4 Tips for Maintaining a Freshly Painted Car Body

Minor scratches or massive chips can make your vehicle look ugly, rugged, and old. Over time, the exposed bare metal beneath a scratched surface becomes rusty. Therefore, you should see an auto-body paint technician when you spot scratches, chips, or dents on your car's body.

A professional auto body technician has the skills and experience to address all surface blemishes and restore your car to its pre-accident look. However, most car owners do not know how to take care of a fresh paint job. Here are critical care tips to keep in mind when handling a newly painted car.

1. Avoid Leaving Grime and Bird Droppings 

The primary objective of an auto-body paint technician is to restore a vehicle's aesthetic appeal. Typically, the painting process takes anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the extent of the damage. Once done, a freshly painted car is ready for washing and polishing.

Professional auto body painters advise car owners against letting dirt rest on a freshly painted vehicle, even for a few hours. Notably, dirt and acids from bird droppings and insects can damage a fresh paint job before drying. The best alternative is a waterless car wash.

A waterless wash removes bird droppings and debris immediately after landing on a freshly painted car panel. Most importantly, the cleaning strategy protects the body until the paint hardens.

2. Avoid Waxing 

It is a no-brainer to want to maintain the showroom look on your vehicle after a fresh paint job. Consequently, it is tempting to wax your car to maintain the sheen. However, while waxing a car has numerous benefits, you should avoid doing it on a freshly painted vehicle.

The curing process of fresh auto paint involves letting the new layer gas off naturally, which can take quite a bit of time. Therefore, waxing your newly painted car is harmful because the UV protectants in the car wax affect the curing process. Ideally, you should wait at least two months before you start waxing your vehicle again.

3. Avoid Long Drives

If you had planned a long road trip in a newly painted car, you should consider canceling the journey. You might be tempted to show off a new paint job to your pals, but the trade-off is not worth the trouble. The reason is that long drives expose fresh paint to harsh environmental conditions before it cures fully. For instance, patches of new paint might come off due to strong winds and give your car a horrible look.

Professional auto body and paint technicians might advise using a freshly painted vehicle for short drives only. However, relatively long drives are not a problem if weather conditions are fair. In addition, you can use alternative options to commute in order to give your newly painted vehicle enough time to cure adequately. 

4. Avoid Busy and Rough Roads

Motorists tend to avoid busy and rough roads for obvious reasons. However, the conditions also expose fresh paint to damage. For example, car tires can easily flick gravel particles on rough roads, causing dents on fresh paint. Similarly, driving on busy roads increases the risk of paint damage by reckless drivers or pedestrians who rub against your car's body.

A good strategy is to use busy roads during off-peak hours and avoid rough terrains for the first month at all costs. The approach goes a long way in protecting fresh paint until it cures properly.

An auto body technician's job is to give your vehicle a pristine look. However, maintaining a fresh look remains your job. Therefore, follow the highlighted tips diligently to protect and preserve your car's paint job. If you need anything for your auto body, contact us at Coats Auto Body