Polishing One Off: Polish To Protect
Keeping your car washed and polished not only means that it stands out in the car park but will also help prevent rust and corrosion.
So how does washing your car - which obviously relies on getting it wet - prevent corrosion? The first part of the answer is that those things that dirty up your car - bird droppings, bugs, mud etc - stain if they're not washed off in time. Some things that get spilt on cars can corrode the pain if they're not washed off in time too, but clean your car regularly.
When your car is clean the moisture dries up quicker than when it's dirty. When your car is dirty the moisture (be it from rain, wash or puddles) will accumulate in dirty areas and result in corrosion. The more frequently your car is washed, the less dirt there is for moisture to accumulate around.
Your car should, ideally, get a clean once a month. Every now and then use a pressure washer - easily found at most petrol stations around the country - as this will remove dirt easier from those hard to reach places that often go un-touched by a sponge and bucket wash, not intentionally mind.
Clean from the top down as there's no benefit from having dirty water drip over the areas you've just cleaned at the bottom of the car when you're washing the roof.
Be careful not to hold the pressure get too close though or you risk peeling off loose paint.
Using a pressure washer once in a while also makes it easier to blast out the dirt from places such as behind mouldings, inside the wheel arches and under fixings, that would otherwise be awkward to clean. It's these areas where build ups lead to corrosion quicker.
Once your car is cleaned, remember to wax and polish it. Not only does this make your car shiny as well as clean but it serves to protect the paint. The wax and polish act as a shield and will help protect the pain from the environment and from fading.
The wax and polish form a thin, transparent layer over the paint and covers minor scratches and chips, helping it look like new.
Giving your car a good polish and wax will only take around half an hour. Just thirty minutes. It's a simple process of taking a small soft sponge and a clean, soft towel. Once your car has dried (there's no point polishing it while wet) get a small amount of wax on your sponge and spread it evenly on once section. As with washing it's best to go from the top down.
Make a thin layer of wax and avoid touching any trim such as bumpers, window trims and door seals etc. Leave the wax for a minute or two until it begins to haze then buff it to a shine using the soft towel.
If you use a good, high-quality car polish (which doesn't even mean high prices) then it can stay on the car for up to three or months. Reapplying the polish and wax on a regular, periodical basis will keep the paint protected longer and make it easier each time.
A regular monthly wash with car shampoo and a bucket and periodical blasts from the pressure washer followed by a good coat of polish will leave your car clean, shiny, looking like new and protected from corrosion.
About the Author:
Tony is an online marketer, researcher and article writer currently researching car polish
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