Car Care Tips

With regular washing and waxing, your new high-gloss finish should last. To care for the new finish, hand wash your vehicle at least twice a month using a soft sponge. Dry it with cotton towels. Gas, oil or fluid spills should be flushed with water as soon as possible. Avoid commercial car washes for 6 weeks, and do not wax your vehicle during that time. In the winter months, also refrain from scraping ice and snow on painted surfaces.

Acid rain damage may look like ordinary water spots, but it is much more damaging since it can actually etch the surface, creating craters with cracks and chips. Heat accelerates acid-rain damage. Try to wash your car after raining, especially if the sun comes out right after it stops. To neutralize any acid rain residue, try adding a tablespoon of baking soda for every gallon of water in the bucket.

Avoid brush-style car washes, which can cause dirt to scratch the paint. Also try to avoid facilities that use odorless ammonia or phosphate based soaps with recycled wash water. At a 'do-it-yourself' car wash, use the lowest setting in order to avoid blasting grit into the car's finish.

Hand Washing & Waxing

Wash your car when it is cool and out of direct sunlight. Clean the tires and wheels first so you won't splash water all over your newly cleaned vehicle. Begin by washing the dirt and soil off the surfaces so it won't be rubbed in and cause scratches. Use a 100% cotton wash mitt or a high quality sea sponge. Wash the car from the top down, in straight lines and using overlapping strokes. Never use household liquid soaps, which can strip the protective wax coat. Remember to clean inside the wheel wells. When drying your car, open up all doors and lids to enable semi-exposed areas to dry completely. Use real waxes, which can't harm the finish. Avoid products that say they can remove dirt, oxidized paint or scratches. Brazilian Carnauba wax is the wax of choice for automotive paints. Never wax in direct sunlight, since hot metal surfaces can cause the wax chemicals to damage the finish. If wax is applied in high humidity it may streak. Small areas should be waxed at one time. Constantly rotate the cleaning towel to apply a fresh area for proper wax removal. Use a foam applicator rather than a cloth.

Protecting The Surface

As much as possible, avoid long-term exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet light causes discoloration, cracking and a loss of gloss. Protect your vehicle's paint by avoiding gravel roads whenever possible. Regularly use commercially available bug removers. Bugs have very acidic bodies that will damage your vehicle's paint. Avoid parking under trees, which may drop sap. Remove bird droppings immediately, as they contain phosphates that will rapidly turn into phosphoric acid.