Learning All About Automotive Paint

Keep Your Car's Paint From Fading

Most vehicle owners want their car to have a luxurious and radiant shine; not a dull and faded appearance. However, for some vehicle owners, the latter is just the issue that they're faced with. If the paint on your car is looking dull and drab, there is a reason why. Learn why your color is fading and, more importantly, what you can do to resolve the problem. 

Washing Practices

Ensure you wash your vehicle the correct way, as the way you wash a car has a lot to do with its appearance. First, start by regularly washing your car. Waiting for prolonged periods between washes allows more debris and other paint-attacking contaminates to penetrate the clear coat of your vehicle and cause damage. 

How often you need to wash your vehicle has a lot to do with the contaminants found in your environment. For example, someone who lives in a rural setting where they are always coming in contact with dirt and mud might need to wash more often than someone who lives in the desert. Find the right schedule for your needs and stick with it. 

Storage

Be mindful of where you park your vehicle. One of the greatest threats to vehicle paint is the sun's UV rays. The power of the rays can penetrate past the paint's protective coat and directly target the pigment in the paint solution, which causes it to fade.

When possible, always park your car in a covered area in a garage. If you live in a hot climate with high amounts of sun exposure, this step is critically important. If you don't have access to covered parking and you want to protect a vehicle that you don't drive very often, an outdoor car cover is a great sun-blocking tool as well. 

Wax

When cleaning your car, try to choose wax over polish. While both options claim to offer a beautiful shine, wax provides this type of outcome with less risk of damage. Polish solutions often contain some level of abrasives. The abrasives are hard and can scratch away fine layers of your paint as you spread them along the vehicle. 

The problem might not create an immediate issue, but over time, you will be able to recognize the paint damage. Wax solutions are abrasion-free. Additionally, some wax solutions even have built-in UV protection, which makes them especially valuable for protecting your vehicle. 

Take your vehicle to a repair shop like Westside Fender/Body & Refinishing if you have issues with fading. A repair professional will assess the problem, make the appropriate repairs, and provide you with helpful tips to avoid the problem in the future. 


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