Winter here in Central Oregon can be very harsh on both the inside and outside of your vehicle. With all the snow, deicer , cinder , dirt , grime and other contaminants all over the road , I thought I would share some things to make your vehicle maintenance easier this winter .
Exterior surfaces on your car can take a beating from the winters here in Bend , Redmond , Sisters and Prineville. The cinders and deicer chip and eat away at your vehicles paint , chrome , trim , wheels and glass. Whats the best way to combat these issues ? Frequently washing your vehicle by hand with a ph neutral soap is the optimal way . We recommend rinseless washing your vehicle . Check out our youtube video on rinseless washing:
Interior surfaces suffer from cinders , mud , dirt , water saturation and so forth . For interior care here in central Oregon we recommend vacuuming out your vehicle once a month and cleaning your interior surfaces and floormats every other month or as needed based on the weather . Doing this prevent smells such a mildew and bacterial odors as well as keeps your car looking great ! Hope these tips help !
Shane Mayfield Perfection Plus Auto Salon Redmond Oregon
Everyone loves a new car ….. There’s no doubt about that. But not everyone like the high price tag that comes along with it. Well the next best option is to have your vehicle professionally detailed, but how do you determine a good detailer ? Ill look into this and more in this current blog.
First lets start with what type of detailing your interested in . Are you liking the idea of a mobile detailer coming to your home , working in your driveway on your vehicle or taking it to a shop location ? There are a lot of guys out there offering mobile detailing services because it is low overhead , easy to start up and they can buy products at walmart or local auto parts stores. But is that what you really want ? Although there are a lot of professional mobile detailers as well. We offer both mobile and in shop services for most detailing projects http://www.perfectionplus.biz
It is always better to bring your vehicle to a shop location to have your vehicle detailed. Most detailing projects require a controlled environment to properly detail in and cannot be effectively done outdoors.
Next on the list is education and experience. A good knowledgable detailer will have at least 5 years experinece in the field. They should also have some professional training under there belt as well as be certified by the International Detailing Association , They are like ASE certifications for detailers similar to what a mechanic would get for training. Make sure to do the homework , get references and research the detailer your deciding to use. They should be licensed and insured as well.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET YOUR DETAILED???
The answer to this question depends on a few things. First , What kind of usage is the vehicle seeing? Is it your daily driver , kid transporter , workhorse or is it a hobby car? I typically recommend daily drivers be washed every two weeks , vacuumed and wiped down at least once a month , and completely detailed by a professional at least once a year. A lot of our clients utilize our quarterly maintenance detail program here at perfection plus auto detailing. The maintenance package is a membership program setup to have your vehicle detailed inside and out every 3-4 months . It includes basic interior cleaning , vacuuming , spot stain removal , door jams cleaned , floormats cleaned , glass cleaned , vehicle washed and ceramic paint protectant applied as well as wheels and tires and trim cleaned and dressed. Check out these tips form our partners at ceramic pro for maintaining your vehicles interior between detailing’s
Lets start with the exterior . First a professional detailer will deep clean the exterior of your vehicle using a specific automotive type of soap and a product that removes the microscopic environmental fallout that is sticking to your vehicle . You know that rough feeling on your paint after you wash your car? That’s fallout and it happens to every car on the planet , its caused by all sort of environmental contaminants such as exhaust , acid rain , road grime , these particles are so small yo cant see them with the human eye but they reek havoc on your vehicles paint , clogging its pores so that any protection applied such as wax or ceramic coating will not bond properly without being removed first. We use and iron remover and clay bar treatment to remove these bonded contaminants , its like exfoliating your skin but for your vehicles paint !
Next is wheels and tires , with all the brake dust and other contaminates on your vehicles wheels we deep clean them using a brake dust remover and mild brushes to breakdown the brake dust . Usually to thoroughly clean wheels we pressure wash and deep clean each wheel a minimum of 2 times.
