Nothing feels better than marveling at the completion of a car paint job that has taken you several weeks to complete. After all this work you will want to keep that paint job looking good as long as possible. Your car can be exposed to a lot of paint damaging hazards while out on the road and even sitting in your driveway.

Taking precautions beforehand can ensure your paint lasts longer and can survive whatever road hazards and Mother Nature throws at it. Today we are going to talk about how to keep your car paint job in pristine condition.

One of the simplest thing to do is to wash your car regularly. Washing it helps it keep free of dirt and debris that can scratch the paint over time. A good washing schedule is once per week. Start washing at the top and work your way down. Make sure you are using soap specially formulated for cars. Dish soap and other home cleaning soaps can damage the car's finish. Wash sections and then rinse as you don't want the soap drying on you car's finish.

Try to keep your fingers from touching that car's exterior as much as possible. Your fingers can actually do damage by pushing dirt and oil into the finish. You can also leave scratch marks of you move your fingers across the paint as well. It also a good idea to apply a paint sealer twice per year. It adds an additional protective layer to the paint.

Waxing is also a good way to keep pine sap and bird droppings from sticking to your car's paint. The car will have to be waxed after the sealant is applied. You should also wax after you wash the car. Paste wax often lasts longer but is not as easy to apply spray versions. 

The best way to prevent paint damage is to house the car in a spot where it is not going to be exposed to bird droppings. Parking cars under trees can be particularly dangerous for car paint. Birds will leave their droppings, sap may drip and pollen can accumulate. If possible, store the vehicle in a clean and covered garage. If you must store it outside, purchase a protective cover for it.