Your car or truck is finally back on the road after an accident. The last thing you want is for it to get damaged by Mother Nature! We want your newly repaired vehicle to look as good as possible for as long as it is on the road!
To keep your vehicle looking (and running) great after it has been repaired from a collision, it is important to try and keep it covered. That can be hard to do when you are out, but when parking your car or truck overnight, a covered space is best for the life and value of your vehicle. Garages, barns, carports, anything that puts a roof over your vehicle will only be a benefit to keeping your car looking and running better for longer.
A covered car is out of the elements. While that may not seem like a big deal in the summer months when it is warm, your vehicle can get just as much damage from the summer elements and it does from the snow and salt in the winter. The last thing you want is damage after it has just been repaired from a fender bender or larger accident!
Sun and heat can do a lot of damage to your car or truck’s exterior. When a vehicle is left in the hot sun for extended periods of time, the paint can oxidize and become dull under the UV rays. Heat can also shorten the life of your battery and cause dry rot to tires.
But it is not just the sun and heat of the summer months that can take a toll on your vehicle. It may not make sense, but rain can be damaging to your car or truck’s paint. You may think that a good rain would wash away all the dirt and grime on your car, but that really isn't true. Even a heavy rain can not thoroughly clean the dirt and dust off your vehicle. Additionally, rain water gathers pollutants and contaminants from the air as it falls. So the water that is washing over your car or truck is not clean. It will only streak and smear the dirt and dust on your vehicle which can speed up the erosion process for paint.
And of course, there is your favorite thing to find on your car - which inevitably happens just after you've washed it - bird poop. Bird droppings are not just unsightly to look at on your car or truck, the mess can actually do damage to the paint. Bird poop actually has a pH level of 3, making it about as acidic as lemon juice. Fresh bird poop is not so bad, but when it dries, it can become a problem. Be sure to clean your car for bird droppings regularly (and maybe don’t park under a tree with a lot of chirping).
Sun, dirt and bird poop are going to happen, so it’s also important to wash your car regularly. Hand wash, or at a car wash, whatever you prefer, but the high pressure water and soap to clear off debris is essential to keep your paint job (and what’s underneath the paint) in the best possible shape.
So, to maintain your car or truck’s newly repaired paint over the summer, park in a covered area and wash regularly.
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