When choosing a new car, the color can be just as important as the performance specs. A pristine paint job adds to the overall appeal, while even a minor scratch can detract from its look—no matter how great the car drives. But it’s not just rocks or debris that can damage your car’s finish; many everyday habits and seemingly harmless actions can also ruin your car’s paint without you realizing it. Here are 15 examples.
Sticking Decorative Objects
Whenever you place something on the car, even for a moment, you risk ruining the car’s paint job. The friction caused by placing and removing sticky objects can leave micro scratches that become evident over time. It is worse when you stick any decorative toy to the hood, which leaves bad marks when the glue loses its adhesiveness.
Neglecting Bird Droppings
Bird droppings are not just gross – they are pretty acidic. It can absorb the paint, dulling it over time. You can’t ban flying or pooping for birds, but you can ensure immediate cleaning of bird droppings from the vehicle to minimize its effect on the surface.
Not Promptly Removing the Dead Bugs
Many bugs will succumb to your vehicle as they hit it while you drive. There can be dozens of bugs daily, and, just like bird poop, their guts are acidic. When they stick to the car, the acidic component slowly releases and has the same effect as bird droppings. It can be prevented if you wipe it off promptly.
Not Washing Your Car Regularly
Who would’ve guessed? Many ridiculous theories convey the benefits of keeping dust on the vehicle to improve fuel efficiency. The truth is that cleanliness never harms. You get stubborn deposits on the car when you don’t wash it regularly, and any effort to remove them can scrape off the paint on the car’s surface.
Using Wrong Cleaning Products
Isn’t it wonderful to get dish soap from your home and make your car shine like the first ray of the sun? Well, that’s not the case. You have to be careful about the ingredients of cleaning products, as any corrosive ingredient can end the intactness of your car’s paint. Even a cleaning product like ammonia poses a threat to the vehicle.
Parking in Direct Sunlight for Long Periods
If you feel your car’s paint is cracking and fading without reason, notice if you have been parking it under direct sunlight for too long. The sun cracks and peels the paint via oxidation, further exposing the vehicle to harmful materials.
Spilling the Brake Fluid
Avoid spilling brake fluid every time you refill or replace it. Most brake fluids, especially those without silicone, work as paint thinners. They can quickly dissolve the paint, exposing the surface to a harmful environment. While not all brake fluids wreak havoc, you never know which one decides to spoil your day.
Washing Wheels in the End
Washing the wheels first is more practical if you want to protect your paint. Wheels are often the dirtiest part of a car, covered in dirt, grime, brake dust, and more. If you leave them for last and use the same towel and bucket for the entire car, these contaminants can transfer to the paint, causing scratches and damage.
Not Protecting from the Rain
It is a pleasant sight when you go out on the road after a rain and see the vehicles and trees showing their best shades after washing up. But that doesn’t mean you can leave your car covered in rainwater. You should consider wiping the car with tap water once the rain has stopped because you never know when the rain is carrying acidic components. The pollution is rising, and acidic rains are now quite common.
Leaning or Sitting on a Dusty Car
It is natural to have a thin layer of dust on your vehicles. However, leaning against or sitting on them should be avoided, as the stress caused by the weight produces friction between the dust particles and the car’s surface.
Careless Parking
Parking carelessly, especially during parallel parking, can lead to significant paint peeling if your vehicle rubs against another. To avoid costly repairs and maintain your car’s appearance, always park cautiously and be mindful of nearby vehicles and objects.
Driving on Rough Roads
You might think that driving on rough roads will only cause damage to tires. But that’s not true. Speeding on a rough road puts you at risk of small stones and other objects gaining momentum under the tires and hitting the car’s surface. They can leave deep scratches. So, we recommend driving slowly on uneven roads.
Using the Same Cloth to Clean it All
If you use a cloth carrying dirt and dust from other car parts to clean the exterior, the particles in the fabric will be abrasive to the surface. It will damage the vehicle’s paint by scratching it off through moderate scrubbing. The best approach is to use different towels or cloth pieces to clean vehicle parts.
Gas Leakage
You might not even realize this until the damage is done. Impure gasoline often leaks when the tank overflows, and the effect on the car paint is too mild to notice. It evaporates to leave a stain on the car’s paint. Over time, this consistent damage removes the car’s protective coating, making it susceptible to metal-degrading components.
Using Car Covers in Windy Weather
This one is somewhat eccentric. Car covers protect the car, so how did they make it to the list? While they generally offer good protection indoors, using them outdoors, especially in windy weather, will cause excessive friction of cover against the car’s surface, which is enough to damage the paint.
Small But Costly Mistakes
No mistake is small when it comes to your road companion. Even the simplest one, i.e., leaning against the car, can cost you an expensive repair. Never forget that prevention is better than cure in all cases.
More From Driver’s Drift
15 Reasons to Avoid Automatic Car Washes at All Costs
15 Compelling Reasons to Avoid Buying a Car With a Sunroof
14 Items You Should Never Leave in Your Car
Zainab Noor is a motoring journalist. Childhood rides in Nissan Almera fueled her love for cars. After graduating from AIOU in 2021, she steered her passion into freelance writing. You can find Zainab on LinkedIn.
