Protect your car against haze? Yes, it’s possible.
The haze has enveloped Singapore yet again. It has driven most of us to remain indoors.
But if you’re a detailing enthusiast, it means extra effort is needed to protect your car against the haze.
As if dealing with harsh sunlight, bird poop and tree sap on a daily basis wasn’t enough!
Here are five things you can do to protect your pride and joy against the haze.
Snow foam is used by detailers and enthusiasts alike as a pre-wash.
1) WASH YOUR CAR MORE OFTEN.
We all know that haze contains lots of harmful particles. Breathing this stuff in is harmful. So is driving your car through it.
The only way to prevent these particles from eventually building up on your paintwork is to wash your car more often.
Doing this will go a long way towards protecting your car against the haze.
Spray waxes are a convenient way of keeping your ride glowing.
2) USE A SPRAY WAX TO TOP-UP THE PROTECTIVE LAYER.
Washing, claying and waxing your car in poor air conditions isn’t just uncomfortable. It downright sucks.
A quick way to add another layer of wax to protect your car against the haze is to use a quick wax. You mist it on, use a microfibre cloth to spread it evenly and walk away.
Of course, you could go the whole nine yards and do a full grooming session. But before you do, don an N95 mask and secure it. You might even need goggles if your eyes are sensitive.
Do not use a surgical mask as it will not filter the harmful haze particles. If you do, you’ll only inhale more of the haze as you labour to make your car shine.
3) CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER.
If humans need an N95 mask (like the one above), then your car engine needs a good air filter.
A lot of the dirt that gets into your engine comes from the air that is drawn into the combustion chamber. Engine oil helps suspend these harmful particles and carry them into the oil filter.
But with the haze enveloping the island, our engines are at risk of sucking in filthy air.
Protect your car against the haze by changing the air filter when it’s almost time to. We want to breathe clean air. So does your engine.
4) CONSIDER GETTING A CERAMIC COATING.
We can’t control the kind of particles that are being burned and wafting into our airspace. But we should assume that they can really ruin vehicle paintwork.
Protect your car against the haze with a ceramic coating. These should be hard enough to resist any potential micro-abrasions that these particles can cause.
As a bonus, a ceramic-coated car is going to be easier (and faster) to wash and clean.
5) FIND SHELTERED PARKING AND CONSIDER A CAR COVER.
This is a no-brainer for detailing enthusiasts and fastidious car owners alike. Sheltered parking is always preferred to open-air parking.
A sheltered carpark provides more uh, shelter against the haze, even if it’s not underground.
But if you’re truly fastidious, then it might be time to invest in a decent car cover!
