Today more than ever before, people are keeping their cars for a longer periods of time. As consumers we tend to look for quality and longevity in the products we buy. Many of our customers ask us for ideas on how to keep their “investment” looking as close to showroom appearance as possible.
Some Vehicle Maintenance Tips are …
Washing Your Vehicle
Try to wash your vehicle in the shade to avoid spotting. You should use a car wash soap/shampoo to get rid of the dirt. Cars are like people, we have to use soap to break up and loosen the dirt to be able to wash it off our skin.
Purchase a wash mitt, it helps to distribute the soap and water as you wash and remove film. Many of the car wash soaps currently sold at auto parts stores do work well. They work by removing the dirt without stripping the car of any wax. Some examples of recommended soaps are: Meguiars Car Wash, Armorall Car Wash and Turtle Wash Zip Wash.
If you have a chamois to dry off your car, that is great. If you don’t have one, try “The Absorber”. It is an imitation that may work better, seems to last longer and stay softer than a genuine chamois. Remember to place The Absorber back into its tube for the next usage. Most of the imitation chamois work just as well.
As for car washes… we are sorry but we do not recommend them unless they are truly the “Hand Wash” type. When I bought our car brand new, I ran it through a car wash. Afterwards, we could see the scratches on the paint as well as on the polished wheels. Previous customers have had similar results. Yes, there are brushless car washes, but remember that those dangling “mops” are using the dirt and grime from the previous car to wash yours.
Waxing Your Vehicle
Wax is a paint protector. It helps your car’s paint to hold up against the environment. We really don’t recommend that you wax your car a great deal. Two to three times per year is more than enough. A wax that we recommend is called “Super Glaze” by the Wax Shop. It is a pure carnauba wax that is easy to apply and doesn’t leave residue in all the crevices like other waxes do. Follow directions, apply in the shade and you can’t miss. If your car was recently painted you should wait 30 days for the paint to be thoroughly cured. I recommend waxing just prior to rainy season. Stay away from bird droppings (trees). Bird droppings can be acidic and will cause damage to a freshly painted as well as an original paint finish vehicle. Wash it off as soon as you can to prevent damage.
Surface Scratches or Swirl Marks
We recommend a light polish like Meguiars Polish #2 to remove surface scuffs and scratches. It has a light abrasive that gently removes a small amount of the clear coat of the paint surface. When polishing, follow directions and keep in mind that you are working the area to polish out the scratches or scuffs. We don’t recommend rubbing compound for it is too harsh of an abrasive. If you try this you might find yourself putting in scratches instead of removing them.
Wire Hubcaps and Tire Dressing Care
To get rid of brake dust build-up, we recommend Turtle Wax “Wheel Brite”. Yes, that brownish looking stuff on your wheels or hub caps is brake dust that has accumulated. Use a brush along with the cleaner, for it to work well. As for your whitewall tires, try an S.O.S. pad. Your whitewalls will be white again! Water down with the hose while you scrub. Westly’s Bleche Wite also works well.
Leather Care
Leather seats require a dressing to keep them soft and supple. The best thing we know of is called “Hyde Food” which can be found in the parts department of Mercedes Benz and BMW dealers. An alternative product is Meguiars Gold Class Cleaner & Protectant. Be sure to follow directions. Before treating, you should take a moist towel with a little soap to remove any surface dirt and dust.
Why should you refer your family and friends to Tony's Body Shop?
What we offer with every repair job:
- Guaranteed color match
- Accurate panel to panel alignment
- Repairing the vehicle to a safe condition
Your 100% satisfaction is our goal.
At Tony's Body Shop you can still find service, a smile, and a sincere thank you if you allow us to service your auto body needs.
Please feel free to call us if we can be of help or guide you in any way.
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