Today's paint and finish jobs are better than ever before. With proper care you can easily expect the paint job on your car to last for years.

The KEY to long life is to treat the finish carefully. In general, we recommend washing your car monthly and waxing it twice a year. Because of the protective finish that comes on a new car, regular washing will be sufficient for the first two years of the life of the car. After the two-year mark, begin a regular waxing routine.

Hand-washing the car is preferable to automatic car washes. If you do use an automatic car wash, always use a brushless one. The big brushes on regular car washes can damage the finish, especially if the car is very dirty. The brushes will grind in the dirt. Also avoid automatic car washes that recycle water. If you live in a high-salt area, then these facilities are spraying corrosive salt on your car.

Always wash your car in the shade. Hose down the car first; this will rinse off the major dirt and cool down the surface if it is hot. High temperatures cause the paint to stain.

Wash with mild soap: household spray cleaners and laundry detergents may damage or discolour the paint or leave a film.

Wash and rinse small areas of your vehicle at a time, especially on hot days. Start from the roof down and always spray the wheel wells and underside to loosen debris.

Use clean, soft sponges or towels on the upper body. Loosen hard-to-remove dirt by placing a wet rag on it for a few minutes rather than trying to scratch it off. There are commercial products available to clean off dead bugs and other stubborn spots.

Use mild soap or dish detergent to clean the dirt and grease off tires. A scrubbing brush or scouring pad should be used to remove stubborn stains, but be sure to wet the tires first.

Never use gasoline or kerosene to clean tires!
If your whitewalls are very dirty, you may want to use a special whitewall cleaner. I have found that a soapy scouring pad, used gently, will bring them up a real treat. Extremely scuffed tires can be painted with "tire black", which you can buy at automotive supply stores.

If you have a convertible top, keep it clean by vacuuming or sweeping with a whisk broom. The metal mechanism should be clean and oiled so that it manoeuvres smoothly. A coat of wax on the metal parts will help prevent rusting. Make sure that the well into which the top folds, is kept clean and free of debris.

WAXING

Once your car is two years old, plan to wax it at least twice a year - even more if you can manage it. You can tell that your car is due for waxing when water doesn't bead up on the surface.

Wash first, then apply a cleaner/polisher on the car, then apply the wax polish. The cleaner/polisher leaves the surface exposed to the elements. The wax afterwards is to seal in the beauty of the hard work you have just finished.

If you follow these tips well, you will be giving your car's finish a longer life and the paint will keep its colour.