but it is significantly harsher.
You may use the polish's suggested applicator or a foam pad and a random orbital buffer to apply it by hand. To avoid harming the paint, just use modest speeds and never keep the buffer in one location for more than a few seconds.
The polish removes a thin layer of clearcoat, revealing the swirls underneath. After you've finished polishing, clean the car with a cleaning spray and finish with a wax or paint sealant.
Keep an eye on where you park.
You may be accustomed to parking in the nearest available place, but this can occasionally cause problems.
Parking beneath a tree every day, for example, might cause tree sap and other debris to fall on your car, potentially ruining the paint. Birds often visit trees, making your automobile an ideal target for their droppings.
Additionally, parking further away from the entrance might help you avoid parking lot dents. Fewer cars are likely to park near you if you park further away from an entrance. This lowers the chances of a door unintentionally slamming against your automobile and denting it.
Consider investing in a high-quality car cover.
Because there is so much variety in the world of automobile coverings, this is a topic that is constantly debated. You may extend the life of your car's paint by purchasing a high-quality, custom-fitted car cover with a fleece lining.
If your automobile spends most of its time in a garage, indoor car coverings are ideal. This will keep dirt and debris off the finish, reducing the likelihood of minor scratches. Make sure it's custom-fitted, since general vehicle coverings may let dust and grime through, potentially scratching the paint. A bespoke cover will let a lot less dust and dirt in.
You'll need an outdoor car cover if you park your car outside. Outdoor vehicle coverings are waterproof and provide extra UV protection. Make sure you obtain a custom-fit cover with a fleece inside since universal covers often have holes that allow water to soak in. The water then rests on the paint behind the cover, potentially causing problems.
Aside from preventing fading, an exterior vehicle cover also protects your interior from damaging UV radiation.
Avoid Bird Droppings
The most significant thing, though, is a warning about the dangers of bird droppings. No, we're not kidding. They're one of the most damaging things that can happen to a car's finish. If you leave it on the paint for a few hours or even several days, it will begin to etch the paint. If this occurs, it will require a lot of effort to rectify the situation. Keep a bottle of spray and a pair of microfiber towels in your car to clean up any spills as soon as you see them.