Interior detailing consists of cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces utilizing European dry steam and specialty automotive detailing cleaners for each type of material we are cleaning . In some cases deep extraction shampooing is needed to remove years of dirt and grime embedded in seats and carpets .
After all the cleaning is done , now its time to protect your vehicles surfaces from the elements . We choose to use Ceramic Pro for our interior and exterior protection as it provides durability and longevity in our central Oregon environment. After extensive testing in Redmond , Bend , Sunriver and Prineville and many coatings later we know Ceramic Pro will hold up to our harsh Oregon High desert atmosphere.
There are two types of automatic car washes : brush touch and touchless. The touchless option is the safer of the two for your vehicle , it usually involves a high pressure wash system that rinses your car repeatedly . They typically use high ph chemicals to dissolve the dirt and grime on your vehicle which in the long term can actually damage your vehicles paint system. A touchless car wash is less aggressive of these two options.
Now lets discuss the the brush touch option , you know these ones. They have those big whirling brushes that aggressively scrub and scour your vehicle also using high ph chemicals in the process. These are the main reason that you have swirls or spiderwebs in your paint. Although your vehicle might appear cleaner for the moment adversely your vehicles paint system even with the best of protection such as a ceramic coating , paint protection film or something else is still being damaged.
So what alternatives do you have ? Here in central Oregon we have harsh winters and hot summers so washing on your own might be a no go . Here in Redmond Oregon at our auto salon we offer full service hand washing and detailing services by appointment http://www.perfectionplus.biz . There are other options as well such as No rinse washing methods which are great and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/KyfMn8PMs3M
This is a great environmentally friendly way to clean your car right in your own garage or driveway using less than 2 gallons of water. After your vehicle is ceramic coated it will be a breeze to keep clean and with this no rinse method even the biggest SUV should only take about 45 minutes or so . We carry all of the products and supplies at our Redmond location in stock and use this method on almost every vehicle we work on .
We still would recommend having your vehicle professionally detailed once a year and investing in an industrial grade ceramic coating such as Ceramic Pro , our preferred coating of choice after much testing of different coating here in Bend Oregon and surrounding areas. Heres a link for some additional info http://www.ceramiccoatmycaroregon.com
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or stop by the shop anytime
Throughout the winter, it’s almost impossible to keep the inside of your car clean, with muddy shoes, wet leaves and sodden coats bringing the outside in. This can spell disaster for car mats, carpets and upholstery, and leave your car smelling damp and covered in nasty germs and bacteria.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to keep your car interior clean in winter, and we show you how in this practical car care guide.
Protecting Carpets and Upholstery
With rain and snow comes mud and moisture – bad news for your interior fabrics and trim. After a few trips out in wintry weather, the inside of your car can start to look like a ploughed field, especially if you’re travelling with kids and the family dog.
Here, we look at ways to clean and protect car upholstery in the winter.
Car Mats
Mats take the brunt of winter, so you need to take care of them. We’d recommend investing in a set of rubber mats for winter use, as these are water and dirt resistant, can be easily washed, and offer the best protection for the carpet underneath.
If you’d prefer to stick with carpet mats, take extra care to protect them against the worst of the weather. Consider keeping another pair of shoes in the car so you can change out of your muddy boots after walking the dog, or else cover the mats with plastic or newspaper.
Carpet
With mud and leaves clinging to a wet carpet, your car can start to smell and if you don’t clean the stains quickly, they can be hard to remove.
To clean interior carpet that’s suffering the effects of winter, make sure it’s completely dry before you try to remove any mud or dirt, as scrubbing it while it’s wet will only make it worse. Hoover first to get rid of loose dirt, before using a carpet cleaner to scrub the affected area.
Leave the carpet to dry again, before applying our Odour Neutraliser spray, which removes bad smells from carpet fibres. Doing this every time you take the car out in bad weather can be a bit of a chore, so invest in some mats or carpet covers which you can wipe down more easily.
