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How to Protect Car Paint From Scratches

Last Updated on August 26, 2022 by

Scratched Car Paint

There are few things that can be as frustrating as running some errands and coming back out to the parking lot to find that your car has been scratched. It isn’t the worst or most damaging thing in the world but it can lead to frustration unlike any other.

And why shouldn’t it? We pay a lot of money for our vehicles and expecting them to not wind up scratched or damaged is not too much to ask for. With that being said, there are times when you need to take preventative measures to protect your car’s paint job.

Keeping those nasty scratches off of your car takes a little bit of effort but you will be glad that you took that effort when you return to a scratch-free car.

Don’t Park in Areas That Will Leave Your Car Vulnerable

You can’t help how people are, unfortunately. They can be careless and lackadaisical and these are the times where an accident, albeit a small one, can happen. And even if they don’t mean to scratch your car, the damage is done and the frustration has set in.

Part of combating this is to avoid pulling up to vehicles that are not properly lined up in their parking spots. This awkward or close parking job can lead to a lot more scratches and even more frustration. You also want to avoid areas where pedestrians will have to move closely near your car. People can be very careless and don’t care about what happens to your car; don’t even give them that opportunity.

The best bet is to park in areas where there aren’t as many cars. It might not be ideal to have to walk further towards your destination but it will save you from having to worry about your car being scratched and you get a little bit of exercise as well.

Wash Your Car Regularly and Gently

When your car isn’t washed for a long time, there can be a buildup of dirt and grime. These can be abrasive and can lead to easily created nicks, scratches, and swirls on an otherwise shiny, beautiful finish. That means taking care of your car by washing it on a regular basis.

While an automatic car wash might be the more convenient option, it isn’t exactly the most gentle of methods. That is why hand-washing your car is the safer option of the two. Make sure to rinse your car off first so that any accumulated dirt can rinse off.

Additionally, you will want to make certain that you start at the roof so that excess dirt and grime can cascade down and wash off more effectively. Also, never use a dry cloth or your hands to wipe away pieces of dirt as that can lead to little scratches as well.

Keep Ample Space Around Your Car When You Are Driving

While this certainly applies to other vehicles on the road, that is not the only potential scratch hazard to the paint of your car. Make sure that you give yourself ample space from any stationary objects that might be sitting on the side of the road as well as any overgrown shrubs or tree branches that might be hanging down.

Those stationary objects might not seem as if they are much of a threat initially but if you happen to get too close to them, they can scratch your vehicle all the same. Those situations are extra frustrating because you know that you could have done something to avoid that situation; instead, you have a scratch on your car.

Don’t Set Things on the Car

There are times for all of us where we are leaving a store and our hands are full. We need to unlock the car but we can’t properly get to our keys. So what do you do? Set an object or item down on the car itself. Nine times out of ten, that’s not a big deal, but it is that tenth time where a scratch will appear.

This is super frustrating because you feel as though there was nothing else that you could have done and it is such an innocent situation to create a scratch on your car. But it is better to be safe than sorry so make certain that you don’t set anything down on the car, especially if it is heavy or has a metallic edge to it.

Use Scratch-Preventing Chemicals

Another method of making certain that your car’s paint job is extra strong and will be able to stand up against scratches is to coat it with a protective chemical. Some of these chemicals have agents in them that makes the paint a bit more sturdy, allowing it to hold up in situations that would have normally created a scratch.

It is important to note that this will not stop scratches from occurring, especially with enough pressure applied to the object that does the scratching. Still, these chemicals can definitely go a long way towards preventing those little scratches that are so very frustrating.

Keeping your car and your psyche protected from those very annoying scratches isn’t the hardest thing in the world but it will take a little bit of extra effort on your part. Most of it is simply being as cautious as you possibly can be but there are other measures that you can take to help keep your car protected from those annoying little scratches that could be otherwise prevented.

Taking care of your car will help it to look better for far longer and will help you keep your sanity instead of having to freak out when seeing one of those stupid scratches that bug all of us. Plus, you’ll have an additional sense of pride when you drive your older car down the street and it looks better than the vast majority of the newer cars on the road. All because you took a few preventative measures towards preserving the paint job of your car.