It’s no secret that the sun can have damaging effects on lots of things, including our vehicles. Most of the damage caused by the sun is due to UV rays. UV rays, or ultraviolet rays, cannot be seen or felt so you typically wont know anything is wrong until its too late.
UV rays can cause damage to car paint in the form of fading and peeling. Obviously this doesn’t happen overnight so taking a few steps towards its prevention will go a long way.
Fortunately, with the advance of technology, we’re not completely defenseless against the sun. In this article we’re going to give you 5 super easy ways to help prevent your cars paint from fading due to the sun. Keep reading to learn more!
5 Tips To Help Prevent Your Car’s Paint From Fading
Tip #1 – Park in the Shade
Parking in the shade is one of the easiest ways to help protect your paint from the sun. If you have a carport, garage, or any other covered shelter that your car can fit in, use it often. Even when you go to the grocery store or work, try to find a shaded area to park in if possible.
Parking in the shade will shield your vehicle from the suns UV rays which is what causes paint fading and peeling. The more you can keep your vehicle out of the sun the better.
Tip #2 – Wash Your Vehicle Often
Keeping your vehicle washed is by far the simplest, and often most overlooked way to keep your paint from fading. When a dirty vehicle sits for too long, any dirt, dust, bird droppings, tree sap, etc., can become embedded in the paint. Once this happens they can be very difficult to remove without some know how and a little blood, sweat, and tears.
When these contaminants sit for too long, it can eventually lead to oxidation, which is what causes your paint to fade and eventually peel.
It is recommended that you wash your vehicle once every two weeks. By keeping your vehicle on a regular wash schedule, you can greatly reduce the chance of any contaminants getting stuck in your paint. Be sure to use a high quality wash like the Meguiars Gold Class available on Amazon. Its designed to clean your vehicle without stripping away any wax you have on it. Which leads us to our next tip.
Tip #3 – Wax Your Vehicle Regularly
Car wax does more than just make your paint shiny, it helps protect your paint as well. Car wax works by helping to preserve the oils in your paint that help prevent oxidation. It also provides a protective outer layer which helps prevent contaminants from getting stuck in your paint. The longer you can keep your paint from oxidizing, the less chance you have of fading and peeling.
Its recommended that you wax your vehicle at least four times a year. Waxing every 3 months or so will help protect your vehicle from excessive sunlight and unwanted contaminants. Not to mention it’ll keep your paint looking new and shiny!
Most high quality car waxes have built in UV protection. If you’re unsure of which wax to buy, consider checking out this Premium Hybrid Spray Wax by CarGuys. Its a carnauba wax and sealant in one. And because its a spray wax its easier and faster to use than traditional wax. Definitely check it out if you want a quick and easy way to keep your car protected and looking new.
Tip #4 – Clay Bar Your Car When Needed
Clay bars are great for removing from your vehicle what traditional washing can’t. Typically when you wash your car, you remove all the dirt and grime that’s sitting on top of the paint. A clay bar removes the tiny particles that are sitting on or baked into the paint. These particles can include anything from break dust, acid rain deposits, rail dust, etc.
While it may not seem like a big deal to remove these tiny pieces of debris from your paint, they can lead to oxidation and even rust over time.
The importance of using a clay bar cant be overstated. While you shouldn’t have to use it often, as long as you wash and wax your vehicle regularly, clay bars can play a vital role in keeping your paint from fading. And best of all they’re really inexpensive and easy to use.
This clay bar kit by Mothers has everything you need to clay bar your car properly. It includes two 100 gram clay bars, one bottle of Mothers Instant Detail Spray, and a microfiber towel. This all in one kit makes its super easy and convenient to keep your car free from contamination and looking and feeling its best.
Tip #5 – Invest in a Car Cover
Whether you have your car parked indoors or outside its a good idea to keep it under a cover. This is especially true if your vehicle is going to be parked for long periods of time, or parked under or around trees where tree sap and bird droppings can be an issue.
Besides the obvious benefits of keeping your car protected from things such as dirt, rain, tree sap, etc., car covers also protect your vehicle from the sun. Most car covers today are made of multiple layers. One of those layers is typically a reflective layer, designed to block UV rays from getting to your vehicle. Obviously the more UV rays you can block, the less likely your paint is to fade.
Aside from keeping your paint from fading, car covers can also help keep your interior in good shape as well. Leather seats and other interior parts can fade in time due to UV rays. Car covers with a reflective layer will keep your paint and interior looking great for years to come. Definitely look into purchasing a good car cover like this one on Amazon, for a budget friendly way of keeping your vehicle protected from the sun.
Other Alternatives for Keeping Your Paint From Fading In The Sun
Aside from the tips mentioned above, there are a few more long term solutions for keeping your paint from fading.
Options such as car wraps are a great way to keep your paint from fading. This option typically requires professional installation and is a bit more expensive. For a full wrap you can expect to spend anywhere from $2000 to $10,000. This difference in price often comes down to the size of the vehicle, the complexity of the installation, and the materials being used. The more exotic the wrap the more expensive its going to be. They are also a relatively long term solution, since car wraps last around 5 to 7 years.
The 3M Clear Bra is another great way to keep your paint from fading. This, like the car wrap, requires professional installation. The price range for Clear Bra installation usually ranges from around $1000 to $6000. Again this depends on what size vehicle you have, how difficult it will be to install, the amount of time it takes to install, etc.
The main difference between the clear bra and a traditional car wrap is that the clear bra is, you guessed it, clear. There are no graphics or decals that can be added to it.
Both of these options will not only keep your paint from fading but also protect it from rock chips, scratches, tree sap, bird droppings, and more.
In Conclusion
If you have a surplus of extra cash and want the ultimate protection for your car then a car wrap or clear bra is the way to go. If, however, your willing to do a little bit of preventative maintenance, then following the tips above will work just fine.
I hope this article has been helpful and that you now know everything you need to know about keeping your paint from fading. Thanks for reading!