There it is, glistening in the sun – your beautiful car with its perfect paint job. Go ahead, admire it. But it’s not going to stay that way unless you take good care of it. That means protecting the exterior from the things that wish to do it harm. What can do it harm, you ask? There are a whole host of things.

Here are nine of the most common things that can cause car paint damage.

1. Tree sap

Watch where you park your car because sticky tree sap can damage your paint’s clear coat and cause discoloration in addition to staining. When it hardens, it can be challenging to remove.

2. Brake fluid

If brake fluid interacts with your coating, it acts as a paint thinner, eroding your paint job and causing it to peel. While this rule may not apply to all brands of brake fluid, why try it out?

3. Bird droppings

What ruins car paint? How about bird droppings! If your car has never been victimized by bird droppings, count yourself lucky. It’s bound to happen sometime.

The droppings are not just unpleasant to look at; they can do serious damage to your paint job because of their acidic nature.

Clean the droppings while they are still wet. Use a wet towel and a cleaning agent that won’t scratch the coating (see next tip).

4. Old rags & dirty towels

Dirty rags and towels have tiny particles of dirt and residue that will scratch your paint job. Whenever you wash your car, use a soft, clean microfiber towel and remember not to toss it on the ground.

5. Coffee and soda on car

What liquids damage car paint? Plenty of them, including your favorite soft drinks. Let’s just say that Coke on car paint doesn’t mix well. The culprit is the acidic content. Both coffee and soda have high acidity levels, and an accidental spill can lead to corrosion and damage your car’s exterior. 

6. Bugs

Do you know what ruins car paint? Bugs do! When bugs land on your car and linger there, they can damage your paint over time. The reason insects and paint don’t go together well is because insects tend to have highly acidic fluids that can erode your car paint.

7. Gas

When you’re filling up your tank, be careful that the gasoline doesn’t get onto your car paint, as it will leave a stain that is hard to remove. If that happens, it’s a good excuse to wash your car using mild soap and water.

8. Ash

If there is a fire in your vicinity, move your car immediately. If ash lands on your car, it’s bad enough; if it rains afterward, the combination of water and ash could cause a chemical reaction and leave a dark stain on your vehicle.

9. Dust

Cars that don’t get washed very often accumulate layers of dust and dirt. Dust combined with rain could create an acidic compound that corrodes your paint. 

In addition to the common things that can damage your paint job, there are more less common things that can reek havoc on your vehicle as well like Silly string, Shaving cream, Ashes, Shoe polish, Tar and Salt.

So with all these ways to damage your paint, what can you do to protect your vehicle's paint and your investment? If you’re looking for the optimal way to protection your vehicle, Ceramic Pro offers several affordable options. Our flagship Ceramic Pro 9H nano coatings are sold in package levels – each with its own expected and guaranteed warranty. There are also some other DIY protection products that will serve to protect the paint, plastic trim, and other exposed car parts that you may want to consider. Natural Carnauba Wax or Polymer or Synthetic Paint Sealants American Dent Specialists will almost always recommend Ceramic Pro ceramic coating as the way to protect your paint. Learn more about Ceramic Pro and the package we offer by clicking here.