Top tip: Invest in a rubber liner to protect your car’s boot from wet shopping bags and coats, muddy boots and of course, a big soggy dog.
Seats
If you’re caught in a downpour, you just want to be able to jump in your car for shelter without worrying about the interior. Unfortunately, car seats will absorb the rainwater from your coat, especially if they’re made from upholstered fabric and not leather.
While the seats will dry on their own when left overnight, you should treat and clean them beforehand to avoid water and salt marks, and unpleasant odours. The brush head on our Upholstery & Carpet Cleaner is great for cleaning deep into seat fabric fibres, helping to left stains and odour. Spray the seats with an odour neutraliser before leaving them to dry, so they’ll smell fresh and good-as-new.
If you spend a lot of time in the car in winter, get yourself a set of seat protector covers, like these, and you won’t have to worry about piling into your car wearing a sodden coat after walking the dog or running from the office.
The staff at PERFECTION PLUS AUTO DETAILING found this recent article from one of our industry colleagues and wanted to share this. This article is very helpful to our customers on educating them as to Drying tips for their vehicle.
If your vehicle is coated with a ceramic coating then you already know that upon washing it, it tends to bead a lot of water when you rinse the vehicle at the end of your wash process. Of course, we all love the beading action that coatings provide, but why not use that hydrophobic effect to work for you? Ceramic coatings provide some level of protection against light swirls and scratches, but they are not a suit of armor. Just like a non-coated vehicle, abrasion can always be an enemy on paint. So how can you dry your coated vehicle while minimizing abrasion? Here are two tips that we as professional detailers use when drying a coated vehicle. Best drying tips
The Water Drying Technique
One of the ways to easier drying of coated vehicles is a trick commonly known as “water drying” or the “waterfall effect”. This technique is recommended for your final rinse before drying.
Here’s how it works
Using a garden hose, you will have to simply remove any hose gun attachments on the hose.
Next, hold the water hose close to the panel to let the water stream fall gently on the panel. This is to avoid splashing on the surface.
Lastly, glide the water stream across the panel to remove as many water beads from the panel as possible.
Do this for each panel or sections of the vehicle.
When done correctly you will see that as you glide the water across a panel, the panel will have very minimal water beads left behind. This will make drying extremely easy and efficient. Often times, allowing you to dry your vehicle with only one towel. So on to the next tip, safer towel drying.
This method is extremely helpful for safely drying any vehicle, whether they are coated or not. The technique was made popular prior to arrival of ceramic coatings. We all used this method to dry vehicles after meticulous paint correction processes that used to take us 2 to 3 times as long as they do today. So its no surprise that this simple technique is still commonly used today.
Here’s how it works
Simply lay the towel completely flat onto the surface to be dried.
Next, gently pat the towel on the surface to aid in soaking up the water.
Pull the towel away and repeat until the entire section has been dried.
Lastly, leave the lower portions of the vehicle until the very last.
If you’ve ever dried your vehicle in the past and found that certain sections of the towel were extremely wet, this method will remedy that. Using the blotting or pat-dry method maximizes the use of the entire towel, evenly soaking up water more efficiently. As a result of not dragging the towel all over the place, if debris or something gets stuck onto the towel accidentally, by blotting it will greatly minimize the result of swirls and/or scratches. In the video below, you will see the. Its a towel I have been using for years as my go-to drying towel and it holds up to 6 pounds of water weight!
Lastly, a blower drying system is something I am often asked about by my clients. Using a blower dryer system is a great way to safely dry your vehicle. Especially for helping to dry wheels, trim and areas that hold water. When using these blower systems, it is still necessary to use a drying towel. Use these tips and they will help you in drying your vehicle safely and efficiently. Washing Your Vehicle
Maintaining a vehicle comes with challenges. For many people, having a tidy, well-washed car isn’t a priority. If you’re among that group—or need to convince a loved one to spruce up his or her car—check out these important reasons to keep your car clean.
