How To Take Care Of Your Car’s Bodywork

Even if you are happy with the interior and the function of your car, the exterior is still in need of special attention. Besides keeping your car looking great, you can take steps to ensure its resale value and keep from having to visit repair shops by doing proper maintenance at home.

Rust, weather, and even bird droppings can cause irreversible damage to your paint job. Keep reading to learn some simple tips on properly taking care of your car.

Washing Your Car Correctly

Regularly washing your car’s exterior is the best thing to do in order to keep your car looking clean and avoid having paint touch-ups or repairs at a shop. When washing your car at home, make sure to use soft, clean sponges or rags and mild cleaning products made specifically for cars that won’t damage the paint. Although it may be more convenient, avoid using dish soap, as it is an abrasive cleaner that can potentially damage your car’s protective top coat.
If you decide to go through a drive-through car wash, ensure it is clean, properly maintained, and pay attention to the kinds of bristles they use with their machinery. 

Cleaning Under the Right Conditions

When it’s nice outside during the summer in the middle of the day, you might think this is the perfect time to wash your car. However, heat can change the effectiveness of cleaning products, so always allow your car to cool off prior to your wash. Besides its effect on cleaning products, soap and water will also leave streaks due to evaporating so quickly and may damage your paintwork over time.

Waxing to Protect Your Paint

Waxing your car may give it a wonderful shine, but waxing at least twice a year can help your car’s paint job last longer and protect you from rust damage. When applying wax yourself, make sure you are using automotive wax and if you feel unsure about your selection, talk to a professional. Always read the instructions on the label before applying.

Rust-Proof Your Car’s Exterior

If you live in a place with high humidity, get lots of rain, or are near an ocean, your car is frequently exposed to salt, water, and other debris on the roads that make your car susceptible to rust. Rust is something you don’t notice until it is too late and already has done its damage and can even spread to and affect your engine if not caught in time. With a quick application of an anti-rust agent, you can protect your car, and your wallet, in the future.

Don’t Let Your Paint Corrode

We cannot control where pesky animals and birds decide to leave their droppings. But when they’re left on our car, not only can it bother us because it looks dirty, but the chemicals in faeces can corrode your paint and cause significant damage to your exterior. The longer that these faeces is left on our car and baked in by sunlight, the more damage it can cause, giving you good reason to wipe off and clean any droppings you see.

Touch Up Small Dents and Chips 

If you have a small dent or chip in your exterior, you are more prone to rust or corrosion over time when those parts are exposed to the elements. No matter how small, you should always try to fix a dent or scratch that comes to your attention to avoid more work and money that may have to be put towards it later. Visiting a car repair garage near you can take care of minor dents and chips easily and quickly.

Car Body Repairs at Caversham Coachworks 

Whether you love cars or just use your vehicle to get from point A to point B, it is essential to take care of the entire car, inside and out. Making an effort to keep it clean and running smoothly can improve your car’s resale value and keep it going for longer without any issues. While it can be easy to wash or repair parts of your car yourself, we always recommend taking your car to an auto body repair shop that is experienced in taking care of your car best.

At Caversham Coachworks, we take on everything from insurance repairs, non-fault repairs, crash and car body repairs to dent and scratch repairs and many other services. As the leading independent vehicle repair centre in Berkshire and Central Oxfordshire, we promise to offer exceptional service and quality work to keep your car in tip-top shape for the long run.

Contact us today to speak with one of our experts or use our free and easy estimator tool.