Is pollen bad for your Paint? Unfortunately yes. Pollen may be great for bees and plants, but it can be brutal to your vehicle's paint. Maybe you've noticed the yellow splotches on your vehicle? Springtime is notorious for dropping pollen all over the place, especially in the city of trees. If left unattended, they can leave traces behind, or etch the paint, even after a wash. Schedule a detail service to get your paint cleaned up and upgrade your protection to a sealant for added durability. If pollen has been on your vehicle long enough to do some damage, you'll have 2 options: Clay bar treatment for minor defects and paint polishing or paint reconditioning for more serious paint defects.
Steady Maintenance
Washing your car weekly is always the best remedy to keeping pollen off your vehicle and preventing long-term paint defects. If you know us, you know that we recommend staying away from drive through car washes, but if that’s your only option then it’s certainly better than no wash at all when pollen is involved. Hosing off your car will not suffice with pollen; the micro particles can embed themselves in the pores of the clear coat and remain there, eating away at the clear coat little by little util you see the infamous oxidation.
Paint defects from pollen
Pollen doesn’t look too aggressive, but it does do damage, and there is a lot of it during springtime. As noted above, pollen embeds itself into the clear coat and if not maintained it deteriorates the paint. In just the course of a couple of years, pollen can leave significant damage such as etching the paint. Pollen can also leave micro-scratches if not properly washed. Waterless wash techniques are a definite no-go if pollen contamination is heavier than usual. Hand washing using the 2-bucket method is your best bet when washing pollen off of your vehicles exterior surface. And the best way to prevent it from etching your paint altogether is keeping a fresh coat of protection on the vehicle at all times.
Decontamination
When washing just doesn’t do the trick, or pollen has already created issues in the paint, complete exterior detailing is the next step in restoring and protecting your vehicle. Clay bar treatment is great at removing these micro contaminants and leaving behind a silky smooth finish. For those not familiar with clay bar treatment, I always tell clients that it works similar to the nose strips that remove blackheads. Surely not the best image, but you get the idea. There are two optimal times to have your vehicle decontaminated; Springtime and just before the Fall season
Clay bar does remove minor paint defects, but most defects left behind by pollen will require the art of paint polishing. This technique combines the right combination of machine, pad and product to buff out imperfections in your vehicle’s paint. Not only will this method remove damage from pollen, it will also remove hard water spots, light swirl marks and light oxidation. Complete paint reconditioning can also be necessary to remove heavier set in defects and can include spot wet sanding. This step will require an evaluation of your vehicles paint to ensure that the damage doesn’t do more harm than good. We offer free evaluations to all Sacramento residents and provide stress free, mobile detailing in Sacramento.
Protection
When it comes to your paint, nothing is more important than protection. Keeping your vehicle protected with wax, sealants or coatings is key to the longevity of your vehicles appearance. Our standard mobile detailing packages include waxes varying from a synthetic polymer blend to a fine paste wax. These can last 3-6 months depending on maintenance routines. Most natural waxes are made with carnauba. One issue with applying a liquid or paste carnauba wax during pollen season is that the wax needs 12-24 hours to cure and if left exposed to the elements, the wax will attract fine particles. Spray waxes can be beneficial during pollen season. They go on easy and are fast curing.
We also offer paint sealants and ceramic coatings that can last up to 2 years. These two protective agents create a shell like barrier on top of your paint and create a chemical bond to the clear coat leaving behind a super hydrophobic surface. Or, if you’re looking for paint protection film (PPF), or a vinyl wrap, we can get you connected with some of the best technicians in Sacramento.
Whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, keep a good coat of protection on your paint at all times and when pollen season arrives, your vehicle will be ready.
