Nothing ages a car like dull, dingy paint. Cars that shine, even the older ones, appear to be cleaner, newer, and more valuable. Although, when asked, people will say that they would like to maintain their car’s glint in the sunlight, most people do not really know what it takes to keep paint looking great. Maintaining the paint job on your car may seem like it would take a lot of effort, but really it just takes a little bit of care.

First, when washing your car, make sure that you rinse your sponge or towel often. Dirt, when rubbed around the car’s surface, can cause tiny scratches that both dull the paint and remove the top clear coat. This means that even washing your car can cause paint damage, so it is important that you pay attention to how much dirt is on the sponge. Also, don’t dip the sponge into dirty water while washing your car, as this will cancel out your attempt to get the grime off of your cleaning utensils. Just remember to keep clean water and a clean sponge and your car wash will be effective without damaging your car’s sheen.

The natural elements of the environment, such as sunlight, wind, and leaves, can cause real harm to your car’s paint job. Sunlight dulls bright colors and bleaches dark ones. Wind can carry debris that can ruin your car’s paint; even small pieces of dirt and pebbles can prove hazardous to the health of your car’s paint job. Leaves that fall from trees can have sap on them, which will stick to your car and ruin the top clear coat. In order to avoid the elements, try and keep your car parked in a protected area. A garage is ideal, but a carport or canopy would work, too.

Your car will inevitably get scratches, despite your best attempts to keep its paint pristine. When this happens, the best course of action is to buy a scratch remover and invest in a waxing kit. Scratch removers cannot disguise deep gauges in your car’s paint job, but they can hide (and sometimes even repair) small or light indentions. The kind of scratch repair you get is up to you and the needs of your car’s paint job, but many brands will either be clear or a close match to your car’s color. After repairing any scratches, a good wax job will protect the surface of the car and keep its paint gleaming. Choosing your car wax is also up to you and the needs of your car’s paint, but keep in mind that there are many varieties. If you do not like the thought of doing it by hand, there are also kits that have a handheld power tool made to get the job done.

Maintaining the shine of your car’s paint is one of the best ways to keep your car looking and feeling new; however, you can’t let yourself obsess about it. Scratches will happen, but if you know how to prevent them and repair them you will be well on your way to keeping your car looking great!

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A person’s vehicle symbolizes a main financial investment and for this reason you should take care of your investment to the best of your ability. Since the paint job on your automobile is just a very thin layer (usually only about 0.005 inches thick), it can be easily damaged by a variety of outside agencies and a vehicle with scuffed or destroyed paintwork is not exactly the most attractive sight. Keeping your car covered with a protective car cover can help prevent the following issues:

Dents and dings. Vehicles will get scratches and dents because of regular wear and only a coating like armor plate can give total protection. However, a protective car cover will provide some protection against harm caused by impact from other cars or out of control shopping carts.

Damage from nature. Mother Nature can one way or the other inflict damage on our paintwork in the form of airborne debris, pollen and sap from trees or bird droppings. Furthermore, if airborne debris lands on your car, it can be abrasive if it is not carefully removed. An outdoor car cover can give sufficient defense against these particular attacks on your paint job.

Weather inflicted damage. Rough weather conditions can cause extensive damage on the painted finish and appearance of your automobile. For instance, rain can seep into tiny scratches on your paint and start the corrosive process which might be accelerated if there is acid rain in your area. Direct sun and the ultraviolet radiation can absolutely do damage also. In this way a car cover acts as an umbrella and sunblock for your vehicle.

Protection from theft. People who steal automobiles are under pressure to carry out their criminal act in the shortest amount time and most of the time avoid covered automobiles because of the extra time it requires. You can further dissuade thieves by using a lock and cable to secure the protective cover.

Your car cover selection will be mainly governed by the weather conditions in the region in which you live and how you use your car along with where you park and how much you use your vehicle. Whether or not you choose an indoor or outdoor protective cover, there’s no doubt that your investment decision in the car will be protected and your resale value may just be significantly enhanced.

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Summer is here and with is comes heat, humidity, and lots of sun. Although this time can bring some of the best weather of year for us, your car can become damaged by the sun’s harmful UV rays caused by extended hours of sunlight. Over a period of about six months, usually March-September, your car’s exterior and paint can corrode over this time due to the long periods of sunlight it is exposed to.

