Maintaining an unblemished car isn't just to enhance your car's resale value, it's also a matter of pride as a car owner. No one wants to drive a scratched and unsightly car. Parking lots, gravel roads and even a furious ex could ruin your car's paint in the flash of a second, but some other unprecedented factors may also harm the exterior of your car. Here are 4 unusual factors that inadvertently ruin all types of car paint.

Bushfires

Bushfires are a common occurrence in most Australian states and homes located in high-risk locations need to be diligent at all times during bushfire season. Ash gets strewn everywhere and the finish of your car is no exception. Your first instinct is perhaps to hose down the entire car to get rid of the ash. However, when water mixes with the ash, it creates a powerful alkaline that will ruin your car paint.

Instead, you can use a car duster to remove white ash. Black ash may scratch your paint even with a duster, so you'll need to wash it off with a special alkaline-removal car wash solution. Keep your car covered as much as possible when bushfires endanger your area and get your mechanic to add a new coat of wax at the end of bushfire season for added protection. 

Spilled Fuel At Pumps

Topping off your fuel tank means that sometimes fuel overflows onto the car's body and can damage the external paint coating. If left alone, fuel can stain your car's paint finish. This stain is nearly impossible to remove. If you spill fuel, grab some liquid detergent and clean up the fuel with a soft cloth before it harms your car paint.

Morning Coffee

Driving with a coffee or soda bottle on your roof may sound like a daredevil act, but it can easily ruin your car paint. Coffees and sodas comprise of acidic substances that can etch your coat of paint. Letting it sit untouched will give it time to cause more damage and will make it harder to remove eventually. If you have a lot of sugar in your coffee, you'll also be dealing with sticky residue. If you can't get to a professional car wash, use a soapy solution and cloth to wipe it off thoroughly.

Dirt On Car Wash Tools

Washing your own car is fun, but a common mistake like dropping your sponge on the floor can trigger more harm than you think. A sponge that touches the ground will grab bits of sand and grit. If they are not washed off properly before they touch the car, they will cause scratches on the car paint in the blink of an eye.

If your paint is ruined, get to a mechanic who specialises in car paint to fix it before it causes any further damage.