Thread: How to properly care for your new car

How to properly care for your new car

Buying a new car can be intense; there are so many choices and you want to make sure you get the best deal possible. Then there is all of that paperwork before you can get the keys and drive it home. Then what?

Many people think, it's new, so I don’t need to do anything yet… Right? WRONG! You just paid a lot of money for that car and if you want to keep it looking new, just like anything else, you have to take care of it! A new car is not immune to the harsh environmental elements and the clearcoat is not the shield that protects your car, it’s just clear paint and it needs to be protected.

For me, I didn’t even let the dealership wash my new car before I drove it home for fear of scratching my black paint. It even had the white adhesive plastic still on the car from the transport from the factory to the dealership. The car was still in the back and had not hit the lot yet and my words to the salesman were "do not wash it!". He said, "but it's dirty, don't you want us to detail it for you?". I then politely said "no thank you, I will wash it when I get home".

Proper Car Care From The Beginning
The time to start proper car care is when you drive home and pull into the driveway. When I got home with my new car I parked right next to Starr Detail Van and went and got my wash buckets, car wash shampoo, wash mitt and microfiber drying towels before I even pulled into the garage.

FIVE STEP CAR CARE
WASH - CLEAN - PERFECT - PROTECT -MAINTAIN
Proper car care is important whether your car is brand new or ten years old. The steps are the same, although you may have to spend a little more time on an older car that requires removal of defects like oxidation, swirl or scratches.

Many think that all the steps are not necessary on a new car but your long term protection depends on properly preparing and protecting your car. You wouldn't want to put your paint sealant over bonded contamination or get a less than perfect shine would you?

This article will help you understand the importance of each step in the five step process to care for your car, even if it is not so new anymore.

Step 1 - Washing Your New Car

Wash - Thoroughly wash your car to remove loose dirt and grime.

The first thing you need to know is that the car washing procedure is the number one cause of swirl marks! Don't worry, this can be avoided by using high a quality car wash shampoo, wash mitt and microfiber drying towels. Using two buckets - one for your car wash solution and the other for rinsing your mitt is also very helpful when it comes to avoiding swirl.

With high quality products and a little education your car wash procedure will not only be safer, it will be easier and you will achieve much better results.

Step 2 - Claying Your New Car
Clean – Clean your paint with detailing clay to remove bonded surface contamination that is stuck to the paint and is not removed with normal washing.

Many people think that a new car does not need to be clayed. This is not necessarily true! Contamination doesn’t care if your car is old or new. Even though your car is new it has been subjected to many types environments. Your car started at the factory, sat on a lot waiting for transport via ship, train or truck or a combination of transports, then it may have sat on the lot waiting to be bought for who knows how long. During this time, who knows what was floating around the air on the long journey between the factory and your driveway?

Claying your car with a detail clay or using the Ultima Elastrofoam Cleaning System is not a substitute for polishing your paint, it is a process to be done prior to the polishing process to remove surface contaminants that make your paint rough. When your paint is rough, dirt and grime tend to stick and build up creating even more problems. The simple task of claying will remove the contamination and prepare your car for the polishing and protecting steps.

The Ultima Elastrofoam Paint Cleaning System was introduced in 2007 as an alternative to the traditional detail clay bar. The product is a rubberized foam block that works in the same way as detailing clay. Like detail clay, it removes bonded contamination from paint, glass, chrome and plastic, plus it overcomes some of the inconvenience of detailing clay.

Step 3 - Polishing Your New Car

Polish – Remove defects in your paint, staining and enhance overall shine.

More than likely if your car is new you won't need to remove defects unless your car has been on the lot for a while and been stricken with that dreaded swirl from poor washing procedures by the dealership. This can also be created by dealership detailers who use machine polishers incorrectly.

If your paint is free of defects you will still want to use a pre-wax cleaner like the Ultima Paint Prep Plus to enhance the shine and prepare your paint for your paint protectant, sealant or wax. This can safely and easily be done by hand or machine.

Step 4 - Protecting Your New Car
Protect – Protect the paint surface from harsh environmental elements and prevent premature aging with a car wax, paint protectant or paint sealant.

Many new car owners look at the clearcoat as a protective layer that shields their car against harm. This is simply not true. The clearcoat is a tough clear paint that is there to protect your color coat and add depth in shine. It is not a super high tech protectant, it is just clear paint and needs to be protected just like the older single stage paints.

Car waxes, paint protectants and paint sealants all fall into the same "paint protection category". Although some do a better job than others, they all protect against and help prevent premature deterioration caused by the onset of oxidation. With modern technology, a car wax would be "old school" and be less protective than the more advanced paint sealants.

Step 5 - Maintaining Your New Car
Maintain – Maintain your paint with normal washing and quick detailing in between washing.

Quick detailers are also known as waterless wash and are commonly used by detailers and car enthusiasts to put the finishing touch on a freshly detailed vehicle. Quick detailers quickly and easily remove fresh water spots, streaks, dust and other light contamination. It is also a good idea to keep one with you for those dreaded bird bombs for a quick cleanup to avoid permanent damage.

Quick Detail Sprays are a special formulation that evaporate quickly to prevent further spotting, lubricate to prevent scratching and contain gloss enhancers to refresh your just waxed shine. For the car enthusiast, a quick detailer is more than just a convenient time saver, it is a necessity when it comes to keeping your finish looking great !!

For all your detailing needs give Starr Detail a call (800)755-6052
or check out our website at Starr Detail - Los Angeles Mobile Auto Detail - We come to You

Although I already new all of this I still was sucked into reading it thoroughly Thanks.

Since you are already on the topic would you mind going over the +/- of Car waxes, paint protectants and paint sealants?

What is best to use, what if you use two? IE: Seal then Wax?

Originally Posted by Turbo Squid

Since you are already on the topic would you mind going over the +/- of Car waxes, paint protectants and paint sealants?

What is best to use, what if you use two? IE: Seal then Wax?

I'd like to hear more also! Or could you recommend us some links?

Yes , I will put together an article on all of that for you guys real soon , Thanks now I know what the next topic will be regarding... Thanks for reading my post and asking questions , thats what its all about ! : )

Mark knows his stuff, guys! I was fortunate enough for him to help me out with my brothers car for his birthday and it turned out great!