Your car’s paint finish breathes and even has pores. In the hot sun the paint’s pores expand and can absorb more dirt and moisture. Imagine having to stay outside all day in the beating sun without any sunscreen or shade. Our skin burns, dries out, and takes days or weeks to heal. Similar to skin, over time the exterior of a car can wear down, fade, peel, and rust when exposed to water. There are preventative steps you can take however, to ensure your paint and exterior lasts to its potential.

There are a many products on the market that you can use to both prevent and treat sun damage. One of the most popular products is a rubbing compound used to polish out blemishes. It’s used to remove fine scratches, oxidation, coarse swirl marks, and water spots. There are also polishes and waxes you can use on a regular basis to prevent sun damage from happening to your car. In the case of extreme sun damage, you can re-paint your car, which costs thousands of dollars.

The interior of your car can also be greatly affected by the sun. The sun is attracted to dark material and can severely damage materials like leather. Collapsible sun shades are the most popular type of interior sun protection. They can significantly decrease the temperature of your car and block harmful sunlight. Car window shades are also popular and can be used while driving.

If your car spends a significant amount of time outside, no matter what climate it’s in, you should consider protecting it with a car cover. Not only will a cover protect your car from sun, it will protect it from rain, bird droppings, dust, and mold. By covering your car, you can prevent all kinds of damage at a fraction of the cost it would be to fix it. There are also many different types of covers on the market. Depending on your climate, if your car is near or around trees, how long it will be spending outside, and how much you want to spend, you would need to cater to you and your cars needs while selecting a cover. There are also custom and semi-custom covers on the market. Semi-customer covers have a much better value since they last longer than custom and are a lot cheaper. I would highly recommend a all-weather semi-custom covers.

Sun gives us life and warmth, but it can also be very damaging. If you’re not careful, your car can become very damaged which can be costly to fix. Buy a semi-custom car cover today and save your car and wallet today!

Jack Labens works for Empire Patio Covers, a leading provider of patio furniture covers such as patio chair covers and patio table covers. Empire Patio Covers can be found online at: EmpirePatioCovers.com or at their blog EmpirePatioCovers-Blog.com.

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Your car is a very important part of your life and is also a major investment. Most people depend on vehicles to get them to and from their jobs, school, appointments and many other places. You want to keep it in the best shape possible and looking new. A car cover will help to protect the exterior of your car from harmful things such as dust, the weather, tree sap and bird droppings. There are other things that you can do to keep your car in the best condition it can be, but investing in a car cover is one of the best means of doing so.

You should wash and maintain your car on a regular basis. While you are washing the car, be on the lookout for any nicks or scratches that need remedial attention before they become a more serious issue. You can get touch up paint at a local auto store or you can also get it online and after the car is cleaned, you can touch up any spots to avoid the spots getting larger or becoming rusty.

You should also wax your vehicle on a regular basis. It is better to wax your car when it is in the shade as otherwise, the direct sunlight can bake the wax into your car. You should use a high quality polish to wax your car and if the paint has become oxidized, you will want to use a high quality rubbing compound on the oxidization to remove it.

You will have to be thorough about maintaining and caring for all aspects of the vehicle. This includes keeping the interior and exterior trim polished to prevent it from cracking and this is why a car cover is important; when you car sits in the sun the cover will help prevent cracking and fading of the exterior and interior parts of your vehicle.

You will also want to keep your car in good running condition so it will look good and get you to where you want to go in style. Service your car on a regular basis, including changing the oil and oil filters and pay special attention to the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and advice. This is especially true if you are planning a long trip, or in the winter months, as you don’t want to become stranded in hazardous conditions.

Keep your tires properly inflated as this will help save on fuel, improve your safety when driving and enhance the driving experience. You also want to keep the tires and wheels clean and shined to give your car an overall clean and appealing look. The tires and wheels are one of the first things that any onlooker will notice, so paying attention to them will enhance the look and aesthetic of the vehicle overall. If you get into a regular maintenance routine and keep your car covered when not in use, it will look and drive its best at all times.

Custom made car covers will help protect both the inside and the exterior of your vehicle. The hot sunny summer days can fade and discolor your paint job. It can also damage the interior of your car by fading and cracking the leather and vinyl. It you park your car outside in the blazing heat, over time it will completely ruin your paint finish. If you use a car cover that has UV protection you will keep the paint looking new for years to come as well.

Jack Labens works for Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers, truck covers,
motorcycle covers, and other vehicle covers and accessories. Empire Covers can be found online at: EmpireCovers.com or at their blog EmpireCovers-Blog.com.

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