In the UK alone, between 1.5 million and 2.5 million new cars are sold each year. Yet many people don’t take the time to look after their new vehicle. As a result, road film, a mixture of dirt, soot, and oil, can accumulate on your car and permanently damage your car’s finish, which is expensive to repair. Nevertheless, you can prevent this all together and keep your pride and joy factory fresh for years.
Here are five ways to make your car investment go further:
1. Consider Coating Options
There are coating options available for car paint protection that prevent minor scratching. Minor scratching from everyday use degrades the color and shine of your car paint over time. Ceramic coating your car is a popular and cost-effective method of keeping your paintwork shiny and looking new. In a nutshell, a thin chemical bonding layer forms over the paint, protecting anything underneath. While the concept is simple, the application is complex. Therefore, you should never attempt to do this yourself and always consult a professional.
2. Keep It Waxed
A tried and tested way of keeping your car shiny is simple wax polishing. Like professional coating, wax forms a layer to protect anything underneath, decreasing long-term paint degradation. Wax is an excellent alternative to a professional coating since it costs less. However, wax is best to supplement a long-term professional solution such as a ceramic coating. Many polishes are available at different prices and varying efficiency if you cannot afford a coating. Carnauba wax is best for a deeper color and brighter shine.
3. Jet Wash Every Other Weekend
Road film covers your car and dulls the paint color and shine, giving your vehicle a poor finish. Therefore, cleaning your vehicle regularly is necessary to keep it from losing appeal. Coatings and wax are great for restoring shine and color, but you should thoroughly clean your car before application. Jet washing is an excellent method of removing stubborn dirt and allows you to get in deep underneath wheel wells and around the tires. Jet washing can degrade paint, so do it once every two weeks and adjust the pressure according to the cleaning area.
4. Valet Once a Month
Further to giving your vehicle once over with your pressure washer, there is no substitute for a professional valet cleaning. Valets are trained by professionals to clean your car with the most suitable products. Additionally, they will shine your wheels, tires and thoroughly clean the interior. If you find valeting expensive, they usually offer different levels of service. You can do what you can at home, but at some point, it becomes necessary for a professional to restore your car to an almost new state.
5. Protect Your Vehicle
Of course, like most things that can hurt something, prevention is better than the cure. However, given how much it can cost to repair your car, it is cost-effective and advantageous to do all you can to protect it. If you have a garage, use it. Most people don’t, but your home garage is built for the express purpose of protecting your vehicle. If you don’t have a garage, using a covering is an excellent and cheap method for protecting your car. Where you park is also important. For instance, parking under a tree exposes your vehicle to leaves, seeds, and bird excrement.
By following the five tips mentioned above, you can make your car investment go further and enjoy your car for a long time.