(ARA)
– Our cars reflect our personalities. From a cute lime green bug to a powerful
black SUV to a sexy red convertible, what we drive says a lot about who
we are. But this good impression can be quickly ruined by a tarnished finish.
“Your car’s
exterior is constantly being assaulted by all kinds of potentially hazardous
substances -- many of which you can’t even see,” says Glenn Canady, president
of 5 Star Technologies, a company that makes vehicle maintenance products.
Canady says that dirt and grime from the road are just the beginning: “The
dangers are everywhere, tiny droplets of sticky sap from trees that get
on your car and will not only attract dirt and dust, but will bake into
the paint surface and leave stains. And what we may think of as innocuous
bird droppings are actually highly acidic substances which can erode paint
and clear coat finishes,” he adds.
Airborne contaminants
such as by-products from construction and manufacturing and other floating
elements can also threaten your finish. Add to that salt from the sea and
from snow trucks and daily exposure to moisture, sometimes from acid rain,
and you have a lethal combination. Even the hot sun beating down on your
car is problematic: it causes the paint pores to expand and absorb more
dirt and moisture.
The most critical
step you can take to maintain your finish is frequent washing, yet it is
surprising how many people don’t take this precaution. A recent survey
by carlove.org found that 52 percent of car owners wash their cars less
than once a month and 15 percent never wash their cars. Here are a few
suggestions from Canady on how to keep your finish glossy:
* You should
wash your car at least once a week. Keeping your exterior consistently
clean will lessen the impact of damaging dirt and chemicals that build
up on your car’s surface. In parts of the country that experience the use
of road salt in the winter, frequent washing can reduce the corrosive effects
of salt that cause body rust-through.
* Polish your
vehicle with a product that provides durable protection as a final step
after washing. Car waxes do not provide the long-term protection necessary
to keep your paint looking new. They are made from inexpensive carnuba
waxes, which melt and get sticky and attract dirt and pollutants.
“People can
actually be doing more harm than good,” says Canady, whose company makes
a two-step polish called 5 Star Shine that uses PTFE (the same substance
that makes nonstick cookware so slippery) and durable acrylic elements
that create a chemical fusion that seals paint from the elements. “This
is not like ordinary waxes and polishes that simply lay on top of your
paint and wear off in a few weeks,” says Canady. “It actually bonds with
the molecules of your paint.” The slick coating repels dirt and will remain
durable for at least 150 washes.
* If you drive
on muddy, messy roads, consider an undercarriage treatment every time you
wash your car. This will remove caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal
and causes rust and body rot around wheel wells and door sills.
Remembering
to do this routine maintenance of your car’s exterior will not only protect
your investment, but also your public image. For more information about
5 Star Shine, call toll free (866) 395-7827 or visit
www.5starshine.com.
Courtesy of
ARA Content
- -
Protect
Your Car's Interior from Messy Spring Weather
(ARA) - It’s that time of year when people have had enough of cold weather,
snow, ice and winter in general, and thoughts turn to spring -- warmer
temperatures, sprouting plants and melting snow and slush. It is important
to protect your car’s interior from leftover road salt, sand and springtime
mud.
You may be pleasantly surprised to
discover that floor mats can be not only functional, but attractive and
can complement the look of your car. Best of all, you can buy mats that
are custom fit to the exact year, make and model of your vehicle -- no
more bunching up and sliding around, which can be not only inconvenient,
but dangerous.
“Custom floor mats are a good investment;
protecting your carpet not only keeps your car showroom clean, but also
helps maintain its value. Because custom mats fit like a glove, they do
a much better job of keeping dirt and water off the floor of your car,
SUV, minivan or truck. And they are available in a wide range of materials
and colors to match your interior,” says Kim Painley, director of merchandising
for AutoSport, a company that specializes in car accessories.
Choices range from plastic to plush,
so there is a style for every budget, every taste and every season. For
example, sports fans can flaunt their allegiance with floor mats featuring
the logo of a favorite NCAA or NFL team embroidered in full color. The
soft, thick carpet has non-slip rubber backing to help protect the car
and keep the mats in place. True fans can show team pride with a matching
NCAA logo hitch cover. “Not only do sports fans buy these for themselves,
but they make great practical yet unique gifts,” says Painley.
AutoSport’s Husky Liners are great
for winter and spring, or year round if your van or SUV takes a lot of
wear and tear from kids, cargo or pets. Keep your interior looking like
new with liners for cargo area as well as for the front and rear floor.
AutoSport offers a wide range of cargo liners custom made for your specific
vehicle, so you won’t ever need to worry about spills or dirt. If you’d
like a something less utilitarian, Catch-All Floor Protectors provide the
comfort and elegance of carpeting while protecting your vehicle with a
moisture barrier and molded outer edges to catch dirt, mud, and water.
All of these mats and liners can be easily cleaned by simply taking them
out of the vehicle, hosing them off and allowing them to dry.
For the ultimate in pampering, Luxury
Custom Mats feature deep, sumptuous pile that will stay that way for years,
due to a special treatment that resists staining and soiling. The luxury
mats can be personalized with your monogram branded into a handsome leather
patch. Treat yourself to these sumptuous mats, or give them to your favorite
car enthusiast.
All of these mats and more in the
company’s catalog are custom fit to the make, model and year of your car.
“When you place your order, we’ll ask you for these details so you can
be assured of a perfect, custom fit,” says Painley. “You can also choose
from our color selection to get just the look you want for your interior.”
To help the rest of your interior
look as good as your new mats, try AutoSport’s Interior Care Kit. It will
only take a few minutes to beautify and preserve your car’s interior using
the products in this all-in-one kit: AutoSport Haze-Free Glass Cleaner,
Interior Vinyl Protection, Leather Cleaner and Leather Conditioner, plus
the Glassmaster Cleaning System, all stored in a double-spout, 16-quart
bucket.
The Glassmaster multi-purpose cleaning
system is the fastest, most effective way to clean interior and exterior
auto glass, including corners and hard-to-reach areas. The Glassmaster
tool has a sculpted, pivoting head with a foam backing that conforms to
window contours; the head attaches to a handle for better reach. The system
includes three interchangeable, reusable cleaning bonnets that fit over
the head: micro-fiber for dusting and fine cleaning, terrycloth for general
cleaning and nylon mesh for removing bugs, tar and stubborn dirt.
For complete details on these and
many other products to keep your vehicle looking its best, visit
www.autosportcatalog.com
or call (800) 953-0814.
