How To Preventing Scratches on Car's Paint

Preventing scratches

• Wash your car once a week. Dirt on the paint can easily lead to scratches. 
• Don't slide objects across the paint. Even grocery bags can cause scratches. 
• If you wash a car by hand, don't use an abrasive cloth such as one with synthetic fibers. We suggest a clean sponge or sheepskin mitt. 
• Hose off any dirt or grime before you begin washing, and frequently rinse the sponge or mitt in clean water. If it drops on the ground, don't use it until it has been thoroughly cleaned. 
• Dry the paint with a clean chamois or terrycloth towels. 
• Wax using microfiber towels or soft all-cotton cloths, such as cloth diapers.

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Headlight Restoration Kits

Headlights with an aged, cloudy, or hazy look are becoming increasingly common, as the average age of all cars on the road continues to rise. Plus, most modern vehicles use replaceable bulbs with plastic lenses that are more prone to discoloration, rather than the more-durable glass sealed-beam units. Fortunately, our tests show that for a modest cost, even junkyard-ready lens covers can be made clear again.

More than a cosmetic issue, clouded lenses can pose a serious threat to safety, compromising night vision and reducing the effectiveness of your headlights by up to 80 percent, based on our measurements.

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the primary culprit in the headlight aging process, compounded by other environmental factors. The problem tends to be most serious in warmer, sunny climates, but we've seen plenty of evidence of it.

Some makes and models seem to be more susceptible than others, depending on the size, angle, and composition of the lens, and whether the car is garaged or spends its life on the street. The effects can vary from just a slight haze to making lenses virtually opaque.

Headlight Restoration products basically involve sanding away the outer, fogged surface of the headlight lenses using progressively finer abrasives and polishing the lens to a smooth finish. Some also include a sealant. 

An important note is that some lenses have a hard protective coating that must be sanded off in order to refinish the plastic lens beneath. Only the Sylvania product was able to remove the hard coating with the supplied materials, out of the box. The others require the separate purchase of a sheet of 400-grit sandpaper to remove the coating before using. This type of hard coating was only seen on two of the cars we tested.

While it may take an hour complete all the steps for both headlights, remember that this should be a job you only have to do once on your car. 

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Do's and Don'ts of Washing Your Car

For many vehicle owners, the weekend act of washing a car by hand is a therapeutic act as beneficial for the person's state of mind as to the vehicle's appearance. That's good, because frequent washing is also the best way to maintain a new-car finish. But as simple as washing your car may seem, there are some things to watch for so that you don't accidentally scratch or degrade the finish. Here are some basic car-washing tips.

When should I wash the car?

Don't... wait for a layer of crud to accumulate before washing. Dead bugs, bird droppings, and chemicals from the atmosphere all leach acids that can strip away wax and eventually eat into your car's paint. If left too long, they can cause damage that requires sanding and repainting the area to correct.

Do... wash off dead bugs, bird droppings, and tree-sap mist as soon as possible. Other than this, a weekly car wash will keep the finish in its best shape. In addition, if you live in an area that suffers from acid rain, rinse your vehicle off after a period of rainy weather. Otherwise, acidic chemicals in the rainwater will be left on the surface after the droplets have evaporated, leaving a mark that can permanently mar the paint.

What kind of products should I use?

Don't... use household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on the paint. These aren't formulated for use on a car's paint and may strip off the protective wax.

Do... use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for use on automotive paint. Apply the suds with a large, soft natural sponge or a lamb's-wool mitt. See our car wax report for tips and advice on all types of waxes.

Grease, rubber, and road-tar deposits picked up from the road often accumulate around the wheel wells and along the lower edge of the body. These can be stubborn to remove and may require a stronger product, such as a bug-and-tar remover. Use a soft, nonabrasive cloth to remove these deposits, as they can quickly blacken your sponge.

Use a separate sponge to clean the wheels and tires, which may be coated with sand, brake dust, and other debris that could mar the car's finish. Mild soap and water may work here; if not, a dedicated wheel cleaner may be required. Be sure the cleaner is compatible with the type of finish (paint, clear-coat, chrome, etc.) used on the wheels. A strong formula intended for mag wheels, for instance, can damage the clear coat that's used on the wheels that come on today's cars. To be on the safe side, choose a cleaner that's labeled as safe for use on all wheels.

