Whether your car has just rolled off the showroom floor or exited the auto body shop, the new paint is front and center. In fact, the brilliant shine and sleek look of new car paint can be a real showstopper. To keep new car paint looking its best, you must maintain it. New car paint will require washing and waxing after a waiting period that will allow the paint time to breathe as it cures.
Wait 15 days after the new paint job to wash your car. Wash your car weekly to protect the new paint, after the waiting period. Use a pH balanced cleaner, specifically designed for automobiles is your best bet. Add the cleaner to a 5-gallon bucket of water. Wet your car down with a garden hose and apply the cleaner with a microfiber towel or mitt. Work your way from top to bottom when you wash your car.
Rinse away the cleaner after you are finished soaping up your car. Even though the cleaner is pH balanced, improper removal can result in unwanted residue. Rinse your car with a garden hose, starting at the top and working your way down.
Dry your car thoroughly after rinsing away the cleaner. Use a microfiber cloth to remove all traces of water. Water droplets contain minerals that can actually mar the paint if allowed to remain for a long period of time. The result can be a permanent stain.
Remove any leftover tar or sap with a clay bar. You can purchase detailing clay bars in automotive stores, which will remove what cleaning missed, without damaging your car’s new paint job. Simply rub the clay bar over the sap or tar to remove it.
Wait 60 days for the new paint job to cure before waxing. Apply a carnauba wax to the exterior of your car according to label instructions. Waxing new car paint every two to six months will help seal the paint and make it shine. Carnauba waxes have a natural base and rock hard finish that can help to protect your new paint job.
