You want your car to look good. A new paint job is one way
to make sure that your car looks as good as new for a long as possible. You
want to make sure that you keep that paint job looking like you just left the
shop for a good long time. You can do that easily with just a few simple care
tips.
Let the Paint Cure
The paint is going to need to have time to fully cure. The
paint shop will make sure the paint is dry and set before the car leaves, but
it takes days to weeks for the gases to off-gas and everything to settle into
place. While that happens, you should not wash or wax the car. If you get messy
stuff on the paint during that time, rinse it off with a hose, and use a very
soft cloth to dry it.
Follow these tips:
- Washing:
Ideally,
you should wait about two weeks to wash your car, and when you do wash it,
make sure you are being as careful as possible.
- Waxing:
When
you wax your car, it protects the paint job and keeps it looking new.
Before you wax, you should wait about six weeks. That will allow all the
gasses to have left the paint, and nothing will get trapped in between the
wax and the paint.
Just be careful as you wash your paint job, and you’ll keep
it looking nice.
Wash the Car Carefully
You should wash your car regularly. Ideally, your goal is
weekly, but that can't always happen. When you do wash your car, you want to
make sure that you are doing it carefully and doing it right. You don't want to
cause any damage when you are washing it.
Handwashing
If handwashing your car an option, you should follow a few
simple steps to make sure you are doing it correctly.
- Don't use dishwashing detergent:
While you might think that dishwashing detergent is an
easy way to get your car clean, it can actually dull your finish and
damage your paint.
- Work from the top down:
You want to work from the top down. That way you won't
be pushing dirt onto the already clean sections of your car.
- Work in small sections:
Ideally, you want to work in small sections at a time.
For example, work on the front quarter panel, by washing it with a soft
cloth or brush, rinsing it well, and then drying it with a soft cloth.
Then move onto a door. It may take a little time, but it will let you get
the job done thoroughly.
Automatic Car Wash
Not everyone has the time or desire to handwash their car
weekly. An automatic car wash is another good way to make sure your care gets
clean. If you do that, you still want to make sure you are being careful.
- Check out the car wash:
Since dirty brushes and cloths can act like sandpaper
and create damage, you want to make sure that the car wash is in good
shape. Take a quick look around to make sure it looks nice and neat. If it
has a lot of customers, that's also a good sign.
- Consider a prewash solution:
Before you take your car to the car wash, you might
want to put a prewash solution on it. That will help break down all the dirt,
grease, and oil, and make it easier for the car wash to do its job.
Bring your car down to Olson's Auto Bodyfor
your new paint job. Our skilled technicians will make sure that your car leaves
our shop looking like it just rolled off the assembly line. We will also give
you more care tips for your new paint job.
