【Car Knowledge】Tips for Car Exterior Maintenance

1. Wash your car regularly – not only for a more beautiful look, but also to prevent damage to your car

1. Car wash frequency recommendations

  • Hong Kong's air pollution is high, and dust easily accumulates on the car body. We recommend washing your car at least once every two weeks . If you frequently park on the street or near a construction site, you should wash it more than once a week.
  • You should wash your car immediately after it rains, because rainwater contains acidic substances and pollutants that will corrode your car paint over time.

2. Correct car washing steps

  • Pre-flushing : Use water to flush away sand and dust on the surface to avoid scratches when wiping the car.
  • Use professional car wash detergent : Do not use household detergent as it will damage the paint protection film.
  • Use two buckets of water : one bucket of clean water to rinse the rag, and one bucket of mixed car wash solution to reduce grit residue.
  • Soft sponge or car wash mitt : Avoid using hard cloths or brushes, which can easily leave scratches.
  • Clean from top to bottom : the top is the cleanest and the bottom of the car is the dirtiest, so avoid smearing mud on the bottom.
  • Wipe dry promptly : After washing, wipe dry with a microfiber towel to prevent water stains from drying into marks.

3. Which is better, a car wash or washing it yourself?

  • Self-service car wash : convenient and fast, remember to use your own clean towels to avoid sharing with others.
  • Hand washing : The safest method, but you need to reserve time and space.
  • Automatic car wash machine : Use a cloth brush and avoid hard-bristled rubber brushes, otherwise it will scratch the car paint.

2. Regular waxing/coating - adding a protective cover to the car body

1. Benefits of waxing

  • Forms a protective film to reduce direct contact between pollutants, ultraviolet rays and acid rain on the car paint.
  • Makes the car body smoother and easier to clean.

2. Waxing frequency

  • It is generally recommended to wax the yacht once every quarter (i.e. every three months). If you often moor outdoors or near the sea, you should wax the yacht every month.

3. Upgraded coating version

  • Coatings (such as glass coating and ceramic coating) are more durable than waxing, provide stronger protection, and are stain-resistant and waterproof.
  • The cost is relatively high, but it can be done once every six months or even a year, which is suitable for lazy car owners.

4. DIY or seek professional help?

  • There are self-service waxing/coating products on the market, but they require high skills, otherwise there will be wax marks and patterns.
  • Although professional beauty shops are expensive, the results are stable and the car paint is guaranteed.

3. Proper parking: the hidden key to exterior maintenance

1. Choose a good berth

  • Try to choose a covered parking lot to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or erosion by wind and rain.
  • Avoid dripping air conditioners in buildings, under trees (bird droppings, resin), and near garbage stations (odor, insect infestation).

2. Pay attention to the distance when parking

  • Keep a proper distance from the vehicles in front and behind, as well as walls, to reduce the chances of "door marks" and "parking scratches".
  • Fold the rearview mirrors when parking to reduce the risk of damage.

3. Tips from my personal experience

  • Many people in Hong Kong are anxious about parking their cars. I have seen many car owners park too deep or too far out, resulting in "doors colliding with doors".
  • If necessary, consider installing door side anti-collision strips and front/rear anti-collision rubber to reduce accidental damage.

4. Dealing with bird droppings, resin, asphalt and other stains

1. Instant processing

  • Bird droppings, resin, asphalt, etc. contain corrosive substances and should be wiped away with warm water and a towel as soon as possible.
  • Never use hard objects to scrape the car, otherwise it will scratch the paint.

2. Use professional cleaning agents

  • There are special detergents on the market (such as asphalt cleaners and bird droppings cleaners), which are safer to use with a soft cloth.

3. If there are marks, consider light polishing

  • If marks are left, you can gently polish them with a polishing agent. Frequent polishing is not recommended, otherwise it will wear away the car paint.

5. Prevention and treatment of rust problems

1. Hong Kong is humid and prone to rust

  • The bottom of the car, door edges, wheel arches and other places are most likely to accumulate water and cause rust.

2. Regular inspection and treatment

  • When washing your car, pay attention to the presence of rust, bubbles, or peeling paint.
  • Small areas of rust can be treated with rust inhibitors, while serious cases require treatment by a professional garage.

3. Apply anti-rust primer

  • Especially for new cars, it is recommended to carry out chassis anti-rust treatment immediately after landing and renew it once a year.

6. Maintenance of rims and tires

1. Clean the rims regularly

  • Hong Kong's roads are full of dust, mud, and brake dust, which accumulate and corrode wheel rims.
  • Use a special rim cleaner to clean it and avoid using a hard brush.

2. Vinyl Care

  • Tires and rubber edges can be coated with care oil (Tire Shine) to restore their shiny black appearance and also prevent aging.

7. Glass and lampshade care

1. Clean the glass frequently

  • Dirt on the front windshield will affect your vision, so use a special glass cleaner to clean it.
  • You can consider glass coating to reduce the adhesion of rain and dust.

2. The lampshade can be polished if it turns yellow

  • If the lampshade turns yellow due to oxidation, you can use polishing paste to gently polish it back to transparency. If it is seriously oxidized, it needs to be replaced.

8. Treatment of appearance damage and scratches

1. Minor scratch treatment

  • There are repair pens and scratch repair agents on the market for shallow scratches.
  • For deep scratches or when the primer is visible, it is recommended to seek professional detailing or spray painting.

2. Extensive damage

  • Treat it early to avoid further oxidation or rust.

9. Sticker and car sticker processing

1. Remove the sticker using a special remover

  • Removing stickers by yourself may leave residual glue, so you can use a special glue remover.
  • Remember to re-wax or re-coat after cleaning to avoid loss of protection in this area.

10. Editor’s Ultimate Tips for Staying Grounded

  • "30% depends on maintenance, 70% depends on habit"
    Good habits are your strongest defense – don’t park your car randomly, don’t wait for stains to dry, check your car regularly, and maintain your car regularly.
  • DIY is available even on a limited budget
    There are many affordable products on the market that are suitable for do-it-yourselfers, and the important thing is to put in the effort.
  • Wipe it whenever you have time <br>Every time you get out of the car or park it, wipe the front of the car and the door handles to prevent stains from accumulating.
  • Make good use of online communities <br>Hong Kong has many automotive groups and forums where people share useful products and discounted cars and houses, so you don’t have to worry about being “trapped”.

Summarize

While Hong Kong's urban environment can be quite demanding on a car's appearance, with a little time and effort, the right methods and products, and good driving and parking habits, you can maintain the look and feel of both new and older vehicles. Car owners, please refer to the above tips and enjoy the new car feel every day! If you have any questions, please leave a comment and share your car care tips with us!

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