Preventing Dents and Dings: Tips for Maintaining Your Car's Exterior

Preventing Dents and Dings: Tips for Maintaining Your Car's Exterior

Introduction

Cars attract a lot of attention, and not all of it is good. People love to look at cars, but they also love to touch them. And that's where the problem begins: dents and dings are inevitable when you have a car that gets touched nearly every day. But there are things you can do to prevent these from happening—from washing your car regularly (and with the right soap) to keeping your wheels clean and dried off. Here are some helpful tips for preventing scratches and dents on your car's exterior:

Wash your car regularly and wash it with the right soap

Use a soap that's designed for cars. Don't use dish soap, laundry detergent or hand soap.
Don't use shampoo or vegetable oil as they can strip the wax and sealant off of your car's exterior. Olive oil is also not recommended because it can leave an oily residue behind on painted surfaces and glass windows (which may cause water spots).

Keep your wheels clean and dried off

Keeping your wheels clean and dried off is the best way to prevent rust. Wheels are a common place for rust to form, so it's important to keep them dry. Dirt can also accumulate on your car's exterior and affect its appearance, which is why it's important to keep dirt off of your wheels as well.

Use the right tool for the job

Use the right tool for the job.
Use a soft cloth for washing and drying your car, and to clean windows, wheels and tires. You can also use it to clean rims if you want to get into those hard-to-reach places.

Don't use a hose to wash your car

Hoses can cause damage to your car's paint, so avoid using them. Instead, use a soft wash mitt or microfiber cloth. To use a wash mitt:

Wet the mitt with water and soap.
Squeeze out the excess water with your hand as you run it over your vehicle in small circles (use light pressure).
Rinse off any dirt that comes off on the ground--if you don't see it go down into the drain hole at the bottom of your bucket or tub, rinse again until there's nothing left behind on your vehicle's surface

Keep your windshield clean

Use a microfiber cloth to clean your windshield, rather than paper towels or newspaper.
Clean the inside of the windshield with glass cleaner, but avoid using spray bottles to do so--they can leave water spots on your car's exterior.
If you have to use a squeegee, make sure it is 100% lint-free before doing so (i.e., don't let it sit in your garage overnight).
These tips will help you avoid getting dents and dings on your car's exterior.
Avoid using a hose to wash your car. Hoses can leave marks on the paint, which can lead to rust and corrosion. If you must use a hose, make sure it's not too hard or abrasive.
Use the right tool for the job. Don't use an old toothbrush as your only tool when washing; instead, invest in dedicated cleaning products designed specifically for cars like Meguiar's Ultimate Car Care Kit ($15).

This kit comes with everything you need: soap (which should be used on all parts of the exterior), polish (for shining up chrome trim or headlights), waxes/sealants (to protect your vehicle from UV damage) and even towels with microfiber technology that trap dirt particles so they don't scratch surfaces when rubbed against them!

We hope these tips have helped you understand how to keep your car's exterior looking its best. Remember, it's important to wash your car regularly and use the right soap for each job. You also want to make sure that your wheels are clean and dried off before driving off again in order prevent dents from appearing on them. Lastly, don't use a hose when washing since this will only cause damage!