How To Care For Your Austin Car Paint After A Repair
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Do Not Expose Austin Car Paint to Sunlight

While you may be tempted to get your vehicle back on the Austin streets as quickly as possible, this can cause more problems than it solves. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause the base coat used in automotive painting to dry too quickly, resulting in cracking that will require an additional repair.

The new Austin car paint should not be exposed to direct sunlight for at least three days after a repair. This means avoiding parking in full-sun areas like driveways and parking lots, even if you can park under trees. Even if the tree is small, its leaves may cast enough shade on your vehicle to affect the paint job. If you have a garage, keep your vehicle there for at least a few days after it returns from the body shop.

Treat Your Car with a Wax Finish

Waxing is a great way to protect your car paint after a minor repair. A wax finish helps protect the Austin car paint from the elements and makes your car shine like it’s brand new. You can use a wax product on your own to make sure that the job is done right every time. Waxing should be done regularly, at least four times per year. You should also wash and dry your car before each application of wax. The more often you keep up with this maintenance routine, the better off your car’s paint will stay for years down the road.

Avoid Using Household Cleaners on Austin Car Paint

You may be tempted to use a household cleaner on your car to scrub off bugs or other debris. This can damage the finish and cause the Austin car paint to fade or discolor. Avoid using household cleaners to care for the newly painted area of your vehicle. Household cleaners are designed to remove troublesome stains from kitchen countertops and bathroom sinks, not delicate surfaces like car paint. The chemicals in these cleansers can strip away wax and even damage your vehicle’s clear coat, making it look duller than the rest of your car’s exterior.

Do Not Slam on the Brakes

Most paint jobs have an invisible clear coat of protection on top. When you take your new car out for a spin, that clear coat is still curing and softening. If you slam on the brakes, it can rub off a bit of the Austin car paint underneath and leave a mark. This is not an issue anymore once the clear coat is fully cured, probably a week or so after the paint job. This is why it is vital to avoid slamming on the brakes or driving too fast immediately after having your car painted.

Give Your Car a Clay Bar Treatment

After completing any auto body repair that requires touch-up paint, you should use a clay bar on your car’s surface. Clay bars are used to remove contaminants and other small particles embedded in the clear coat of Austin car paint. These contaminants and particles can cause the paint to look dull and even scratch the clear coat over time if they are not removed. Clay bars are made of a soft, pliable material that lifts off any foreign particles that may still be stuck on the clear coat after washing.

The clay bar sticks to the contaminants on your paint and removes them without damaging your car’s clear coat. A clay bar treatment will leave your car with a smooth glossy finish.

Save Austin Car Paint from Bird Droppings

Bird droppings are acidic and can cause damage to the paint on your car. When wet, this acid can burn through the clear coat of the paint on your vehicle and expose the metal surface beneath. Even if you never park under trees or near bird feeders, you may still encounter bird droppings and other acids that damage Austin car paint.

If your car is exposed to bird droppings regularly, keep your car covered. This is by far the best way to protect against bird droppings. If you do not have a garage where you can store your vehicle, you should consider buying a car cover to protect against bird droppings and other issues that could damage your vehicle’s paint job.