How to Take Care of Your Vehicles Paint in the Summer
Are you melting this summer? So is the paint on your car! It's important to take care of your vehicle's paint. A typical Southern California summer day can reach anywhere from low 90s to 125 degrees Fahrenheit, making a vehicle incredibly vulnerable to damage. The exterior of a vehicle can reach up to 195 Fahrenheit when left for some time in direct sunlight. A standard quality paint job can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500. And, second to the millage, the exterior weighs heavily on the value of a car. This excruciating heat can damage the paint of the car leaving a hefty bill to repaint the car, not to mention dropping the value of the car.
To most, a car is a very important part of their daily lives. In fact, a car is usually the second most valuable investment after a home. So, it isn’t too far fetch to want to take good care of a vehicle and uphold its value. Aside from taking your automobile to a vacation spot where the temperature is more favorable or not using the car for the entire summer, there are several things you can do to maintain the integrity of the paint. Here are some tips to help protect your vehicle’s paint during the summer. These beneficial tips for the exterior of the car will help for the care of the interior as well as your own comfort!
Put a Barrier Between the Sun and the Car
When finding a place to park a vehicle, find a place that will cover the car as much as possible. The best protection is a barrier between the sun and your car. Let’s begin with your home. If you are fortunate enough to have a garage then utilize it as the car’s main parking spot. If you are currently using the garage for storage, it might be time to clean it out and make a nice comfortable place for your car. It will conserve the car’s paint job during all the other seasons too. If you don’t have a garage, then think about building a barrier. For a fraction of the cost of a new paint job, you can invest in a canopy to place in the driveway. You can order one online, complete with the poles for structure, for under $200.
Where Ever Your Car Sits
You want to park your car under a barrier everywhere else you go. Parking the car in a parking structure or parking garage will provide the most protection. However, that option might not be available to most people. The next best thing is parking the car under a tree or some other form of shade. You will thank yourself for parking under the shade when you return to a cooler, more tolerable temperature in the car. So, walk those 20 extra steps to park under a shade, it will be well worth the trip.
A Clean Car Makes for A Healthy Car
The integrity of the paint is hindered by dust, pollution, and particles. You can prevent these impurities from making your car its home, and causing more damage, by washing it regularly. Keeping a clean car can maintain the value of the car. Hand dry the car with a soft, quality towel after washing your car. Remember most water from the ground is measured as hard water. Hard water is water containing a considerable amount of calcium and magnesium that accumulates as it leaves the ground and enters our homes. Although it is not harmful to a person’s health, due to the minerals build-up, hard water can leave your car with ugly water spots and is almost impossible and unbearable to remove. It can eat the paint of a car leaving faded spots. Hand drying your car will help to eliminate water stains and prevent water damage to the paint.
Keep Your Car Shiny!
After a good washing, coat it with a good quality wax with UV protection.The sun rays can cause peeling and cracks to the paint allowing dust and particles to remain present on your car. A coat of wax can prevent the cracks and peeling to occur. The coat creates a shell encasing the car and shields the particles from sticking to the car. This makes things that land on your car like bird poop, dust and sand easier to remove. In addition, nice wax can leave your car looking shiny - looking newer. Carnauba wax is the best and most natural wax to shield and sheltering from the hot summer days. It also sheds water leaving the car easier to wash and dry.
Your Car is Worth it!
It may sound cumbersome to safeguard your car from the heat of the summer but that’s just one of the cost we pay as Southern California residents. These steps will save you from the hassle of paying for a new paint job and save thecar’s value from dropping. If your car is valuable to you, care for it and protect it. Remember you pay good money for your car, be sure to reap the investment as long as possible.
