Car paint just like your skin is not immune to the damage that can be caused by the sun’s UV rays. You can protect the paint of your car from premature fading or oxidation caused by the harsh elements of the sun by following the proper maintenance regimen.

As you go through your days, you must always see to it that you go for covered parking areas whenever you can, instead of just leaving your car to bake under the sun. This will help safeguard not just your car paint, but also its rubberized trim and its headlights. If you know how to keep your car looking like new, you will not just sustain its appeal but also help shield it from the sun’s harmful rays, bird droppings, bugs and heat.

Here are three very important things you can do to perform some damage control to your car paint:

1. Bathe your car as often as you can.

Believe it or not, you are not the only one who needs a bath. If you feel like taking a shower after being subjected to a day’s worth of dirt and grime, just imagine how your car must feel after taking you to the places you went to during the day.

So, wash and cleanse your car of all the filth it was subjected to while helping you get around. A bucket paired with a car cleaning product and soft mitt made of cotton will let you give your car a good old cleaning. Just make sure that you do this under a shade or else you will be subjecting your car to another dose of unnecessary sunlight.

Take care not to scratch your car while you are washing it, even if you have to deal with tough deposits like road tar, splattered bugs or dried out bird droppings. Make use of clay bar, so you can take away these harmful deposits without causing any damage.

2. Dry your car as you would yourself.

Never skip this part out. Do not make a habit out of driving your car immediately after a wash, without bothering to dry it out. This won’t do your car’s looks any good. Instead, take time to dry your car with a chamois cloth or a cotton rag so you can keep your car paint from being damaged by mineral residues that usually forms during water evaporation.

3. Your car needs polishing, too, so treat it to some waxing.

There is no better way to keep your car looking like brand new all the time than waxing. This won’t only protect your car paint from any natural and chemical pollutants, but it can also help in preventing damage caused by the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. Plus, waxing will also safeguard your car’s paint from pit damage as the sheen caused by the wax will keep grit and dirt from sticking to your car. Failure to wax your car can cause irreparable harm to its paint job.

Direct sunlight can scorch off your car paint just as heat from your car’s engine can stress the color on your hood. Despite all the elements that can affect the beauty of your car paint, you can still maintain its sheeny look with washing, thorough drying and waxing. Remember that even with your car, there is nothing that tender loving care could not prevent.