You can avoid embarrassing driving situations. We’ve all had to scoop a jacket and some CDs off of our passenger seats so that someone could sit comfortably in our cars. Though it happens to us all at one time or another, if you’re having to do damage control day after day, that can be a problem. Instead, make sure that you regularly clean your car—inside and out.
Dirty cars are valued less by buyers. Let’s be honest—if someone offered to sell you a filthy car, you’d probably politely decline. If you’re hoping to sell your vehicle, then that’s just another item among the many reasons to keep your car clean.
Unclean cars can breed bacteria. If you don’t remember to routinely clean your car, you could be creating the ideal environment for bacteria. Leaving food or drink waste and dirty items like old gym clothes in your car can breed bacteria—and your vehicle won’t smell too good, either.
Passengers—and drivers—find cluttered cars to be uncomfortable. If your passengers have to share space with sports supplies, umbrellas, and boxes, they’re all in for a less-than-cozy ride. As a show of consideration and respect, you should make sure to clean out your car before driving anyone.
Clean cars mean a higher gas mileage. That’s right—messy cars can decrease your fuel efficiency by up to two miles per gallon. Save fuel—and cash—by cleaning up your car.
Dirtiness also means danger. Keeping your car clean isn’t just an aesthetic choice—it can be an issue of safety too. Though you may not expect it, having a dirty car can put you at risk of danger. After all, if you lose visibility in your windows, mirrors, or windshield, this can drastically reduce your reaction time in the event of an accident. Add in clutter blocking your sight—or the path from your foot to the pedals—and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Whether you’re thinking of fuel economy or fun rides with friends, there are plenty of reasons to keep your car clean. Not only should you try to de-clutter and vacuum your car, but you should schedule routine car washes. After all, you’ll want the exterior of your vehicle to look just as good as the interior! Ready to take the next step in keeping your car clean? Check us out here: www.perfectionplus.biz
Ceramic coatings are great at protecting vehicles from common environmental contaminants that cause oxidation, premature aging, swirling and marring. Ceramic coatings bond with the existing coat of a vehicle and forms a rigid shield that is unable to be rubbed, wiped or washed off and can only be removed by abrasion. These coatings provide added protection from common premature aging contaminants and substances. From UV protection, oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance, stain resistance, scratch resistance and added durability and gloss, this innovative protective coating adds both short and long term benefits while making your car look great!
Ceramic coatings are not just good for your vehicle – they’re great for your vehicle. From motorcycles, roadsters, coupes, sedans, SUVS and trucks, Ceramic Pro provides top-of-the-line coatings to protect vehicles from premature aging while reducing wash times and making cleanups a breeze. One of the many benefits of the coating is the fact that Ceramic Pro coatings add additional hardness to the surface of the coat. This added hardness allows the paint coat to be more protected enabling the exterior ceramic coat to take the brunt of the punishment. So what does this mean for your paint coat? Simply put, the ceramic coating acts as a shield and damage caused by scratching or the likes can easily be removed with polishing services. These polishing services only polish the exterior ceramic coat leaving the factory paint in pristine condition.
Apart from the blemish resistant properties, Ceramic Pro is specifically formatted and engineered to never damage or the clear coat or existing paint. This results in a protective coat that keeps the previous coat in pristine condition. Instead of damaging the coat, it protects the vehicle from unsightly blemish causing contaminants. This is a great way to preserve the beautiful characteristics of a paint job, resist blemishes and improve the resale value of a vehicle. If you think that keeping a vehicle in elite aesthetic condition then ceramic coatings are not only good for vehicles, but rather great.
Are there any long-term drawbacks of Ceramic Coatings?
