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We all love our cars. And perhaps our proudest moment is when the car is new and looks its best. A car, however, is not like a painting which serves its purpose in a controlled and safe environment. It is subjected to all sorts of abuses including the sun, dirt, and smog, all of which can affect the best automobile. But you can keep your car in new condition just like a painting protected in a museum.

Five Steps to keep your car looking its best.

1. Avoid scratches like the plague



• We start with scratches. Why? Because they are the biggest enemy to your car's finish. And avoiding scratches is the secret to keeping your car looking good. Dirt and grime, rubbed in while washing or drying, will act like sandpaper and dull your car's paint. There is one basic rule which will guide you whenever you touch the surface of your automobile: Anything that comes in contact with your car's finish should be soft.



• Be sure to have a good stock of 100 percent cotton terry cloth towels on hand for applying and removing detailing products.



2. As much as possible, protect your cars finish from the elements.



• This means storing the car in a garage or covered area. Also, the use of a car cover is highly recommended. A car that is constantly exposed to sunlight and other environmental hazards will deteriorate quicker and require significantly more cosmetic maintenance.



• No matter what stage of the "surface care" game, always have the car parked in a cool, shady place when you're washing, waxing or performing any type of maintenance to the vehicle's surface. Direct sunlight can cause water spots; even more damaging is the effect of sunlight on polishes and waxes.



3. Always keep a good coat of wax or paint sealant on the car.



• In addition to providing gloss and depth, wax will also protect your car from the elements, including sunlight and many other circumstances that you will encounter, from bug carcasses to bird droppings.



• Be sure to utilize the correct products at the correct stages to prevent unnecessary damage to your car's finish.



4. Be aware of your car's finish.



• Make regular quick inspections of your cars surface a habit. Look it over and note its condition, keeping in mind its recent history and what you anticipate will happen in the future.



• Remember, the average new clear-coat finish on a vehicle (primer, base, color, and clear coat) is only 4.5 mills thick, which is the same thickness of two sheets of The New York Times Sunday sports section.



5. Make a habit of detailing your car.



• In most cases, washing your car once a month is adequate. Once every two weeks is better and necessary if the car is subject to harsh conditions.

Getting your paint back to showroom condition involves a four-step process: washing, cleaning, polishing and protecting. The most critical step is frequent washing. Washing removes the loose surface contaminates which can gradually bond to the paint, leaving a gritty residue that could cause scratching when polishing later. Wash the car thoroughly, working from the top down, utilizing a lamb's wool washing mitt or terry cloth towel. Detailers prefer these, as the nap of the lamb's wool and terry cloth draws the dirt particles away from the paint. Avoid normal dish soap, laundry soap and household cleaners because they are designed to remove and dissolve grease and oil.

Contrary to popular belief, you can't get 100 percent carnauba wax out of a bottle. "Pure carnauba" is literally a block of high-grade Brazilian wax, which, by itself, would only scratch the paint. All waxes, even the so-called "100 percent pure carnauba" waxes, contain a blending of silicones and polymers. What does differ is the amount of these additives. Waxes with fewer polymers generally do not last as long under extreme conditions as those that are polymer-based. Deciding which type to use is a matter of preference.