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Painting a car is a rather delicate and complex process, which should be performed exclusively by masters for a positive result. But it is no less important how the car is treated after the procedure is completed: the paint must dry well before use, otherwise it will be easily damaged. This is especially true of the car wash, which can worsen the situation even more than accidental damage. DZigora Complex car wash from Kyiv shares his experience with us: what do you need to consider when going to wash a recently painted car?
Before washing the car, it is recommended to determine how long the paint will dry. Depending on the type of paint used, the process can take from several days to several weeks. At the same time, the top layer of the coating hardens quite quickly, but this does not mean that it has dried completely.
The following criteria affect drying:
- characteristics of the paint itself (the manufacturer writes the approximate drying time on the package);
- thickness and quantity of applied layers;
- selected drying method;
- features of the machine itself.
If there is an essential need in the sink, then it is possible to resort to it no earlier than in 2-3 weeks. Moreover, such a period is permissible only for simple manual washing; it is advisable to use a contactless sink no earlier than after 2 months: it uses a jet of water under high pressure, which can easily damage an incompletely dried paint layer. In the first 3-5 washes, you should not use brushes and scrapers to remove heavy dirt.
The water for the first wash after painting should not be cold. Chemical agents used for cleaning can be a problem: they should not be too aggressive. You can even choose a special composition intended for freshly painted surfaces. It is desirable that the detergent was immediately dissolved in water together with substances that create protective films.
Immediately before washing, you need to check the temperature of the surface of the car. If the car, for example, has heated up in the sun, it should be left in the shade and wait for some time until it cools down. If this is not done, the probability of damage to the coating increases.
The washing place must be windless and clean, so that foreign particles do not get into the coating during processing and do not press into it. Due to this, spills and spots that can form on the surface of the paint are also excluded.
During the washing process, fresh paint should not be exposed to excessive sunlight. Because of this, the cleaning agent can behave unpredictably, which will lead to paint damage.
Thus, during the first washes, it is strictly forbidden to:
- use aggressive detergents that are not intended for machines;
- use any, even the softest brushes;
- remove heavy dirt without pre-soaking it;
- use hard water that will leave a lot of spills;
- washing in the open air under the sun.
In general, it is recommended to forget about washing after painting for at least the first month, if you do not want to risk a fresh coating.
