As a car owner, you must be taking pride in how your car looks, and your car paint is what gives it the shiny, new look. You probably take paint scratches on car very seriously and want to get it fixed professionally. Keeping your car in prime condition boosts its resale value, and that’s an advantage if at all you wish to sell it.
However, it isn’t just paint damages and scratches caused by a collision you need to worry about. There are several ways in which your car paint gets affected, changing the way your car looks.
What causes paint damages?
Did you know that insignificant things like shoe polish and bird droppings can damage your car paint? Shoe polish and bird droppings appear to be harmless enough, don’t they? There’s a lot of chemical content in both, and that’s what causes damage to your car paint. So, what are the things that can damage car paint?
Here are a few things that can damage your car paint:
Bird Droppings
You park your car under a shady tree, imagining that you are protecting your car paint from the harsh sun. However, bird droppings can cause more damage than sun rays. When you notice bird droppings on your car, you dismiss it as a minor irritant and find a tissue to wipe it off.
Well, bird droppings don’t just cause a temporary inconvenience; they can cause permanent damage to your car paint because there’s a lot of acid content in that poop. When bird droppings are left to dry, they harden on your car paint and slowly eat on it. The next time you notice fresh bird droppings on your car, wipe them away immediately unless you want to be left with an expensive paint job. You may use a wet cloth and mild detergent to clean up the mess. Be aware not to scrub too hard, mostly if the dropping has dried up.
Gasoline
Blame it on the careless gas station attendant who allows a few drops of gas to leak on your car surface. The gas evaporates instantly, and you dismiss the incident without a second thought. The stains that gas causes are stubborn and difficult to remove.
The best remedy for gas stain is a quick wash or cleaning it with mild detergent and water at the earliest opportunity. If you have a habit of waxing your car regularly (thrice a year), your vehicle is protected from such occasional gasoline spills and remains unaffected.
Coffee or Soda
Coffee and soda are classic examples of elements that can cause damages to your car paint. It is common to see people grab a coffee cup and place it on the car hood after each sip. The problem arises when you leave it there and start driving.
The same goes for soda, as well, because coffee and soda are enemies of car paint. Both have chemical contents and can cause your car paint to erode over time. So, the next time you spill coffee or soda, make sure you wipe it dry and clean it with mild detergent and water.
Shoe Polish
Though one wonders how you can manage to get shoe polish on your car (maybe you rest the tin on the hood while polishing), but if you do, it can ruin your car paint. If shoe polish is left to dry on your car, it can cause irreparable paint scratches on your car. The best thing to do under such circumstances is to visit your nearest car collision center to have it fixed.
Dust and Grime
When you leave your car undusted for a long time, the dust tends to settle for good. Your car is screaming for a clean-up, and you should take notice and have the dust cleaned immediately.
Dust accumulating on your car for long has an eroding effect on the paint. Dust mixes with moisture from rain or dew, causing an acidic reaction that eats away the paint. Left unattended, a mixture of dust and rain can cause corrosion, which means a major paint job that’s very expensive. Washing your car regularly helps keep it looking new and adds to its resale value.
Acid Rain
If you live anywhere on the East Coast, you must be accustomed to frequent spells of acid rain, which can cause extensive damage to your car paint. When your car is exposed to acid rain and accumulates over time, the acidic content tends to eat away the car paint and lead to corrosion. You can use clay bars to remove stains caused by acid rain as a temporary measure. However, if the damage is extensive, you need the services of a professional.
Summing it Up
It may surprise some to learn about the several ways in which car’s paint gets ruined. Taking good care of your car exterior helps enhance its resale value.
