Hall Acura Virginia Beach
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Hall Acura Virginia Beach

How to Maintain Your Vehicle's Paint Job

Keeping your vehicle looking great is just as important as keeping it tuned up. If you ever plan to resell your car, you’re throwing money away if you aren’t taking the time to properly maintain your car’s paint job. Curb appeal goes a long way in resale value. With a little investment of time and money today, you can keep your vehicle looking shiny and keep that resale value up. Here are some tips from Hall Acura Virginia Beach on maintaining your vehicle's paint job.

Wash it

To keep your car looking its best, you should have it washed once a week, if you can. If you live in an area where it snows and they use salt to melt the ice, it’s crucial you wash your car at frequent intervals. The same is true of any beach area. The salt in the air is incredibly corrosive and it doesn’t take long for it to start wearing away your paint job.

When you do wash it, go to a car wash that hand washes or do it yourself. You want to clean the car, but you also want to be gentle with it. Be sure to use products that are specially formulated for use on cars. Dishwashing liquid might be handy, but it’s not great for your paint.

Dry it

If you do wash your car yourself, don’t forget to dry it with a chamois or microfiber clothes. Water droplets might look harmless, but they can leave behind mineral deposits that etch your poor little car’s paint.

Detail it

If your car has been bird bombed, get the poop off your paint as soon as possible. It’s nasty, acidic stuff that can do real damage to your car. If you can’t get all the poop and bugs and grime off, you might try using an auto detailing clay which can help remove the tough stuff.

Wax it

Wax doesn’t just give your car that great-looking shine, it also protects your paint. Giving your car a good wax is the most important thing you can do to protect the paint. Use a good Carnauba wax—it really does make a difference. Wax your car every two to three months. If you live an area with harsh weather, you may even want to wax it a little more often.

Seal it

If you don’t want to go with a natural wax, you can apply a paint sealant, which is basically a chemically engineered wax. Sealants last longer than wax, often up to six months, but they lack the luster that a good wax gives your paint job.

Park it

Imagine how you’d look if you had to sleep outside every night. The longer your car is exposed to the elements, the more abuse it takes. Whenever possible, park your car in a garage or a shady spot.

If you'd rather not do all of the above yourself, the Hall Acura Virginia Beach service department is here to help you keep your car looking its best—inside and out.