To keeping your vehicle looking good and new, it’s important to understand what damages paint off a car. Also note that protecting car paint can help to safe its resale value if you prefer to sell your car.
Car paint not only could be scuff up by accidents or poor parking jobs, but also a couple of everyday substances we are may contact thereupon can deteriorate car paint and cause damage. If the damage gets worse, you will have to buy a new car.
What Can Take Paint Off a Car? There are tons of things which will cause damage to the paint of a car, thinks seems like harmless substances like bird droppings or even silly string can leave behind a stain which will be difficult to remove.
What Eats Car Paint the Fastest?
Certain substances can break down car paint faster than others. However, it affects by many factors, like what kinds of paint you’ve got , when did you last waxed your vehicle, how often you wash your car, and how long the harmful substance has been sitting on the surface of your car and even the weather can play a role.
In general, it’s always best to act quickly when anything acidic gets on your car paint. If you’re unsure, play it safe and wash your car, you may thank yourself later!
1. Bird Droppings
Yes, we may have had bird droppings on our vehicles at just one occasion or another. But droppings can actually leave behind permanent damage due to the acidic content. Especially when under the sun, bird droppings can harden and eat away at car paint.
It’s best to act immediately before bird droppings get dry on your car. Use a wet towel with detergent, gently clean the area without scrubbing or scratching the paint. If the dropping has hardened, wait a couple minutes for the cleaner to dissolve the spot before wiping it away.
2. Tree Sap
Tree sap is another natural element will surprisingly deteriorate at car paint.
Sap can eat away the clear coat on car paint and cause staining and discoloration. This process will be accelerated during the hot weather, it’s better to act sooner while this sticky substance are tricky to get rid of . Using either lotion or a cleaning solution of your choice, wet a washcloth and set it on top of the spot with the sap. Let it sit for a minimum of 30 seconds, then use the material to softly rub the area until the sap is removed. You’ll need to repeat this process if the sap remains, until the surface is clean. Use this same process if sap is on the windshield and do not use your windshield wipers until the sap is totally gone.
3. Bugs
Insects are another common natural element that can damage car paint. It’s just like bird droppings, insect body liquid substance usually highly acidic and dissolve car paint. While presumably insects body fluid won’t harm the surface upon initial contact, they will cause damage over time if left on your car.
You need to clean the surface directly if you notice insects on your car by using a cleaning solution, let it sit for a minimum of 30 seconds before gently wiping it out with a clean towel. As previously mentioned, you need to let the cleaner do the job instead of scrubbing the area to avoid scratching off the paint.
4. Silly String
Silly string contains resin and colorants which will cause damage to a car’s paint when left to dry within the sun. You may first clean your car with a light soap and water or take it through the car wash. If there’s remaining marks, use a product like WD40 to wipe the surface clean.
5. Brake Fluid
Not silicone-based Brake fluid can act like paint thinner and eat away at the coating of car paint and causing it to peel. A few Not silicone-based Brake fluid might not have this effect on car paint. However, it’s better to proceed with caution when using brake fluid near your vehicle.
In case brake fluid on your car paint, use a towel to remove the fluid immediately, and avoid to wiping around and spreading the fluid around. Then just clean the spot as soon as possible with soap and a clean sponge, and rinse the area thoroughly.
6. Gas
Do take care of any gas leaking onto your paint while filling up your tank. Gas will evaporate and you won’t see any damage initially, but it can leave behind stains that are very difficult to get rid of .
If gas leaks onto your car while filling up, you can clean it with a light soap and water as soon as possible or run your car through the car wash. Waxing your car once or twice a year can help to protect the car paint’s finish so when things like this happen, the paint is protected.
7. Coffee & Soda
Make sure not to let coffee or soda get on your car while grabbing your morning coffee or a soda on your lunch break. If you’re someone who used to set your drinks on top of your car when getting in, don’t forget to take it off before driving away.
Both coffee and soda have high acidity levels and may eat away at your car’s protective layer of paint. If you spill coffee or soda on your car, wash it as soon as possible.
8. Dust
An accumulation of dust can actually negatively affect your car’s paint. It can create an acidic compound when mixes with rain that damages the surface and results in corrosion over time. Pay attention to your car’s appearance and get it washed from time to time will help to protect the paint and preserve its value in a long run.
9. Acid Rain
Acid rain can cause damage when it accumulates on surface of your car. The acidic material remaining will eat away car paint even after the water evaporates, and causing damage which will be hard to reverse. Beside to washing your car regularly, there are several things you can do if your car has acid precipitation marks.
Clay bars are commonly for removing stains and dirt from a car’s paint layer, you can find them the hardware stores. To use clay bars, simply wet the surface of your vehicle and gently rub the clay back and forth. Wipe the area with a microfiber towel, and repeat this process to all affected areas.
You can also remove acid mark by using watermark remover, dual-action polisher or try manually buffing the surface with a finishing compound. If you’re unsure which method is best for your vehicle, ask professional for help.
Other Tips for Keeping Car Paint in Good condition
Here are a couple of steps you may want to take as a car owner to keep your paintwork in good condition:
If possible, keep your car parked in a covered area, which can protect it from the sun’s UV rays and other natural elements which could damage your vehicle’s clear coat and damage paint.
Wash your car as often as you can. If you wash it yourself, make sure only use a light detergent and never allow your car to drip dry, since it can leave behind water minerals that could damage the clear coat or even the car paint. Just use a microfiber drying towel to soak up water left on the surface.
Wax your car at least once a year, it depends on how often your car is exposed to outside elements. Wax adds an additional layer which will protect your paint from light scratches, keep it from breaking down and maintain its shine.
Wipe or wash any acidic substances (like we just mentioned above) that gets with your car immediately. Always do your research and make sure you’re using the correct product for the clean job . WD40 is usually wont to remove sap and other tricky substances.
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