Just like the sun to your skin, the sun can affect your
car’s paint. Learn how to protect your car from the sun’s elements with these
tips.
The bold Los Angeles sun can wreak havoc on your car,
causing oxidation and premature fading to its paint. Fortunately, the right
maintenance routine can keep your new car looking like it just rolled out of
the dealership and boosting its curb appeal.
As you roll through your weekly routine, seek covered or
sheltered parking whenever possible. This protects not only your car's paint
but also its headlights and rubberized trim.
You can help undo some of the damage from the UV rays, heat
and insults wrought by nature, including suicidal bugs and bird droppings. Here
are a few simple tips to help you get started.
Wash your car often. Washing your car and cleansing
it of pollution and grime is the first step. Get a soft cotton mitt, bucket and
automotive cleaning product, and work on the car out of direct sunlight. Even
if you have tough deposits like splattered bugs or road tar, never scratch your
car. Instead, consider using an auto detailing clay bar. "Claying" is
a safe way to remove damaging materials without leaving a trace.
Dry thoroughly. Although some owners just hop into
the car immediately after washing and skip drying, this is not best for your
car's appearance. Drying your car with a cotton rag or chamois protects your
car's paint from minerals left behind by water evaporation.
Wax. Waxing your car remains one of the most
effective ways to keep it looking like new. The wax protects the paint against
roadside pollutants while also combating the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
Waxing will also prevent dirt and grit from sticking to your vehicle, which can
protect your paint from pit damage. When you don't wax your car, grime left on
your car can damage the paint job.
Engine heat stresses the hood's paint, and direct sunlight
can scorch the paint off the roof. Despite the LA sun and heat, your car can
glow with a wash, dry and glossy coat of wax.
If you want to take it a step further, some drivers invest
in auto paint protection film kits for their entire car or use it on their
car's acrylic headlights, which can become pitted from grit or yellowed and
brittle from the LA sun.
Like other auto detailing options, the paint protection film
can be a do-it-yourself project, or a service purchased from an area auto-body
store. No car – foreign or domestic – is immune from the damaging effects of
the sun, but any car will benefit from a regular maintenance routine.
Article Credit: www.angieslist.com
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