Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Paint Job in Spokane, WA | Spokane Hyundai

We all love the look of a shiny new car. Maintaining that brand-new appearance can be challenging but can provide a number of benefits. For example, if you’re planning on trading in your vehicle at any point, a well-maintained finish can make your car more valuable. At Spokane Hyundai, we want to help you keep your vehicle in great condition, and in this article, we explain how you can preserve your car’s paint job.

Hyundai Veloster by crash71100 licensed by CC0 1.0

Wash Your Vehicle

We know it’s probably obvious, but one of the best things you can do for your car’s paint job is wash it. Over the life of the vehicle, it’s going to come into contact with a wide variety of contaminants. This can include gasoline, cleaning chemicals, bug splatter, dust, and bird droppings. All of these things can dull the shine of your car and many of them contain corrosive compounds that can eat away at the finish. To avoid a dull paint job, it’s important to give your car a regular wash.

There are many ways to wash your car and some are better than others. If you need a quick solution, you can swing by your local automatic car wash and take your vehicle through. There are also many self-serve facilities that allow you to clean your car with a power washer. If you have time and want to get a great result, it’s helpful to wash your car by hand. This allows you to really detail your car and might be a good weekend activity.

If you want to wash your car by hand, it’s important to have a few simple tools, including two buckets, microfiber towels, car washing soap, glass cleaner, and a hose or power washer. You can start by rinsing the car off and then work around the vehicle with your soap and water. During the process, try to keep your washing and rinsing buckets separate to avoid scratching the paint with debris. When your finish, you can rinse of the soap and then dry the car with a microfiber towel. Finally, you can clean the windows and detail the wheels.

Find Some Shelter

Many people don’t know that just leaving a car outside can damage its finish over time. This is true even if the weather in your area is generally nice. In fact, much exposure damage comes from solar UV rays, which can fade your car’s paint job over time. While not catastrophic, this can make your car look much older than it is and detract from its value.

While UV exposure is inevitable, there are a few simple steps you can take to minimize damage. First, it’s important to find a shelter to park your car in when it’s not in use. The best solution is a garage, although there are other more temporary shelters than you can use over your driveway. When you’re away from home, try to park your car in the shade. This can minimize UV exposure and will also keep the inside of your car cool in hot weather. Besides offering UV protection shelters can also protect your car from hail and rain damage.

Consider a Wax

Once your car is clean, it might be helpful to add a protective coating. One of the most common ways to protect car paint is waxing. Car wax is a natural or synthetic substance that drivers can apply over their paintwork to provide protection and shine. It provides a slick surface that helps cars shed water and provides a barrier between debris and your vehicle’s paint. Waxing can also fill and conceal small blemishes in your car’s clear coat.

If you want to wax your car, it’s important to start with good washing. You can then apply the wax with an applicator. During this stage, it’s important to work one section at a time. After application, let the wax dry and remove it carefully. You can then finish by buffing your car to a high sheen. Before waxing, check out some in-depth tutorials or talk to professionals.

Invest in Advanced Coatings

There are now a wide variety of new technologies that help you preserve your vehicle’s finish. Some of the most popular are ceramic coats. These are usually applied as a liquid polymer in professional body shops and can provide a slicker and more durable surface than other top coats. This makes them resistant to scratches or debris and helps them provide excellent resistance to inclement weather. Ceramic coats can also enhance the shine and color of your car and often provide good UV protection.

If you’re interested in a ceramic coat, it’s important to find a qualified technician in your area. The process usually takes a day or more, so make transportation arrangements before setting an appointment. Although ceramic coats provide excellent protection, you will still need to take basic precautions with your vehicle, including washing it regularly and keeping it out of bad weather.

Talk to Our Hyundai-certified Service Center Experts

Not everyone has the time or expertise to give their car the care it needs. Fortunately, there are many professionals ready and willing to help you out. If you live in the Spokane area, you can come to Spokane Hyundai for all your service needs. Our talented professionals can take the job out of your hands and help you preserve your car’s finish for years to come.

That’s our roundup of ways to keep your car’s paint job in great condition. We hope this helps you maintain the color and sparkle of your vehicle for years to come. If you have any tips that we forgot, drop us a line and we’ll add it to the list.

If you’re looking for a new or used Hyundai in the Spokane area, swing by our showroom. We’d love to help you out and we’re sure you’ll find something great at a price point that works for you. If you want to put your vehicle’s finish in the hands of our experienced professionals, you can check out our service department here. Good luck in your automotive adventures and we hope to see you soon at Spokane Hyundai!