Keeping the Car Looking Like New

These days we invest heavily in our transportation needs. Considering our investment we would like to keep that investment for a long time. Nobody wants to be seen in a worn out dirty vehicle so here are some things to help maintain and keep your car looking new.

Washing and Waxing

The finish on your car is designed to withstand some serious punishment, but nothing lasts forever. Utilizing an auto touch less car wash when your car is dirty is a quick easy obvious consideration. Have you ever waxed your car? This doesn't have to take a lot of time. There are waxes available that apply quickly and are inexpensive. If you have kids this is a great way to get them outside and have a little fun. Consider when washing and waxing your car that you make sure your car is in the shade or make sure you are out of direct sun light. Early mornings are a car lovers favorite evenings tend to be less enjoyable if the bugs are out.

Avoiding Hazards

Your day to day driver has a number of other hazards to consider. If you have a short cut that may take you over a gravel road I would consider taking an alternate route. When parking finding a shady spot is not only going to keep your car cool but protect the finish. Consider your East & West directions as well as the time of day and how long you will be parked. This way you could utilize large buildings shadows to your advantage. Avoid parking under foliage that may drop material on your car as when leaves break down, they leave an acid that eat away at the finish. When driving consider your distances from the vehicle ahead, this is especially important if the vehicle is larger as it is more likely it would throw debris that could damage your paint.

Quick Fixes

If you happen to get a chip consider a simple touch up. The little nail polish touch ups you can get at the dealer and auto stores can be very affective and unnoticeable if done right. The first step is to clean the damaged surface. Rubbing alcohol will clean the oils and waxes off permitting a solid adhesion. Follow the instructions on the bottle but most require a shaking for about a minute to get it mixed up. Apply sparingly with the only intent being to fill the valley of the chip. Allow it to try a good week if you want to work it a little more you can yourself a good rubbing compound and polish and start with the rubbing compound and water to work the surface smooth and then polish it out to a shine. Remember to finish off with a good waxing.

Parking

Always keep your car garaged when you can. Try to keep your garage uncluttered so that you don't get unexpected scratched or chips. When in a Parking lot get a little healthy exercise and save your car by parking further back. You can save time, gas and your paint by keeping away from the pack.

We all love your cars, at the end of the day if we spend a little extra time we can retain our investment and keep it looking new until the day we decide to reinvest.