Like the saying in a famous British film goes, “You can’t polish a turd”. However you can prevent your car from developing into a state! We’re not talking about major repairs after an accident, or panels that have rusted all the way through, but if you have a vehicle that is in decent shape, a few routine steps is all that is needed to keep it that way.
1. Just Wash Your Car!
To prevent rust and marks on your car it is commonly recommended that you wash your car at least once a month, especially if you live in an area of high pollution or sea salt in the air. In a recent survey of over 1,000 British drivers 55% washed their car themselves but only 49% of motorists give their cars the monthly wash it deserves.
2. Clean Off Bird Droppings ASAP!
In the UK birds have berries available to them all year, which makes their droppings high in acid. This makes them the one of the harshest things to touch your paintwork. The droppings can stain paintwork in a matter of a few hours and in extreme circumstances cause rust spots, so be sure to use water to clean the area, at the first possible moment after noticing.
3. The Mr Miyagi Method…
The famous Karate Master taught the Karate kid to “Wax-on, Wax-off”. A lesson that not many motorists actually use! Waxing your car approximately once every 4 months will help protect your bodywork down to the small finite scratches that you can barely see. The wax acts as a barrier, stopping water from making its way into these scratches and stone chips which can slowly corrode and rust.
4. Small Scratch And Chip Repairs Prevent Bigger Repairs!
When you do get a scratch or a stone chip you can simply use touch-up paint kits to cover the vulnerable area. A brush is usually supplied enabling you to easily apply a coating or two, otherwise you can use a toothpick for those smaller scratches.
Unfortunately our lives seem to move at a faster pace than they used to and the traditional British, weekly car wash seems to be getting less common. Remember this article and help keep your pride and joy in good shape!
Interested in learning more? Take a look at our related articles for more helpful guidance and expert tips.
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