If you want to keep your car looking healthy and new, maintaining its paint job is important. Check out our tips to see how you can protect your car paint from scratches and keep it from getting a dull appearance.

Two Bucket Car Washing & Other Cleaning Tips
The simple act of washing your car is full of pitfalls that could cause paint scratches, or typically scratches to the clear coat that make the paint look scratched, especially on dark cars. These tips will help you avoid scratching the clear coat when washing your car.

• Use two buckets: one with soapy water and one with rinse water. After using the soapy water to wash your car down, dunk your rag into the rinse water before placing it in the soapy water bucket again. This will help dislodge any debris that you could end up rubbing against the car exterior.
• Never use dish liquid to wash your car. Its degreasing agents will strip the clear coat over time and leave the paint more vulnerable to scratching. Always use a car washing shampoo.
• Buy anti-scratch microfiber cloth for washing and drying your car. Also, when drying your car wipe slowly in one direction. Patting dry is also recommended for those with extra patience.
• Mothers Polishes Waxes expert, Jim Dvorak, suggests that drivers use the “grocery bag test” before applying wax. You place your hand in bag and run it over the car’s surface; doing so will amplify the feel of any debris, so that you can remove it before waxing.

Soda & Other Damaging Substances
These common substances can wear out paint over time, so make sure you wash your car clear of them when they come in contact with the paint.

• Soda and coffee are both quite acidic. Make sure you wash your car off if you ever accidentally spill either on the paint.
• Bug splats and bird droppings can wreak havoc on car paint, especially if they’re left to stick and bake on. Clean them off right away if you want to protect your car’s exterior.
• Sprinkler water can leave permanent water spots on car paint. This is especially true during the summer when the sun bakes the mineral-laden spots on. However, no matter the time of year you should avoid parking near sprinklers.

“Wash Me” Isn’t Funny
Your buddies might find it funny to write this on the outside of your car when it’s really dirty, but while they may only finger swipe the message on, rubbing dirt onto car paint can (when done many times) cause scratches to appear. Dirt is an abrasive, so even when it doesn’t look like there are pieces of debris big enough to cause scratches, dirt still has an abrasive effect on car paint when rubbed in.

Any time you need assistance with getting your car cleaned to perfection, our detailing experts are at your disposal. We also offer free car washes with every service!