5 Enemies to Auto Body Paint

There are lots of chemicals that may permanently damage your car’s paint. Some are well-known enemies while others may surprise you. We’ve said it before, the more you know the better prepared you are to care for your vehicle. This month on the blog we’re dishing 5 surprisingly (yet common) substances that you’ll want to avoid to maintain your pretty paint job.

COFFEE

Coffee is highly acidic and will eat away at the protective layer of auto body paint if left too long. The sugar found in many mixed coffee drinks also adds to the corrosion process. Be sure to wash off any spills as soon as possible to prevent long-term deterioration. 

BIRD DROPPINGS

While most drivers find bird dropping absolutely disgusting, many don’t know that bird excretions are also very acidic and harmful to car paint. Most damage occurs when droppings are left to bake under the sun. The sun hardens the feces to a crisp, which not only deteriorates paint, but increases the chances of scratching your car’s surface when attempting to wipe it off. When cleaning bird droppings, be sure to wet your rag with water and a mild soap, and gently buff away. 

SILLY STRING

While silly string may seem harmless, when left on a vehicle over an extended period of time it can cause lasting auto body paint damage. Silly string is made up of various resins and colorants, and when allowed to dry in the sun, becomes very harmful. Do not wait to clean silly string from your car. We recommend taking your car in for a complete wash to be sure that no string is left behind,

ASH

If ash or soot ever settles on top of your vehicle and is later exposed to a large amount of moisture (i.e. rain or sprinklers) a chemical reaction takes place. The mixture forms a wet substance of potassium and calcium which then etches the car’s paint, leaving a dark grey stain that is very difficult to get rid of. Fortunately, wildfires are rare to come by here in Hawaii; however, it never hurts to be prepared. Avoid this damage by taking your car for a wash immediately following a wildfire or house fire.

SALT

Here in Hawaii, salty air is a part of everyday life. While salt is no stranger to the Hawaii driver, we thought this might be a great opportunity to remind you that salt makes your vehicle more susceptible to rust and corrosion. We definitely recommend washing your vehicle regularly and sealing or waxing it every couple of months. 

There you have it, folks! 5 surprising enemies to your auto body paint job. The more you know, the better the care you’re able to deliver to your vehicle when it needs you most. If you know of any other paint-damaging substances that you think we should know about, please leave it in the comments below. If you do find yourself in an unfortunate paint peeling incident, give us a call – we’ll take care of it for you! Stay safe and stay healthy friends!