How to Protect a New Car’s Paint

By John Funk, August 5, 2020

Car owners are constantly looking for effective yet cheap and easy ways on how to protect their new car’s paint. This is totally understandable, since there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t like to keep their vehicle looking their best with minimal maintenance.

How to Protect a New Car’s Paint in 6 Easy Ways

Wash and dry regularly.

Washing your car on a regular basis (at least once a week if you’re using it every single day during the work week) can significantly reduce the harmful effects of UV rays and remove all the accumulated dust, dirt, and grime that may harm your car’s exterior finish. Sounds pretty simple, right?

Unfortunately, many car owners don’t understand the importance of giving their beloved rides a thorough cleaning after using them. Worse, some don’t know how to do it right. If you’re one of these people, you’ll want to follow this step-by-step guide to washing your car.

• Choose a shady spot when washing your car. Avoid areas under direct sunlight.
• Remove dirt, dust, and grime by wiping them off with a clean, soft cloth. You can also choose to get rid of the dirt by spraying it with water.
• Give your car a thorough cleaning using a gentle automotive cleaner and a clean cotton cloth. Don’t use dish detergent or regular soap, since these contain harsh chemicals that may ruin the car’s exterior finish.
• Remove hard mud and bird droppings stains gently. Use an automotive clay bar to remove mud stains and no-salt seltzer or automotive cleanser to remove dried bird droppings without harming the paint.
• Rinse the exterior thoroughly to remove all chemical residues.
• Wipe off excess moisture using a microfiber towel or a clean cotton rag. Chemical and water residues should be completely removed to reduce the risk of water stains and protect your new car’s paint.

Polish with wax.

Waxing the car doesn’t only improve the luster of the clear coating and keep it looking brand new – it also acts as a protective layer against damaging UV rays, bird droppings, and bug splatters! As a bonus, it reduces the drag force applied to your car, thereby increasing its efficiency.

Car wax comes in many forms, from solid paste to liquid formulations, and may contain both natural wax and synthetic chemicals. Some formulations simply give your car a great finish, while others clean, protect, and polish in one go.

Car owners love the fact that car wax provides ample protection against heat, is simple to use, and extremely affordable. However, the protection is really quite basic and doesn’t last for long, typically needing to be reapplied every six weeks. Another drawback: Small dirt and debris particles can be trapped into the wax and damage the clear coat if left unattended.

Use paint sealant.

Paint sealants have the same effect as car wax, only better. They are simple enough to use, work well with wax and polish, and produce a glassy look if applied correctly. The effects also last longer, since you only need to re-apply it once every six months. However, it also has its downsides. Paint sealants can highlight paint imperfections, scratches, and swirl marks and requires more prep work than waxing.

Apply synthetic coating for additional protection.

Synthetic coating, also known as ceramic coating, is a liquid polymer coat applied to the car’s exterior to produce a brilliant shine and prevent the paint from fading due to constant exposure to harmful UV light. Additionally, it protects against chemical stains resulting from acidic contaminants, provides superior scratch resistance, and makes your car more water resistant. It can also protect your vehicle from hard-sticking items such as tree sap, tar, and bug splatter. Synthetic ceramic coating is extremely durable it can last for two to five years.

What’s not to love about it? While synthetic coating provides excellent results, it can also be more expensive, especially if you choose to have it professionally installed. You can go for the cheaper DIY option, but be prepared to do extensive prep work and do your research to make sure you are using a high-quality product. Otherwise, you may not get the results you are hoping for.

Park it right.

If you’re seriously looking for ways on how to protect your new car’s paint, always park in the shade after you take it out for a ride. It is hands-down one of the easiest, cheapest, and no-fail ways to protect your car against UV radiation, acid rain, and bird droppings. Having a dedicated garage at home would be ideal, but if you don’t have one, consider investing in a temporary car shelter to keep the paint from fading. Alternatively, you can buy a high-quality car cover to provide the protection your car needs.

Invest in a good quality car cover.

Do car covers scratch paint? Some may, so do your research before making a purchase. To get the best protection, choose one that offers superior water-resistance (to protect your car’s finish from excess moisture and acid rain) and breathability (to keep moisture from building up under the cover). More importantly, go for one that provides a snug fit. You don’t want something that is too big for your car, since the loose cloth may whip against the exterior finish during windy days and ruin it over time.

Looking for the Best Car Cover to Protect New Car Paint? Choose Seal Skin Covers!

Seal Skin offers the best UV protection car covers at a great price! Each of our covers are guaranteed to provide multiple layers of protection, superior breathability and a great fit. To demonstrate our full confidence in our products, we are offering a full 30-day return and exchange warranty with every purchase, at no additional cost to you.

If you have any questions about our products, exchange, and refund policies, call us at 800-915-0038 during our office hours (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST). We will help you find the right car cover to help you protect your new car paint and keep it looking as striking as the day you drove it home!