Are there any general guidelines I should follow when washing a car?

Don't... wash your car when the body is hot, such as immediately after driving it or after it has been parked in direct sunlight for awhile. Heat speeds the drying of soap and water, making washing more difficult and increasing the chances that spots or deposits will form.

Don't move the sponge in circles. This can create light, but noticeable scratches called swirl marks. Instead, move the sponge lengthwise across the hood and other body panels. And don't continue using a sponge that's dropped on the ground without thoroughly rinsing it out. The sponge can pick up dirt particles that can scratch the paint.

Do... rinse all surfaces thoroughly with water before you begin washing to remove loose dirt and debris that could cause scratching. Once you begin, concentrate on one section at a time, washing and rinsing each area completely before moving on to the next one. This ensures that you have plenty of time to rinse before the soap dries. Start at the top, and then work your way around the car.

Work the car-wash solution into a lather with plenty of suds that provide lots of lubrication on the paint surface. And rinse the sponge often. Using a separate bucket to rinse the sponge keeps dirt from getting mixed into the sudsy wash water.

When rinsing, use a hose without a nozzle and let the water flow over the car from top to bottom. This creates a sheeting action that helps minimize pooling of water.

How should I dry the car when I'm done?

Don't... let the car air dry, and don't expect a drive around the block to do an effective job. Either will leave watermarks, which in areas with hard water are the minerals left after evaporation. In addition, don't use an abrasive towel or other material that can leave hairline scratches in the paint.

Do... use a chamois (natural or synthetic) or soft terry towels. If you choose towels, you may need several. It's best to blot the water up instead of dragging the towel or chamois over the paint. The drying process can be speeded up by using a soft squeegee to remove most of the water on the body, but be sure the rubber is pliable and that it doesn't pick up bits of dirt that can cause scratches.

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The Difference Between Car Polish and Wax

Which is the best to use, car wax or polish? What is the difference?

"A well polished cleaning method."

Polish is a mildly abrasive substance which sands the surface of paint smooth and allows it to shine. Wax is a non abrasive coating which protects the paint finish and microscopically fills in the dents and dimples in the paint to help the shine.

Even some manufacturers confuse the terms polish and wax which really undermines their credibility. Putting wax over a bad paint finish will just seal in the imperfections and will not enhance the appearance of the paint so waxing is a final finishing job only.

Polishing is only something you should do when the paint finish has become flat. Years of dirt grime and road film along with sunlight can degrade the finish on a car. Red cars seem to be much more susceptible to sunlight degradation that other colours and the paint turns a dull pink colour (this is caused by oxidation).

You need to determine if the paint defect is above or below the surface and use either a finishing wax or polish the paint first.

You need to determine if the paint defect is above or below the surface and use either a finishing wax or polish the paint first.

Each time you polish the car you are removing a small layer of paint and if you do this too often you will go through to the undercoat and the only way of fixing that is to respray the car.

You need to determine if the paint defect is above or below the surface. After washing the car sweep your fingers over the paint and if it feels smooth any defects are below the surface and if it feels rough, pitted or slightly sticky it indicates above surface imperfections.

Below surface defects are dealt with by polishing and above surface defects like traffic film, tar, bug guts and the like are best treated with a clay bar. (Follow the instructions that come with the clay but it is a simply a case of wiping the warm clay over the paint with a supplied lubricant to trap the dirt particles. It is a time consuming process but this makes a big difference to the finish of your paint especially on lighter colour cars which seem to show every slight imperfection in the paint.

After a clay bar treatment look closely at the paint - if there are still imperfections these will be below surface and need to be polished out. Any stone chips and scratches should be touched up at this point before applying the wax because paint will not adhere very well to a waxed surface.
How to use car polish.

