How to Restore Your Car’s Paint

You can’t have a snazzy-looking car if it’s paint is not vibrant and shiny. We are not talking about pure vanity here, even though it is somehow included. First of all, shiny car paint preserves the value of your car, gives off an impression that your vehicle is in good shape, and makes things easier in case you want to resell.

Yet, we all care about the social impression we leave on other people as well. Your vehicle will say a lot about you. If your car is looking sharp and well-maintained, you will create an image of yourself as someone who is sleek, polite, and well-mannered. Just imagine about the impression you would leave while getting out of your skyrocket, glossy car.

Many car owners simply forget about how important it is to maintain their vehicle’s paint in decent condition. If you don’t give some attention to your four-wheeled pet, it will look duller and duller day after day. At one moment, you may come to a point of no return, which is definitely something you don’t want to. An extensive paint job is expensive almost as getting a new vehicle, so think again about maintaining your car’s paint.

Luckily, you can skip this scenario easily. The first time you notice the paint has begun fading, wait no more. Follow on our tips on how to restore your car’s paint and maintain its almost brand new condition.

Understanding the Nature of Car Paint

When driving a new, shiny vehicle off the lot, you are expecting its paint to stay in perfect condition for years. However, what you don’t know at that moment is that the paint is so thin the sun rays will start doing their job right away.

This has become a standard in the automotive industry because of economic reasons. This is the explanation of why paint on your vehicle has faded away after just a couple of years. If you have an older vehicle, you have certainly noticed more severe paint damages.

Besides the UV radiation, dirt and other environmental pollutants will bleach your car’s paint day after day, until one the damage reaches its advantage stage. We are talking about any car owner’s nightmare here – oxidation. You will undoubtedly recognize it by white blotches and plague-looking paint.

Using a car cover is not a long-term solution, as it will only collect dust underneath, which is as harmful as UV rays. Even washing your car regularly can harm the paint. Your goal is to wash off contaminants, but you are washing its shine off at the same time. That means you will have to get to the real job, sooner or later, as the paint will begin fading severely at one moment. The most important thing is not to wait until it is too late.

What is the Cure?

Now that you finally brought a decision to revive your car paint’s shine, here are the steps that lead to great results.

Step 1 – Wash the dirt off

Start off with giving your car a thorough cleaning with car shampoo and a soft sponge. Stay away from dish soap, as it will only eat the protective layers of paint away.

All vehicles collect the dirt and debris routinely while being on the move. We are talking about bugs, oil, fingerprints, and any other damaging particles as well. Repeat the shampooing twice, rinse it with water, and dry the surface completely before doing any further work on it.

Step 2 – A plastic sandwich bag trick

If you think you got rid of all harmful contaminants, think again. Is the surface of your vehicle completely contaminant-free? We will tell you – it is not, yet. Particles, such as paint overspray, soot, tar, and airborne pollutants are not visible to the human eye. However, even if you don’t see them, it doesn’t mean they are not there.

What makes the struggle is that these contaminants are so persistent and so tightly bonded to the surface of your vehicle it is almost impossible to remove them. Yet, we have a simple trick that will send them to oblivion!

Put a plastic sandwich bag on your hand and run it all around your car’s surface. The bag will make your skin more sensitive to tiny particles. Now when you can detect the contaminants, you will need a detailing clay. Clay actually does wonders when it comes to contaminants, but what is even better – doesn’t influence your car paint negatively. For best results, conjunct the clay with some lubricant.

Step 3 – Applying rubbing compound

If you inspect scratches or any other sign of car paint damage that affects the clear coat only, you should apply a rubbing compound to it. Work your way with the rubbing compound going from the front to back of the hood, to the top, and then to the trunk. Make sure not to push too hard on the buffer, but rather lightly.

Step 3 – Applying car polish

Use a soft, clean rag to wipe off the excess rubbing compound and then change the rubbing pad with a polishing pad. Polishing will help you remove swirl marks and tiny scratches and give your car that glossy look. Dual-action and rotary polishers have proven themselves as the best ones for hand application.

Step 4 – Seal it

Now when you are so close to the finish line, all you want to do is to ensure that everything stays in place as long as possible. Car paint sealants are easy to apply and provide long-term protection for your car.

However, if you are in the category of carnauba wax fans, you can use it instead. In case you are in doubt which product to choose, AutoWise has reviewed the best sealant and wax paint protection products in 2019.

Conclusion

It might take a little bit of effort, but getting your vehicle to the previous paint-stage is not at all that difficult. After all, you don’t want your car to look like a piece of junk, but as a powerful beast on the road. Restored car paint will give off an impression of almost a brand new vehicle.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.