Chemical stains can wreak havoc on a vehicle’s beautiful façade. Not only are they unsightly but some can cause permanent damage that can only be repaired with an expensive respray. The following looks at what kind of chemicals are to blame, the likelihood of them occurring, and if there’s anything that can be done to protect a vehicle’s paintwork.
A vehicle chemical stain is when a substance comes into contact with the paintwork and causes a chemical reaction. In most cases, fast removal of the offending matter will often be enough to prevent permanent damage, as long as it’s not instantly corrosive, such as acid.
However, if it’s allowed to remain on the paintwork for an extended period, a stain can occur. Some typical causes of chemical stain include:
Removal and Protection: vehicle chemical stain 101
By far the best way to remove or prevent a chemical stain is to wash the matter from the paintwork as soon as you notice it. Use clean, warm water and a microfiber cloth or clean sponge to remove the worst of it. Then use a gentle car shampoo, followed by drying the paintwork with a soft chamois or microfiber cloth.
In most cases, doing this promptly means that the substance hasn’t gone through the upper layer of clear protective coating that all cars have applied when leaving the showroom. However, they can still be hard to remove—you might need to use a specialist cleaner to do so.
The biggest problem is when you don’t notice the contaminant or you live in a region where the paintwork is under constant attack, such as near the ocean. In such cases, if you truly love your ride, then you’re going to want to consider protecting the paintwork in a more definitive manner.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way to protect that gleaming exterior. It’s called paint protection film (PPF). This is a transparent film that’s applied to the vehicle and is invisible once installed. It provides a robust barrier between unwanted substances and the paintwork, preventing chemical reactions on the car itself.
PPF is designed to make dirt, bird droppings, water spotting, salt, and other contaminants easy to wash away. In addition, it protects against paint swirls, scratches, and other microscopic damage. If that wasn’t enough, PPF is hydrophobic, meaning water beads and runs clean away and it can also absorb minor scratches and self-heal. Yep, you read that right. If PPF sustains minor damage, the application of a little heat makes it meld back into its original form—just like magic…
PPF is a wonderful upgrade to a vehicle that’s best applied to a new, nearly new, or resprayed vehicle. The best products last for many years and add to the vehicle’s value. You can also apply a car wrap over PPF for further customization.
PPF is one of the most effective ways to prevent vehicle chemical stains. However, before you rush out to purchase, you should be aware that not all PPF or PPF installers are made equal. At Auto SuperShield, we only deal with paint protection products. For us, it’s not some add-on service to make a few extra bucks—it’s our whole raison d’etre!
When you entrust us with your precious ride, you can be sure that you’ll not only get the highest quality product but that it’s being installed by some of the best in the business.
Discover more about our range of products at https://www.autosupershield.com/paint-protection-films
About how we can help with your vehicles specific needs.
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