The biggest long-term drawbacks of ceramic coating are the lengths of warranty of each package, the expected life of the vehicle and the future resale intentions of the owner. Certain packages are backed by shorter warranties, but our top of the line package protects vehicles for the lifetime of the vehicle! With the added ceramic coat and extreme hardness of the coat, the only drawbacks come from the warranties that coincide with each respective package. With the Ceramic Pro Gold Package, you can avoid this drawback as the Gold Package is backed by an industry innovative lifetime warranty. The warranties for each of our Ceramic Pro coating packages can be found below
Additional long-term drawbacks of the vehicle involve the goals and expectations of a prospective owner. For drivers that are more likely to own vehicles for shorter periods of time, packages like the Ceramic Pro Bronze or Ceramic Pro Silver might be better suited for their needs. Since these lower tier packages have lesser warranties and less expensive price tags these packages are great for the leasee and the individual that enjoys owning their vehicles for shorter periods of time. However, one of the beautiful aspects of Ceramic Pro is that it is the only ceramic coating that can be registered by Car Fax ®. This registration shows up on any Carfax report and can help increase the resale value of a vehicle.
Any additional long term drawbacks of Ceramic Coatings are far outweighed by the benefits of this innovative coating. If keeping the vehicle in great condition without compromising style or adding bulkier films is a top priority, then the addition of ceramic coatings can greatly benefit your vehicular protection goals. Although not as a robust as paint protection films, ceramic coatings offer something that paint protection film can’t provide. The invisible liquid coating hardens and cures on the surface to form an invisible protective coating. It’s this invisible protective coat that separates ceramic coating from paint protection films. By creating a coat that is invisible to the human eye, you’ll add valuable long-term protection without ever compromising style.
Absolutely not! In fact, adding Ceramic Pro to the exterior of a vehicle can only help maintain and increase the resale value. With the addition of Ceramic Pro to a vehicle, the car adds an incredibly valuable layer of nano-ceramic coating that mitigates damage, provides added UV protection and minimizes premature aging. This added protection results in a coat that allows vehicles to better maintain their factory paint jobs resulting in better looking, less damaged coats. If reselling a vehicle and obtaining the maximum return on the vehicle, then the addition of Ceramic Pro can greatly assist in adding resale value to the vehicle, not hurt it.
As previously mentioned in this article, Ceramic Pro is the only Ceramic Coating that is approved and able to be registered by Car Fax. The Car Fax verification allows any owner of a Ceramic Pro coated vehicle to register the vehicle with the company, and in turn facilitates the vehicle to show up in Car Fax® history reports. For cars that have extended amounts of time remaining on their package warranties this can only help increase the resale amount of the vehicle, not hurt it.
The UV protective qualities enable the coat to remain intact for far greater periods of time compared to a coat of a non-protected vehicle. These ceramic coatings assist the owner in maintenance and resists minor road projectiles and blemish causing materials from causing the same sort of blemishes that an unprotected surface may require. By resisting thee blemish causing contaminants, vehicles generally tend to sell for higher rates than their non-ceramic coated protectors as they look far better. Sent from my iPhoneAttachments areaPreview YouTube video Are Ceramic Coatings good for your car?Are Ceramic Coatings good for your car?
THIS IS A GREAT ARTICLE WE FOUND ABOUT CAR WAX PLEASE ENJOY FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT US ! http://WWW.PERFECTIONPLUS.BIZ
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CARS.COM — How often do you need to wax your car? This is easy to remember no matter your level of auto adeptness: If your vehicle is usually parked in a garage or otherwise sheltered from the elements, waxing it twice a year should be enough to protect the paint finish. But if your car is frequently exposed to snow, rain, road salt or even just spends most of the time outdoors, it probably should be waxed every three to four months.
Wax not only gives your car an appealing shine, it also adds an extra layer of protection against harsh weather, salt, bird droppings, tree sap, ultraviolet rays, vehicular and industrial pollution, and other assorted crud found in the air and on roads. By not waxing your car on a regular basis, you are giving these corrosive substances a better chance of damaging the clear coat (the finish on top that seals the paint) and exposing the paint below. In addition, you’re making it harder to clean the car. If you have to rub and scrub an unwaxed car with a cloth or pad to get it clean, you risk scratching or rubbing through the clear coat and into the paint, which will result in visible surface scratches and swirls — especially if you have a black car.