To polish the car apply the cutting paste to a soft cloth and rub in a circular motion, use plenty of polish and make sure the cloth does not dry out. If you are removing a scratch or specific flaw include the surrounding area, aiming to fade in the freshly cut paint to the old paint and make sure that the freshly polish paint does not stand out - you may even need to do the whole panel if the paint is badly faded in order to match it in.

It is best done in stages because you only want to cut away the smallest amount of paint to remove the imperfections. Although an electric polisher will make the job a lot quicker, it is very easy to remove too much paint and allow the undercoat to show through so avoid using one unless you really have to. Wax can be applied with an electric polisher and a fantastic finish is possible in a very short time.



Many scratches from keys, scrapes in car parks and other damage can be almost completely removed with polishing as these photographs show.

A nasty scrape is rendered virtually invisible with a bit of polishing. So, before you take the car to a body shop for a respray quote have a go at polishing out the damage and see what the true extent of the damage is.

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Our Car Wash and Vacuum and Tyre Shine In Kuala Lumpur

Car Washes are also a generic service that can not focus on the areas of your individual car's specific needs.

For this reason we utilise hand washing at our Detailing Centre. Hand Car Washing ensures that you car is cared for as an individual vehicle - making sure we get all the spots where you car may need Extra Special Attention and Care. The chemicals we use are Not Harsh like the ones Automatic Car Washing services use and with a hand wash we are able to give you a more thorough service.

Hand Washing is Safer for your car and the most through method. Regular Hand Washing also protects you car's finish as many factors such as the weather and bugs, dirt, contaminates, etc can eat away at your car's coat.

With the basic wash and vacuum, your vehicle is first sprayed with High Pressure Water Jets. Using paint-friendly products, your vehicle will be thoroughly cleaned including the tires and rims. After the cleaning process, we then wipe it dry using soft cloth that is gentle to your paint.



The Tyres will be Glazed with Rubber Protection Chemicals and the Interior will be Vacuumed and Wiped Clean.

This basic wash is guaranteed to clean out basic grime and make your car look ever so Fresh and Clean.

We have a deionised water purifying system to eliminate virtually all ions or minerals present in the water that is used to wash your car. What’s left is extremely pure water that contains no elements that are damaging to your car during the course of detailing.

If you would like your car to be washed and vacuumed only, the following steps which corresponds with a full detailing session will be taken:

Preparation:
A heavy-duty vacuum cleaner is used to vacuum your car interior entirely. Detailing Brush is used on the dashboard, air-cond ducts, gaps, side panels, rear shelf and hard-to-reach areas.

Wash:
Generous amount of water is gently sprayed to ensure that minimal amount of dirt and sand will be picked up by the washing sponge to avoid scratching. A mild organic Shampoo is used with a 2 bucket washing system, starting with the top hood, bonnet and hood. Next, the right- and left-hand sides are cleaned from top to bottom. Finally, the front and rear ends are treated similarly, from top to bottom.

Wheel Cleaning & Type Protection:
Wheel Cleaner is used to wash rims and to remove brake dust. It is applied with sponge and thoroughly cleaned with an applicator. A soft and medium Wheel Brush is used especially on the wheel nuts to remove etched dirt. When this is completed, wheel protectors (liquid wax) is sprayed on to the rims. It enhances brake dust removal, gives a remarkable shine and it acts as a protective layer for wheels. Tyre Preserves are used to dress the tyres for a beautiful and subtle shine.

Vehicle Exterior Wash & Interior Vacuum :

VEHICLE INTERIOR

• Vacuum vehicle interior including all mats, footwells, seats and boot.
• Dust & wipe dashboard & centre console.
• Clean interior glass to remove smears and streaks.

EXTERIOR WASH SERVICE

• A high-pressure rinse to remove built-up grime and debris.
• An all-over Exterior Wash using quality mitts and shampoos that effectively and safely cleans the entire vehicle.
• A Wheel Wash process that removes grime & brake dust leaving sparkling clean rims.

EXTERIOR FINISHING

• Exterior Glass clean which effectively removes bugs and dirt.
• Wipe door & boot jambs.
• Apply Tyre Shine for a long lasting protective shine for your tyres to match your vehicle.

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