Just like the sun to your skin, without proper care, the sun can affect your car’s paint. And as it turns out, most car paint damage is due to the same component of sunshine that ages and damages our skin: ultraviolet (UV) rays.
UV light is invisible but very powerful. When it makes contact with a surface, that object’s molecules receive a jolt of energy. This extra energy is usually given off as heat, but some of these jolts result in molecular bonds breaking. Over time, when this happens to enough molecules of paint, it no longer interacts with light in the same way. It becomes less reflective and duller, transmitting less light outward that we see as color and it may even cause oxidation. Fortunately, the right maintenance routine can keep your new car looking like it just rolled out of the dealership and boost its curb appeal.
How to protect your car’s paint
As you go through your weekly routine, seek covered or sheltered parking whenever possible. This protects not only your car’s paint but also its headlights and rubberized trim.
You can also preemptively help undo some of the damage from UV rays, heat and insults wrought by nature, including bugs and bird droppings. Follow these tips to maintain your vehicle’s paint looking sharp and shiny.
Protect your car’s paint by washing it
Wash your car often.
Washing your car and cleansing it of pollution and grime is the first step. Get a soft cotton cloth, bucket, and automotive cleaning product, and work on the car out of direct sunlight.
Some owners just hop into the car immediately after washing and skip drying, this is not best for your car’s appearance. Drying your car with a cotton rag or chamois protects your car’s paint from minerals left behind by water evaporation.
Dry your car thoroughly.
Some owners just hop into the car immediately after washing and skip drying, this is not best for your car’s appearance. Drying your car with a cotton rag or chamois protects your car’s paint from minerals left behind by water evaporation.
Wax your car
This remains one of the most effective ways to keep it looking like new. The wax protects the paint against roadside pollutants while also combating the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Waxing will also prevent dirt and grit from sticking to your vehicle, which can protect your paint from pit damage. When you don’t wax your car, grime left on your car can damage the paint job.
Do Some Colors Fade Faster?
Regardless of UV intensity, some color paints are more susceptible to fading, with red paint usually losing its color the fastest. Light comes in a spectrum of wavelengths, and how a material absorbs and reflects these wavelengths determines what color we perceive.
Every color has a specific wavelength, and a color paint is engineered to absorb all wavelengths except for the particular one or ones associated with its color blend. So red paint absorbs all wavelengths except those in the red band, which are reflected. Red fades more than other paints because wavelengths associated with red are the lowest energy of visible light, so to appear red it’s absorbing much more energetic wavelengths, which causes more aggressive degradation of the paint’s molecular bonds. This is in addition to what UV rays are doing.
If it’s a little too late for you to apply these tips, don’t hesitate visiting Tropical Collision Center and we can leave your car looking like it has never been near the sun. Simply give us a call at (305)908-5545 or visit us in person – we’re here everyday!