Regularly washing your car gets rid of much of this stuff, but some, such as bug splatters and tar, can require additional elbow grease to remove. Many automatic car washes will “wax” your car for an extra fee as it rolls down the line, but these generally are just a thin-coat application that may not last weeks, let alone months, as a proper wax job should.
Whether you do it yourself or hire someone, a thorough wash of the exterior and applying a good-quality paste or liquid wax by hand at least twice a year can keep the paint finish on your vehicle looking almost new for years.
Rust isn’t nearly as common on cars as it was 30 years ago, but it is still the silent killer that never sleeps if you let salt or other corrosive materials accumulate.
If you live in the snow belt or near an ocean, the best medicine for protecting your car from salt damage is to get it washed on a regular basis, such as weekly. Even if it hasn’t snowed, there is still salt residue on the roads that winds up on your car, especially underneath on brake, suspension and other parts you can’t easily see.
Though some vehicle owners avoid automatic car washes because they fear the brushes can scratch or dull the paint, most car washes give the underside of vehicles a good cleaning, so salt and road crud doesn’t build up and cause corrosion.
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Did you know that one of the most searched items online is for a car wash near me? It’s true! Today’s automotive world is full of choices. Whether it’s the type of car you want and the trim level or the vast amount of car care products on the market. It’s no wonder why consumers scour the internet to help them make an educated decision about how to properly protect their investment. Car washing has come a long way. No more used buckets, dish soap, and old rags. Now there are full-service car washing services, automatic car washing facilities, self-service high-pressure washing stations, or you can do it yourself. It all depends on your budget. We’re here to walk you through all of your options and how to find the best ‘car wash near me’.
What to Look for When Choosing a Car Wash Option
First off, how often should you wash your daily driver? According to experts, you should be washing your car every two weeks in order to properly protect your paint. Now, what should you look for when choosing a car wash? Look for what auto supplies are used. When you head to any car wash, ask them if they use chemical-heavy or organic cleaning supplies. It’s always best to use a car wash with good organic or car wash specific cleaning agents because they are best for your clear coat.
Consider the wastewater management. Believe it or not, some facilities wash their cars with used water. That doesn’t sound too good does it? They are required by law to treat wastewater before reusing it, some facilities are better than others.
Check out the list of services at each car wash option. Most facilities offer a basic wash which includes washing the interior with soap, a high-pressure hose rinse, and a blow-dry. It may include a wheel cleaning (a spray on solution), and a clear coat protection (a spray wax formula). The best advice we can offer here is to just use the basic car wash services but leave the enhanced paint and vehicle protection services to the experts.
Finally, when you’re searching for a ‘car wash near me’, be sure to check the customer reviews. Consider the opinions of life-minded car owners like you! After considering all of these options, we definitely advise that you avoid those gas station car washes. Even though they might be the cheapest out there, they are not the greatest option.
The process all depends on what option you choose. You can choose to wash your car at home, a hand car wash, a drive-through car wash, a self-service car wash, or a mobile car wash. We will walk you through them all.
Option 1: At-Home Car Wash
Washing your car at home will take the most time, but it will be the most affordable and allows for the most control depending on your priorities. Start off this process by rinsing all the dirt from the outer surface of your car. Use warm water, specific car washing soap, microfiber wash mitts, big buckets, and quality microfiber towels. Wash one section of your car at a time using a two-bucket method. Start from the top and work your way down to avoid scratching your paint with the dirt near your wheels. Use microfiber towels to dry your car. This part is make or break because you want to avoid streaks, water spots, and scratches.
Pros:
Probably the most affordable
Can be the most convenient
Cons:
Labor intensive
The most time consuming
You will need to buy quite a bit of equipment
You will also need to proper space
Option 2: Hand Car Wash
This will unsurprisingly be the most expensive option. But, you are paying more for a reason. Assuming you pick the best ‘car wash near me’, you will most likely get the best results. You will also end up saving yourself time and energy. If you don’t mind paying more, a hand wash will yield the most desirable results.
