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New light vehicles in the US now cost more than $40,000 on average.
With cars now being so expensive, you definitely want to learn how to protect new car paint. Otherwise, your brand-new ride may end up looking dull in just a few years or even months.
To that end, we came up with this guide listing some of the best car paint protection strategies. So, read on to discover how to keep your car shiny and looking new.
1. Don’t Always Let It Bathe in the Sun
Photodegradation is a common consequence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. This occurs when UV rays break down chemical bonds in an object, causing its color to fade. The sun’s heat speeds up the degradation process, too.
Like human skin, fabrics (such as your car seats) are at high risk of photodegradation. However, the sun’s powerful rays can also cause gradual fading on car paint. Moreover, UV rays cause the paint to dry, brittle up, crack, and peel.
For those reasons, park your car in a shaded area whenever possible. If you have a garage, don’t let it go to waste and store your ride in it.
Besides being one of the best ways to protect new car paint, garage parking also safeguards it from theft. Note that car theft crimes increased by almost 10% in 2020 from 2019. Since your car is new, parking it outside not only puts its shiny paint at risk; it’s also eye-candy for criminals.
2. Get Rid of Bird Excrement Immediately
Bird excrements contain uric acid, the substance that makes their droppings white. Unfortunately, this waste product is more than disgusting; it’s also highly corrosive. In fact, experts say it’s so damaging it can cut the life of construction materials and HVAC units by half.
As such, one of the best new car paint protection tactics is to wash away bird droppings as soon as you see them. Prompt removal also prevents the poop from drying and adhering to body paint. So, the sooner you get rid of bird excrements, the easier it would be to wash and keep your car shiny and looking new.
3. Use Debris-Free Cleaning Brushes or Cloths
When you wash your car at least once every two weeks, be sure your cleaning tools are clean too. Otherwise, they can become sandpaper-like, scratching away at the car paint.
It’s also a good idea to hose your car’s exterior down before you start brushing or wiping. Doing so helps get rid of abrasive contaminants, such as sand or small stones that may have stuck on your car.
4. Wax It
Regular waxing helps preserve the clear coat covering a car’s paint. This clear coat, in turn, protects the paint from external elements, such as UV rays, snow, and street salt. That’s why you’d want this barrier to last for as long as possible, and waxing helps with that.
If you keep your car in a garage and give it regular baths, waxing twice a year may be enough. If you usually pass by dustier or muddier roads, you may have to wax every three to four months. Just remember to always give your ride a good cleaning before applying wax.
5. Invest in Ceramic Coating
If you’re too busy to wax on, wax off many times a year, then it’s time you do an online search for “car ceramic coating near me.”
A ceramic coating serves the same purpose as wax, except that it lasts for many years. Once applied, it helps prevent oxidation and lengthen the life of your car’s clear coat. No polishing touch-ups are necessary, either; regular car washing will do.
All that makes ceramic paint the best paint protectant for new cars.
Follow These Nifty Tips on How to Protect New Car Paint
As you can see, indoor parking, regular washing, and waxing can help protect new car paint. If you want something longer-lasting, though, ditch the wax and go with ceramic coating.
Ready for more auto, travel, or lifestyle hacks? Then head over to our other categories for more guides like this!
