We all love (and want) our Mustangs looking brand-new all day, every day. However, keeping it in pristine condition, like it just rolled out of the manufacturing plant yesterday, is no easy effort. What do you do?
Exterior and interior upkeep is one way to ensure your Mustang is well-taken care off. In this quick article, we look at how you can protect your Mustang’s paint to maintain its appearance for years to come.
Giving it a Good Wash
The quickest and easiest way to keep your Mustang’s appearance and the paint job is to give it a good wash often. If you’ve taken your Mustang, be it a 1968 Mustang GT 2+2 Fastback or a 1966 Mustang GT Convertible for a ride, you want to give it a good hose down to remove dirt, dust, and grime, especially in the undercarriage of the vehicle.
If you’ve been keeping the car in the garage most of the time, it’s still a good idea to at least wipe and wax while it’s in storage. It will be a good time to check for any leftover dirt, or oil accumulated that could eat away your paint.
If you prefer sending your car to car washes, go for the ‘no-touch’ ones, which are better options. However, nothing beats washing your beloved car with your own hands with the most basic necessities – the right soap, sponges, and a microfiber towel.
That said, if you are going to use the good old DIY method, then you also need to be wary of the tools and equipment you use to wash your Mustang. Believe it or not, most scratches on a car often occur during hand washing and drying. So, if you are going to do it on your own, you need to ensure that you are not using old sponges filled with dirt, dust, and debris because these will cause unwanted scratches.
Go for microfiber mitts that are excellent for smooth surfaces. Also, avoid using any car soap that may have side effects on the paint. You want to get and use soaps that are manufactured especially for the use of cars and better yet if you can find something suitable for a Mustang. Don’t use dishwashing or fabric detergents no matter how mild they are. Using detergents not produced for vehicles may impact the polish, even if it doesn’t affect the paint.
Giving it a Buff
Take the exterior protection to the next level by waxing your Mustang. Take it from basic clean to top-notch clean with some detailing using appropriate cleaning tools and solutions. Detailing doesn’t need to be done often, but it won’t hurt if you have the time. You can use a clay bar to remove hard-to-remove dirt and tar build-up, and once you’re done with that, start working on polishing your car. Polishing will remove swirl marks and scratches that take the shine out of the car.
Most tiny scratches on your car are very surface level, and these can be removed or, at the very least, reduced. Using a compound can help you buff and clear these tiny scratches caused by tiny rocks and debris.
Once that’s done, seal everything off with a good coat of wax that will help protect the paint, clear the coat, and retain the shine.
Wax should be done depending on how often you take your Mustang out for a drive. If you use your Mustang daily, this will definitely require more upkeep, cleaning, washing, and waxing at least once in a month.
Keep in mind that a little goes a long way when it comes to putting wax on your Mustang. Too much wax will cause buildup and it will also take a longer time to dry. Also, too much wax leads to dulling the polish and shine of your car. When you lay down a layer of wax on your car, make sure the layer is really thin. Not only will this help you keep your Mustang’s paint in its optimal condition, but it will also prevent any unnecessary residue, make your wax last longer, save you time, energy and save you from buying wax often.
Never Wash or Wax When Your Mustang is Hot
Waxing and washing should only be done when the vehicle is cool and best to have it done on an overcast day. Why is this? It’s because the hot sun will cause the paint to dry fast which will then cause water spotting, and this will affect the shine of your car. Also, when it’s time to wax the car, the rules apply the same way. A hot day results in the car wax drying too quickly which will make it harder for you to buff off. On the extreme side of things, wax drying off fast will damage the car’s paint, resulting in the opposite of what you are hoping to achieve.
Using Seltzer Water to Remove Droppings
The bane of all car owners. It’s a frustrating and irritating thing to be dealing with bird droppings on your surfaces. But instead of driving your car to a car wash immediately, use seltzer water. Having a spray bottle of seltzer water in your car and a microfiber towel is convenient in times like this. When you do need to clean off bird droppings on your car, just spray a good amount on the droppings, wait for it to sizzle then wipe off. Remember to only use seltzer water and not tonic or club soda.
Car Covers
Last but not least, getting a car cover can provide additional protection, especially if you aren’t driving your car, and it’s sitting in the garage. Car covers can help prevent dust collection and could embed in the paint. These car covers can prevent the effects of UV rays, tree sap, acid rain, and bird droppings. It comes in handy when you’re not at home to park your car in the garage.
The above is just some of the things to do to keep your Mustang in an absolutely pristine condition. Maintenance and prevention are the key and it starts the very day you buy the car.