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Washing Your Car to Improve Its Lifespan


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Washing Your Car to Improve Its Lifespan

When I bought my first car, my father gave me an important piece of advice. He told me to wash the vehicle every week in order to keep it safe from rust and other damage. I thought that it was a valuable tip, so I followed his instructions to the letter of the law. Now 20 years later, my car still looks nice, while a lot of my friends' cars look like they were pulled out of a lake at some point. This blog is all about washing your car and getting it detailed to improve its lifespan and to keep it looking incredible.

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Bugs, Tar And Sap: How To Remove Them From Your Car's Paint

You paid a lot for your car and want it not only to last a long time to get you from point A to point B, but you want it to continue looking like new for as long as possible. It can be difficult to keep the paint gleaming and shining like the day you bought it, when bugs, tar and sap stick to it like Velcro. All of these things can leave marks on your car's paint and can eat through the clear coating if you don't remove these spots and allow the sun to bake them on. See below for tips on how to remove bugs, tar and sap from your car.

Dryer Sheets

Use a dryer sheet to rub away the bugs stuck on your paint. The bugs will come off right away, although it may leave a filmy residue on your car. This will come off easily though after washing it with car wash soap and water.

WD-40

Spray WD-40 on your car where you have bugs and tar. Allow the WD-40 to soak in for about 10 - 15 minutes, then scrub it clean with a soft sponge or a soft car cleaning mitt. Don't scrub too hard or you can scratch the paint. After the bugs and tar are gone, clean the area with soap and water to clean off the WD-40 and any leftover residue. Since this product is oily, try not to get it on your car's windows, as it can be difficult to remove.

Wax

Wax is a great way to get rid of hard to remove substances. Wash your car first to remove as much as you can with car wash soap, then rinse your car and allow t to dry. Rub the wax into the paint to remove any sticky substances that remain after washing your car. Allow the wax to dry, then rub the wax off with a clean microfiber cloth. The wax should take off any of the leftover residue. If you have any left, use the wax on just these areas to spot clean.

Other Tips:

  • Don't park beneath trees that may leave sap on your car. 
  • Wash your car immediately after returning after taking a long trip to remove bugs so they don't bake on.
  • Drive slowly over roads that are newly paved to prevent chunks of asphalt from kicking up and marring your car's paint.

Wash your car often to prevent the buildup of bugs, tar, sap and dirt from marring your beautiful car's paint and to keep it looking like new.