5 Pro Tips to Keep Your Car Looking New

Do you love your car, but you’ve lost that fresh-off-the-showroom-floor feeling? 

Regular detailing is always important, but keeping your car looking new goes beyond occasional washes and waxes. Attention to the finer details that many drivers overlook can make a tremendous difference in the appearance and value of your vehicle. 

Here are a few often-forgotten maintenance tips that can turn back the clock and make your car the envy of the cruise in (or the carpool lane). 

1. Restore Foggy Headlights

Few things age a vehicle faster than cloudy, yellowed headlights. Not only do they dull your shine, but they also reduce visibility and increase your risk of nighttime accidents. 

There are a number of temporary solutions available to drivers who want to restore their headlights, but professionally applied ceramic coating is the best option for long-lasting clarity. 

2. Apply Paint Protection

What ceramic coating does for your headlights, it can also do for your entire vehicle. Protective options like ceramic coating and paint protection film (PPF) create an invisible layer between your paint and hazards like:

• Door dings and scratches
• Road salt
• UV damage
• Bug spatter
• Bird droppings
• Acid rain
• Damage from aggressive washing

Whether you opt for ceramic coating, PPF, or both, professional paint correction can erase any existing scratches and swirl marks, ensuring that your protection lays perfectly over a pristine paint job.

3. Clean and Condition Plastic Trim

It’s easy to overlook during a regular home wash but faded, brittle, or filmy plastic trim can steal the sparkle of an otherwise well-maintained vehicle. 

Plastic outer components take a beating from frequent sun exposure, and improper washing techniques can leave them covered in unsightly water spots. A high-quality trim restorer can help bring back that deep black color, prevent damage, and keep these components looking sleek and sharp. 

4. Don’t Ignore Door Jambs and Wheel Wells

While often overlooked, door jambs and wheel wells collect dirt, grease, and grime over time. Neglecting these areas can prevent your car from looking truly “clean,” despite your careful attention to detail elsewhere. 

Hit these areas during each wash, taking care that you don’t accidentally transfer abrasive grit to other parts of your car. 

5. Maintain Your Interior and Upholstery

Sometimes thorough vacuuming just isn’t enough. Dry, cracked leather and worn fabric can make your car feel old, even if the exterior looks pristine. 

This sort of damage is difficult to reverse once it has begun, so prevention is essential. Clean and condition leather seats to prevent cracking and fading. For cloth interiors, use fabric protectants to guard against stains and spills. 

The true natural enemy of your car’s interior is UV damage, so investing in window tinting is the ultimate line of defense against sun bleaching and desiccation. A cool, shaded interior will keep your seats and console looking fresh and new for years to come, protecting your ROI from the inside out.