The best way to maintain a new car’s paint or any car is to consider how people with the most delicate skin and hair take care of themselves and extrapolate that to your favorite car. Imagine that your car is a delicate red-headed woman with freckles and extreme sun sensitivity and you are on your way to learning how to maintain your car’s showroom luster.
Wash it
Redheads don’t use bar soap to wash their hair. Read the shampoo labels carefully. Considering the hair’s texture and chose a shampoo that will most perfectly maintain and improve the hair’s cleanliness, texture and strength.
Cars are the same. The best way to wash it is by hand. Read the car shampoo labels carefully. Make sure the shampoo works for the type of vehicle you are washing. Find one that is pH balanced and won’t strip off wax.
Dry it
After the hair is clean, there are options to dry the hair. Blow dry, air dry, ringing it out with a towel or gently patting it? The answer to these questions will determine how the hair will look once it is dry. The same is true with your car.
Air drying is not good for cars. The dried water drops from your home’s hard water may negate the careful hand rubbing attention and the benefits of the specialized car shampoo.
People don’t dry hair with paper towels and you shouldn’t dry your car with them either. The paper towel can leave streaks and fuzz, which will dull your paint job. Stick with microfiber towels or old-fashioned chamois cloths.
Wax it
Many people don’t realize that water is a corrosive substance. People with extremely dry, sensitive hair take an extra step after their wash and dry by applying some super-thick moisturizer to it. Depending on the climate, a once-a-week treatment to a once-a-month leave-on conditioner is sufficient.
The same is true with a car’s paint job. Even the best or new car needs shampoo and careful attention to drying the car can’t protect the car 100% water’s corrosive effects. That is where a good paint sealants and car wax steps in. It not only gives the car an eye-pleasing shine, it also protects the car from water and UV damage.
The same tips on adapting to the weather apply. If your car is in a moderate climate, waxing the car every other month should suffice. If you live in a harsh climate with long winters and intense summers, you should wax the car once a month or even more often.
Apply a good paint sealant first and then follow up with Carnauba car wax, which is the gold standard of car waxes.
Store it
There are some days when your hair needs a break. That’s when a hat or a scarf comes in handy. Your car needs similar care. If possible, store it in a carport or a garage to keep the sun’s UV rays and the rain from attacking the car’s paint. In public, park in the shade.