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No matter how old or new your car is, it is always important to keep it clean both inside and out. Part of maintaining the perfect paint job is understanding what you’re up against. Knowing your enemy will help you address the problem before it sets in. The following are the most damaging of all:
Bugs Hitching a Ride
As you drive, your car is bound to be met by various flying bugs. It’s quite easy to wash your windscreen and clean off the bugs as soon as they make their mark. However, they can really take hold on other parts of your car and, the longer you wait to clean them off, the more damage they will do. Bug insides are acidic, and it is this acidic nature that eats away at your car’s paint.
Gifts from Above
Birds seem to have the most amazing aim, and they love “hitting” freshly washed cars with their “missiles”. Bird droppings are highly acidic and, while they are easy enough to clean off when wet, it gets tricky once dry and hard. Not to mention the extra damage it will do the longer you leave it.
Creative writing
It can be quite tempting to write funny messages on dirty cars with your fingers. It might seem innocent but dirt is highly abrasive and, as your finger traces the surface of your car, it will scratch the paint. It’s much like dropping your washcloth or sponge and continuing to use it to wash your car without removing all the dirt.
Soda and Coffee
Coffee and soda both have a way of eating away at the enamel on your teeth. If they can stain and damage the strongest part of the human body, imagine how they can affect the paint on your car! If you do spill coffee or soda on your car, make sure that you wash it off immediately.
The Sun
The UV rays of the sun are stronger than many may realize. You can’t completely avoid the sun, but you can do everything in your power to park in the shade as often as possible. By washing, waxing and polishing your car on a regular basis, you will provide extra protection, and this will help prevent the paint from fading.
Automatic Sprinklers
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, make sure that you park your car far away! On a hot day, the droplets will hit your car and, when they dry, they could leave damaging deposits behind. These could turn into water spots that will never go away, no matter how much you wash, wax and polish.
Fuel
We are often in a rush when we make a stop to refuel. In our haste, we tend to spill some gas on our car while filling up. These stain the paintwork, and it’s extremely difficult to remove such marks once they take hold. The best solution is to give the area around your fuel cap a wash after filling up.
Salt
In the colder winter months, when snow season is at its peak, the local authorities use salt to de-ice sidewalks as well as roads. This is great for walking and driving but not so good for your car. Salt can be highly corrosive so wash your car regularly to prevent damage.
Shaving Cream
Decorating a car with shaving cream might sound like a fun prank or fun way of wishing a newly married couple well. It is, however, no good for your car’s paint and it can cause permanent discoloration.
The most important point of all is to maintain your vehicle. Proper maintenance will yield the best results. Neglecting to wash, wax and polish your car can be just as harmful as polishing too frequently.
Wash Me Now operates in the GTA and we offer a full range of detailing packages as well as extras that will leave your car in its best possible condition. Not only do we use top quality products, but we are also a mobile service which means that we will come to you!