Rain Water and Damage to Your Car's Paint?

Does Rain Water Contain Any Harmful Elements?

 

This past Friday marked the end to 15 straight days of rainy weather in the D.C. area - a new record for consecutive days. According to Weather.com, the previous record for Consecutive Days With Measurable Rain in the Washington D.C. Area was 10 days in both 1938 and 1873.

So why the history lesson? At Capitol Shine, we receive many questions on just what elements can damage a vehicle. Since rain water picks up whatever may be in the air, many wonder if there are any damaging elements.The short answer, like many answers, is, "It depends."

One of the most obvious concerns are water marks. While water will eventually evaporate, any dirt or minerals that were in the rain water will not, and will usually result in what are known as water marks. The good news is that regular water marks do not generally damage your vehicle's paint, they just take away from the shine factor. However, not properly washing your vehicle after several rainy days can result in a build up of water marks which means a build up of dirt. This can, over time, become harder to remove. In Spring and Summer especially, rain is continuous which means you should try to have your vehicle properly cleaned every 1-2 weeks (at least).What if it's been longer than few weeks? No need to worry. If a good hand-washing will not work, a clay bar or Nano Mitt (Advanced Clay Bar Surface)can remove ingrained dirt from your vehicle's paint. This process is included in our Wash + Wax Sealant package.

What About Acid Rain?

 

Not to turn this into science class, but the EPA defines Acid Rain as "A broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids." In simple terms, rain can sometimes contain more pollution and elements than normal depending on the area and weather patterns. The higher-than-normal acidity of this rain is different than normal water spots and can cause paint damage if left unattended.However, just like preventative measures can be taken to avoid engine problems with your vehicle, i.e., oil and fluid changes, steps can be taken to avoid acid rain damage. A good wax sealant or paint protective coating (like Ceramic Pro or Opti-Coat Pro) can help to deflect the harmful elements of acid rain and provide not only peace of mind, but a SHINE unlike any other.

With the record rain out of the way, now's the time to schedule your protective coating estimate or wash + wax sealant from Capitol Shine. Head on over to our scheduling page to make an appointment. Please schedule at least 24 hours in advance to insure time and date.