The paint of your car, whether it has scratch marks, how shiny it is and more are just some of the things that affect the way it appears in the eyes of others. As for you, it may determine the level of pride that you feel about the vehicle in question. All in all, as time goes by, your car will get exposed to all sorts of harmful materials in the form of dust, smog particles and bird droppings (containing all sorts of bacteria and corrosive materials). Still, even against such odds, it’s fairly simple to restore your car’s paint. Here are several tips on how you can do this.
1. Start by giving it a good wash
The first thing you need to do is give your car a good and thorough wash. Chances are that the vehicle’s paint isn’t really as damaged as you would expect it to be, it’s just that you can’t reach it underneath all these layers of dirt. If you’re doing it yourself, avoid regular soap or detergent and try to go exclusively for solutions that are made with cars in mind. Don’t let the vehicle drip-dry and definitely don’t forget about the wheels and tires. Taking the car to a professional cleaner is also a sound plan.
2. Waxing is not enough
When it comes to the shine of your car’s paint, it’s crucial that you understand that simply waxing the surface is definitely not enough. It’s crucial that your car is completely clean and dry before you even try to apply the wax. You see, wax has a particularly hard time adhering to moisture and dirt, which is why you need to avoid applying such a solution before washing.
3. Apply the solution with a towel
Regardless of the form in which the solution in question comes, it’s never wise to spray or pour it directly onto the surface of your car. Why? Well, because the concentration may be too high, thus damaging the paint in the process. Instead, try applying it to a towel and then gently rubbing it into your car. Still, there are a lot of guides that advise against DIY cleaning attempts, which means that you would do far better if you were to entrust this cleaning to professionals. Sure, this is a tad more expensive but you’re definitely not expected to do it on a daily basis.
4. Add a protective layer
Restoring the paint only to have it ruined in the next couple of days is a horrible idea so you need to think about adding a protective layer in order to keep the surface safe from various harmful influences. The best course of action would be for you to invest in paint protection film, which is a thin layer consisting of a clear coat, polyurethane, acrylic adhesive and polyester release liner. This particular pattern is developed to withstand virtually any conditions that it may encounter in the real world.
5. Watch out for bird droppings
Another thing you need to look out for is bird droppings. The particular problem with these droppings lies in the fact that you can never stay safe from them. You can wash your car, take it for a spin and have a couple of new droppings on the hood before you know it. The problem, nonetheless, lies in the fact that people downplay the damage that these droppings can do when left unchecked for too long. This is why you might want to have a pre-mixed solution in your trunk. This can be something like a specialized commercial cleaner or a home-made solution made from water and baking soda. However, detailer spray is the most commonly used tool.
Naturally, sometimes, there will be no way to restore your car’s paint other than by repainting it. This happens if there’s some severe damage or scratching on either side of the vehicle. Still, this should definitely be your last resort, especially considering everything else that you can do beforehand.