Tips to Protect Your Car Paint From Sun Damage

Everyone enjoys sunny days. However, too much sun exposure can harm you and your vehicles. 

Sunlight contains UV rays, which are mild radiation. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can deteriorate car paint, just as excessive tanning can cause blisters and sunburns for you. When exposed to UV rays for an extended period, car paint begins to oxidize, giving the car a dim, dated appearance. Even worse, heat can damage your car's interior upholstery.

Therefore, you should do everything necessary to protect your car from sun exposure. The following tips can help you save your car from the extreme effects of sunlight.

Always Park in the Shade

Parking in the shade is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent sun damage to your car. Even though finding the right place to park can be tedious, proper parking is necessary to prolong the life of your vehicle.

You are better off parking your car in a garage or shed with a roof. Alternatively, you can park under a tree to keep the sun's rays away and the car cool. Keep in mind, though, that the sun's movement throughout the day will also cause the shade to move every hour. Therefore, be mindful when choosing a spot.

Wash Your Car Regularly

Washing your car frequently relieves your car of anything stuck to its exterior. These include dust, sand, dead insects, pollen, and bird droppings. Debris and dead bugs may react with the sun's high temperature and cause paint to fade.

Use a car shampoo to clean your vehicle, as the shampoo contain specially formulated ingredients for cars. After the wash, hand-dry your vehicle thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.

Ensure the car is not under direct sunlight before starting the washing process. Washing a car in direct sunlight can be disastrous. Water will evaporate due to the heat, leaving soap on your car's surface. The soap will leave visible stains on your vehicle, which are difficult to remove.

Wax Your Car

Your vehicle's exterior can benefit from a good layer of wax every once in a while. When you wax your car, you add a layer of protection to the paint. The wax protects the finish of your car by reflecting harmful UV rays. Additionally, wax keeps dust, dirt, and grit from adhering to the finish. Furthermore, wax gives your car a glossier appearance.

Apply Paint Protection Film (PPF)

In addition to wax, you can further protect your car by adding a paint protection film. PPF is a self-healing urethane film that protects the car's surface from UV exposure. This film also protects the car's paint from scratches, grime, dents, and dust while being stain-resistant. 

You should leave the installation to the professionals since PPF can be challenging to work with.

Use Windshield Protector

Parking under the sun exposes the interior of your car to UV rays. As the sun's rays enter the vehicle, they may damage the plastics and the upholstery.

With a windshield shade, you can dramatically reduce the amount of sunlight entering your car, thus protecting the interior from damage. In addition, you can also get rear windshield shades to protect the rear interior of your vehicle.

Having a car in poor condition is no one's idea of fun. Therefore, taking steps to prevent sun damage is essential. All of the tips mentioned in the post are things you can implement right away. Although some of the methods require products, the majority are relatively inexpensive. Nonetheless, a small investment in preventive maintenance is always better than a hefty repair bill.



Contact us today if you have any questions about the best methods for keeping your car and its paintwork looking good.