It’s no surprise that car owners want to keep their vehicles looking brand new for as long as possible. After all, cars are often status symbols that reflect your fortune, stature, or achievement. But did you know that the key to maintaining the appearance of your car is to take care of its paint job? In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to protect your car paint the right way.

In that light, we can say that everyone would understand how car owners are desperate to make their vehicles look brand new for as long as they can. They put on mag wheels, additional bling, new upholstery, and more. But you know what’s the very first thing you should put your efforts into if you really want your car to look as good as new for a long time? Take care of its paint well.

The truth is, little do most car owners realize that protecting and preserving your car’s paint job is far beyond just merely washing it. But don’t you worry, if you think you’re among those, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know. 

Let us give you our tips on how to protect your car paint the right way. So that you don’t have to worry about junking or ruining an automobile anytime soon.

5 ways to protect your car paint the right way

1. Attend to contaminants right away.

In case you haven’t heard, there are other elements of nature that can cause your car paint to fade and lose its shine apart from the harmful rays of the sun. What we’re referring to are splattered bugs, bird droppings, tree sap, and other substances like these. They are acidic and can cause stains, scratches, and dullness to the paint. And because it’s very unlikely that we can avoid all those entirely, the only thing you can do best is to address them once you see them. If you’re not at home, and you really don’t have your cleaning tools and products with you, you may address them by using a moist microfibre cloth. 

2. Keep it covered.

There are some experts who don’t really advise the use of car covers, as they can also cause minor scratches to the paint job. Because of that, what we really want to emphasize is the need for finding the perfect resting place for your precious ride. Keep it rested inside your garage or even in a roofed carport while you’re at home. Now if you’re in another place besides your home, as much as possible, leave it in a covered carpark or at least under the shade of a big tree (big trees are more advisable so you won’t risk it of being scratched by small twigs and branches, plus the contaminants we mentioned in the first tip).

3. Make sure washing accessories are clean.

You may be enthusiastic and diligent in washing your car every week; but also know that if you’re working with dirty and old car wash accessories, then you can also cause permanent damage to the paint. Even if you are using the finest microfibre cloth and the most expensive sponge there is, the moment it drops on the ground, it’ll immediately pick up bits of dirt and grit – which can’t really be washed off easily. If you continue using those, they’ll cause swirls and scratches on your car. The best way to be sure is always to have a spare for each cleaning tool. 

4. Use the right products.

Waxing is always advised to be done on your car not only for extra shine but more importantly for protection. But there are other products now available in the market that could also help you make your car looking brand new all the time for a long time. There are paint conditioners, clays, protective films, and a lot more. Just make sure to check every product label before buying and using anything on your car.

5. Address small scratches promptly.

To keep your precious ride looking good as new, it is without a doubt that you should do your best to keep it scratch-free. Whenever you see small dings and minor scratches, address them right away with a rubbing compound or scratch remover or bring it to the nearest car repair shop. It’s almost impossible to be notified of every minor scratch that your car gets. So the only way for you to address them promptly is to take a good look at every inch and corner of your exterior as often as you could, or at least every time you wash it.

All these tips on how to protect your car paint and even just the thought of regular car paint maintenance may seem daunting and demanding right now. But believe us when we say that you will reap many benefits from it other than bragging rights. It will protect your car from rust; it’ll increase its resale value; and eventually attract more buyers just in case you plan to sell it in the future.

If maintaining or restoring your car’s paint simply won’t cut it anymore and there’s nothing left for you to do but let go of it, don’t get disheartened right away.