Apart from your house, your car is probably the most important investment. If you keep it looking good by using car bodywork protection film, you will fetch a good price when it is time to upgrade. However, some people find it difficult and confusing to maintain their vehicles. Let’s take a look at some important exterior detailing tips that will keep your vehicle looking as good as new.

Wash The Car Properly

The first most important car exterior detailing tip is about washing the car properly. Back in the day, there weren’t any specialized microfiber cloths or shampoos, etc. that helped the owners with washing the car properly. Therefore, swirls would develop on the paint and the cloths used during the process neither removed the dirt properly nor dried.

However, today, the detailing industry is at its peak in terms of detailing techniques and advancements. You have pressure washers and air dryers to remove the water from the car. This reduces the amount of contact with the car, reducing the chances of swirls or other damages.

To wash your car properly, you need to purchase a pH-balanced shampoo and a wash-mitt. Apply the shampoo on the vehicle and use a wash mitt to remove dirt and dust. Make sure that you have different clothes for different areas of the vehicle. For instance, never use the wash mitt for cleaning the tires and rims. Rocks and chips can become stuck, which can cause deep scratches upon being rubbed against the painted surface. Once the vehicle has been washed, use drying towels to dry the vehicle.

Inspect The Vehicle For Paint Imperfections

Now that the vehicle is dry, you need to inspect the vehicle under appropriate lighting to identify swirls, minor scratches or scuffs, etc. If your vehicle is not regularly polished and waxed, you will need to use a clay bar to remove microscopic contaminants on the paint. Ignoring this step will not allow the polish and wax to bond properly.

However, if your vehicle is regularly maintained, you should move on to the next step. Make sure that you have properly dried the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle should be parked in an isolated spot like a garage, to prevent dirt and dust from accumulating on the body. If you have a dark-colored vehicle, the imperfections will be relatively easier to spot as compared to light colors such as white.

Apply Polish And Wax

Drying the car before applying polish and wax is extremely important as water hinders the bonding of the chemicals. Although polish is better applied by using a DA polisher but if that is not available, you can apply the polish by hand. However, make sure that you purchase a polish that can be applied by hand. Some polishes can only be applied using DA polisher.

Read the instructions provided on the bottle and follow them. Never apply polish or wax when the car is hot or in the sun. Marks left behind by polishes and waxes are hard to remove. Therefore, if you have just driven the vehicle, allow it to cool down for a moment. Begin applying the polish in a circular motion.

Using a clean microfiber cloth, remove the polish as you go. The purpose of the polishing step is to remove any contaminants in the paint and prepare it for waxing. The polishing step will bring out the shine and the wax will lock in the shine while offering a layer of protection.

Apply Paint Protection Film

In addition to applying a polish and wax, you can go ahead and opt for paint protection film as well. PPF is the most advanced protection technology that keeps the vehicle and its paint protected against fading and other potentially harmful external factors for years to come.

However, applying PPF is not that easy. It is advised that you get it done by a professional. You can do it on your own as well if you have the right tools. But if you choose to just polish and wax the vehicle regularly, you should allow it to cure after the wax has been applied.

Typically, waxes will cure in a day or two depending on the weather condition. If it is cold outside, you might need to give it a week to cure. With that said, you should only apply wax if the temperature outside is in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. Polishes and waxes will only work if the temperature is right. You might want to wait for the weather to settle if it is either too hot or cold.

Final Word

Concluding, the key to maintaining a vehicle’s exterior lies in utilizing the right car washing and drying techniques. Polish and wax the vehicle at least once a week so that the paint is protected against deep contaminants, swirls, and minor scratches. And get PPF installed from a 3m paint protection film installer Springfield to keep the car looking new for a longer period.