A drive-through car wash will be the quickest method and the cheapest. A lot of gas stations offer this option, so it is also very convenient. Your car is pulled through a conveyor where brushes, hoses, and air dryers clean your car. The main risk with this method is that it can be quite damaging to the paint of your car.
Pros:
Very fast
Affordable
Convenient
Cons:
Not very thorough
Can cause considerable damage to your paint
Difficulties with drying
Option 4: Self-Service Car Wash
Self-service car washes are similar to at-home car washes since you are doing the work. But this is a great option for those who don’t have a hose or driveway. With this option, you get the affordability and control of washing your car yourself – but you don’t have to worry about buying or storing supplies.
Pros:
Allows you to clean your car yourself if you don’t have the supplies to do so
Gives you the most control
Cons:
You are paying to have a clean car, but you’re still doing the work
Time consuming
Not the most convenient
Option 5: Mobile Car Wash
Now, this is the most revolutionary option. This involves having a professional washer come to you and clean your car, by hand, from start to finish. You can get the convenience of an at-home wash, but also the high-quality work of a professional.
Pros:
Meticulous attention to detail
Extremely convenient
Saves your time and energy
Low risk of damage
Cons:
Can be expensive
What’s the Difference Between a Car Wash and an Auto Detail?
A car wash mainly consists of just that, basic washing of your vehicle. Anything more such than that is considered auto detailing. Auto detailing is more time consuming because of the attention to detail and it will also cost you more. If you are looking for quality auto detailers you can find one close to your here. The Auto Spas listed in our directory are Ceramic Pro certified installers. They go through thorough training and are the best of the best when it comes to auto detailing. In addition to their skillful work, they are all drive by the same passion so you know that you are receiving the best quality care.
Everyone always thinks about what they want on the inside of their RV and how they will take care of it. The layout, features, slide or no slides, ect. What about the outside of your RV?
It is just as important to take care of the exterior to keep it in good condition for many years. So read on because here I will explain the benefits of RV wax as well as some good options that are both time and money efficient.
Keeping your RV waxed is a great way to keep it protected and looking new longer.
What Does Wax Do For My RV Anyways?
Glad you asked that question. Allow me to give you some examples that will convince you to think twice about skipping the wax on your next shopping list. Wax can:
Decrease the risk of oxidation-Oxidation can make that once shiny and new gel coat finish start to look cloudy or foggy. A good wax can help prevent that from happening.
Repel water-Wax can help prevent water spots or black streaks from forming on the exterior of your RV.
Act as a sunscreen for your RV-What I mean by that is wax can prevent UV rays from damaging your RV, especially the roof. UV ray damage can include cracking, fading and yes oxidation to your RV’s exterior.
Prevent dirt and debris from building up-Dirt and debris can cause scratches, make your RV paint job look older, and can do other damage. Have no fear because some wax maintenance can help keep that in check.
Keep the exterior looking good and new-Why wouldn’t you want your RV to keep looking good? There are so many perks to that such as being accepted by campgrounds with strict model and year rules or being able to stealth camp like a pro.
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Spray On or Wax Off?
Well you have some options on how you want to go about waxing your RV. There’s the wax in a container or in a sprayer. The sprayer is going to be more time efficient and easy for most. The wax in the container will be more affordable than the sprayer options. Both options are good, it’s just a matter of preference.
Make sure to wax your RV in the shade to avoid water spots or swirls.
Some Key Notes Before You Wax
I know you are excited to go and wax your RV. I am excited for you. Let me give you some key notes to keep in mind before you start waxing your RV.
Wash before you wax-You don’t want to wax in all the dirt and debris on your RV.
Stick to cooler times of the day to wash and wax-This prevents water spots from forming your RV from baking in the sun. Plus you get to stay cool too. Which will bring me to my next point.
