SPRINGTIME CAR CARE TIPS FROM MCLARTY DANIEL BUICK GMC!

Between the bugs, pollen, sap, oak-tree danglies, dive-bombing birds and everything else that the season brings about, springtime can be murder on your car, not only making it look bad but also potentially damaging your paint, chrome and more in the process. McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville is here for you, though, with our tips on how to keep your car looking great no matter what Mother Nature throws your way this spring. Seen below, check out McLarty Daniel Buick GMC’s tips on how to remove the various “Springtime Stuff” that might end up on your car.

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BUGS: Bugs can be a real pest in the springtime if you’re determined to keep your car looking its best, with some insects making quite a splat on the grille, windshield or paint of your ride. To make matters worse, some insects can be rather acidic when they go splat, potentially leading to discolorations or even faded spots in your paint if you leave them there too long, especially when coupled with rising temperatures. The best way to fight bug damage is proactively, buy washing your car every two weeks and being sure to spring for the wax. The wax creates a barrier between the world an your car’s paint, allowing bugs to be wiped off easily. For those stubborn, stuck-on critters, use a microfiber cloth, a little mild dish soap, and some elbow grease.

SAP: Trees are some of the biggest fireworks shows of spring, helping bring us the shade that can keep us cool come August. But trees are also a pain if you own a car. Depending on the species, trees that overhang your driveway or parking spot can begin to shed excess sap, and that sticky stuff can be a real pain to remove from your paint, and can even etch your car’s clear coat if left on too long. As with our tip about bugs above, the best defense against sap is a good offense, keeping your car clean and waxed with a regular trip to the car wash. With a good coat of wax, sap will often wipe right off. For those more stubborn wax issues, you may have to bring in the big guns: Dampen the corner of a microfiber cloth with some rubbing alcohol, then carefully work at the sap drip until it dissolves. This may take two or three applications, but alcohol will usually lift most saps. Wash the spot afterwards with soap and water to remove any remaining residue.

BIRD POOP: Birds are another welcome harbinger of springtime, with everything from robins to hawks to small, migratory songbirds adding their voices and colors to the riot of spring. While those birds give you an automotive assist by gobbling up a lot of bugs that might wind up on our grille or windshield with a splat, the unavoidable result is that when the birds gotta go, they gotta go, often right on your windshield or paint. Depending on how big the bird is and how long it may have roosted over your parking spot, the result can be an unsightly, smelly mess. While some ignore the bird poop speckles, that’s not wise, as bird poop can be a nightmare for paint, especially darker paints, even causing the clearcoat layer to lift if left on so long. There’s plenty of ways to remove those Avian Number Twos, but our favorite is available at any corner store: a sugar free Sprite or other no-calorie lemon-lime soda. The mild acid from the citrus in the soda cuts bird poop like magic, and the carbonation lifts it away. Just make sure it’s sugar free! For best results, dampen a paper town with the soda and place it over the spot to soften it. Leave it five minutes, and the bird poo should be a thing of the past in no time.

These three methods are proven to keep your beautiful springtime into becoming a drag. Give them a try and let us know what you think. And if your car, truck, van or SUV is looking less than springtime fresh, trade up! Come see us at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville for the best selection in our area of new Buick and GMC vehicles, plus our outstanding used car selection. We look forward to seeing you, at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC!

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