Protecting Your Car's Paint From Damage
Posted on: 25 January 2015
Over the course of your car's lifetime, the vehicle will inevitably suffer some type of surface damage that mars the paint and causes unsightly spots and scratches. While there is nothing you can do about some types of damage such as scratches from minor accidents, you can lessen the chances of other types of problems that affect the overall appearance of your vehicle. The following list highlights some of the most common causes of body paint damage and how to avoid them.
Decorations
While it is fun to decorate your car with cheerful messages to celebrate occasions such as weddings and sporting events, the products you use to write on your car will harm the paint. Avoid using white shoe polish and shaving cream on your vehicle to write messages. In addition to being difficult to remove, these items including can leave permanent marks that only professionals can remove. Instead of writing on the car, create signs that you can mount on the vehicle or put in the window.
Extreme Temperatures and Moisture
If you do not have a garage or carport, try to park your car under some type of covering or shade to avoid heat and precipitation. Over time, prolonged sun exposure, rain and snow will cause tiny cracks in the paint. Heat, water, salt from the air and cleaning fluids will infiltrate the small openings and break down the paint.
When you wash your car make sure to use clean cloths to wipe down the vehicle. It is essential to remove all moisture from the surface so water spots do not develop.
DIY Cleaning and Repair
While there are numerous products on the market to help you keep your car looking great, if you are not careful, you can cause more damage when you attempt to touch up paint or remove scratches.
Using dirty cleaning clothes to wax, wash and wipe off stains causes scratches from debris. Instead of wiping off dirt, you may end up leaving marks from the friction of the particles in the soiled cloths. A dry cloth can also cause scratches when you wipe off grit.
In addition, avoid using generic cleaning solutions such as detergent and all-purpose liquid soap on your car. These products are too abrasive and cause auto paint to break down.
While you may be tempted to perform paint job repairs on your own, if you want the job done right, you should hire professionals like those from High Point Body & Paint. In addition, if you take the car to a body repair shop, you will not have to worry about color matching or making a mistake that leaves mix matched spots. If the damage to the paint was the result of a car accident, you may be able to cover the cost of auto painting with your collision insurance.
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