Don’t wax in direct sunlight-If your wax dries too quickly the finished job will not look good. Nobody wants to see swirls and water spots after a job like that.
Clean and dry one side at a time-This helps reduce water spotting as well. Also do a top down clean. You don’t want to wash and rinse the roof last only to have to rewash the sides.
This article gives some good ideas on just RV cleaning in general. Now that the pre-wax prepping is done, let’s get to the moment you’ve been waiting for!
Top Choice
Meguiar’s Marine/RV One Step Cleaner Wax, M5032, 32 oz., Liquid
This wax seems to do a little bit of everything, and best of all, in one step. Not only does it protect your RV but it helps restore and keep its shine with a non-abrasive formula. Let’s look into some details about this product:
It helps remove minor oxidation, light scratches and swirls while protecting against UV rays, salt and corrosion.
This wax restores the color and gloss to the gel coat of your RV.
Also helps fight against rust.
You can buy in 16 ounces, 32 ounces or a gallon container.
This wax does need to be applied on a cool surface and out of the sun. It is on the more pricey side compared to other products so that may deter those who are on a budget.
The Carnauba Blend also has a lot of great qualities but falls a little short compared to the Top Choice Wax. So let’s look into some of the details with this wax, shall we?
It enhances the gloss of your RV as well as keep it protected.
This product blends pure Brazilian Carnauba wax polymers and resins.
Good on dark colors.
Can be used on fiberglass, gel coat and painted surfaces.
Will keep your RV protected from harmful UV rays.
Available in 16 ounces or 1 gallon.
You can apply it by hand or machine similar to the Meguiar’s One Step Cleaner Wax.
Although this wax helps protect your vehicle it won’t help restore it or help fight against rust like Meguiar’s One Step Wax can. It is a cheaper alternative to the same name brand. This wax does need to be applied in the shade and when your RV is cool.
Yes it does say polish and for cars but don’t let that fool you. It has a long lasting quality to it. Let’s jump into the details of this non-wax product:
It can be applied on fiberglass boats, motorcycles, planes, household items and yes your RV.
It protects your RV against things like salt, bird droppings, tree sap and tar.
This product is available in liquid or a soft paste.
Great for fast touch-ups and keeps your RV shiny even in between applications.
Made of zinc cross-linking polymer emulsions.
Has UV ray protection.
Easy application with no rubbing or buffing involved. Put a small amount in a damp cloth and apply it to your RV. Let it dry then wipe off. This doesn’t need a shady spot for application.
Even though you can put Nu-Finish on many surfaces it shouldn’t be applied on vinyl, plastic trim, simulated wood, flat paint or rubber. Looks like it is just available in the 16 ounce size. It won’t restore your RV’s surface if there’s already oxidation or damage like the Top Choice Wax, but it is a good alternative if you are looking to just protect your RV on a budget.
303 Marine Quick Wax comes in a spray bottle so it is a little bit different compared to the other 3 choices. Here are some key details to this product:
It can be used on fiberglass, gel coat, paint, chrome, stainless steel and plastics.
Contains Carnauba wax. It’s also 100% silicone free.
Has UV protection that lasts up to 30 days.
Helps remove water spots, dust and debris from your RV’s surface and helps repel them.
You have to spray the wax in a misting form evenly onto your RV’s surface. Then spread the wax with a microfiber towel. Make sure it dries to a haze before you buff the surface with a different microfiber towel.
It’s not the cheapest nor the most expensive wax. You do need to apply this wax in the shade and make sure your RV is cool to the touch.The application does involve more steps compared to the other 3 waxes. If you are wanting to do a quick one step job this may not be the wax for you.
Giving your RV a good wax and cleaning on a regular basis will help keep the exterior strong and looking good for a long time.
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All these products have some great qualities to them and can offer good protection for your RV to keep it in great condition for awhile. These choices will get you a quality product that is easy on the wallet and good on time. So what are you waiting for? Give your RV the protection it deserves and get to waxing!Categories
