8 Simple Ways to Protect Your Car’s Exterior Year-Round

Keeping your car's exterior in top condition takes a lot more than just the occasional drive through the car wash. If you're a car owner in North Texas, you'll be all too familiar with the intense sun, UV rays, dirt, bird mess, tree sap, thunderstorms, hail, and the odd cold snap.

The good news is you don't need to spend all your weekends detailing your car to keep it looking its best. With a bit of simple preventative maintenance, you can make a big difference.

Here are eight simple ways to protect your car's exterior year-round, from washing it properly to finding a safe place to park when the weather gets bad.

Key Takeaways:

• To keep your car's exterior in excellent condition year-round, wash regularly with an automotive-specific, pH-neutral shampoo to remove dirt, road grime, and other contaminants that can damage the paint.

• Apply wax, paint sealant, ceramic coating, or paint protection film to create an extra barrier against UV rays, moisture, grime, scratches, chips, and harmful elements.

• Park in a garage or covered area whenever possible. This can make all the difference when North Texas hail or severe thunderstorms are forecast.

• Pay extra attention after cold weather. Road salt and de-icing treatments can contribute to corrosion and similar winter damage if they're left on your vehicle.

• If hail or a door ding dents your vehicle without damaging the paint, consider our paintless dent repair services, designed to restore the panel without fillers or repainting.

1. Wash Your Car Regularly

Washing your car regularly is one of the simplest ways to keep your paint job looking its best. Dirt, dust, bird droppings, brake dust, and other nasties can just build up on the surface and ruin your car's finish if you let it.

How often you need to wash will depend on where you park your car and how much you drive. If your car is parked on the street outside, for example, you'll probably need to wash it more often than someone who keeps their car tucked away in a garage.

When you're washing your car, use a proper car shampoo that's specifically designed for cars. The AAA recommends using a high-quality car wash solution because household detergents can strip protective wax from the vehicle. And remember to use clean microfiber towels or a microfiber cloth to dry it off, so you can remove all the dirt without scratching the paint.

2. Add a Protective Layer to Your Paint

Think of wax, paint sealant, or a protective coating as an extra layer of protection between your paint job and the outside world.

Waxing your car can help shield it from the elements and keep it looking new for longer. It helps protect your paint from moisture, grime, UV rays, and other contaminants. The AAA recommends waxing your car every three-to-six months as a way to add UV protection and prevent fading, as well as improving resistance to dirt, grime, and bird droppings. You can use a traditional automotive wax, or a synthetic paint sealant or a ceramic coating, which can last up to five years with proper care.

Another option is to get some paint protection film put on. This can be especially useful for areas of your car that are prone to stone chips and scratches. Whatever you choose, just make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for maintenance and reapplication.

3. Park Under Cover Whenever You Can

Where you park your car can have a big impact on its exterior. If you can, getting it into a garage is the best option: it'll protect it from sunlight, hail, ice, and the outdoor elements.

If that's not possible, then try to find a shaded parking spot. And if all else fails, a good quality car cover can be a good option to protect against UV rays, moisture, bird droppings, and tree sap. Just make sure it's designed for car use and fits properly — you don't want it flapping around in the wind and scratching the paint.

A well-fitted cover can even reduce how often you need to wash your car, but a clean car is essential before you put a car cover on it. Don't put a dirty car in the cover, or the dirt will get trapped and cause scratches.

4. Remove Bird Droppings and Tree Sap Quickly

Some messes just need dealing with right away! Bird droppings, tree sap, and bugs can actually damage your car's paint. So deal with them as soon as you notice them, rather than leaving them to sit on the surface for days or weeks.

If you're dealing with stubborn bird droppings or tree sap, try using a special cleaning product for cars rather than trying to scrub it off with an old cloth. And don't be too rough, as you don't want to scratch the paint.

The same principle applies if you have paint protection film. 3M recommends treating contaminants such as tree sap without abrasive scrubbing to avoid scratching the film.

5. Pay Extra Attention During Winter Weather

We don't get the same kind of cold weather in North Texas as they do up north, but we still have to contend with freezing temperatures, snow, icy roads, the winter elements, and road salt.

If you drive somewhere that uses road salt or other de-icing treatments, make sure to wash your car and the undercarriage as soon as the roads clear. Road salt and water can accelerate corrosion, especially around the underbody and exposed components.

Washing your vehicle regularly during the winter is a good rule of thumb. Try to aim for every two weeks in areas where road salt is used a lot. And when you are clearing snow from your car, use a soft brush rather than anything sharp or abrasive. Check your battery fluid where needed, as well as your air conditioning system, tires, washer fluid, and wiper blades as part of regular maintenance.

Protection for the winter months isn't only about your paint, either. Cold temperatures can affect tire pressure and other components, so you'll need to check your tire pressure regularly using the manufacturer's recommended cold pressure. NHTSA recommends checking tire pressure when the tires are cold for an accurate reading and to ensure safe driving.

6. Fix Chips and Dents Before They Become Bigger Problems

Tiny dings and dents can be tempting to just let slide, but you shouldn't. We recommend examining your vehicle's exterior from time to time to spot any paint chips, scratches, dents & exposed metal. If the paint on a chip gets chipped through to the metal underneath, that'll invite rust and corrosion to form.

Dents are a bit different, though. If the paint is still in good shape, you might be able to get it sorted with paintless dent repair, meaning there's no sandpaper, fillers, or a whole new paint job required.

If you spot a door ding, a dent from parking in a tight spot, or some hail damage, we take a look at your vehicle and explain your options for repair. Give us a call to discuss your vehicle today.

7. Take North Texas Hail Seriously

If you live around Plano, Sachse, Wylie, Rockwall, or Garland, then you'll know to take hail as a serious threat.

When the National Weather Service Fort Worth puts out a warning for a storm that's bringing hail, it's worth moving your car into a garage or into a covered parking spot as quickly as you can.

If your car does get hit by hail, don't assume you'll be stuck waiting weeks for a traditional body shop repair and a whole new paint job. If the paint is still intact, paintless dent repair can often get the job done and keep the original factory paint looking like new, with a much faster turnaround time (as little as 15 minutes).

8. Don't Forget the Rest of the Vehicle

Protecting the outside of your vehicle is a lot more than just making sure it looks great!

Beyond your car's appearance, make sure to examine your tires, too. Check their pressure at least on a monthly basis, and check for any cuts, punctures, bulges, scrapes, cracks, and other damage.

Clean your windows, swap out your old wiper blades, and clear out all the leaves and other debris that might get in the way of water flowing off. Get under the car to clean out the wheel wells and the undercarriage to remove anything that might be causing rust or corrosion.

It might not be the most glamorous job, but taking care of your car in this way can save you a lot of money in the long run on expensive repairs.

Protect Your Car and Deal With Dents Early

It's a fact of life that you can't keep your car protected from everything. Even when you're using the right preparation and the right precautions, a rogue shopping cart, a door ding, or a hailstorm can still leave its mark.

That's why businesses like ours exist. At TrueForm Dent Repair, our team has 30 years of experience, and we've collectively fixed 25,000+ vehicles. We're also I-CAR trained, which means we know how to conduct repairs properly and safely.

Contact us to book our professional services in Sachse, Wylie, Plano, Rockwall, Garland, and the surrounding areas. We'll get your car looking like new again, without the need for extra work or new paint.