IRVINE,
Calif., – Thinking about
your car's paint is probably not the first thing that comes to mind
when dealing with the daunting prospects of a close by wildfire. But
the chemcicals in the falling ash that settle on your car can do a lot
of damage if they become wet.
“The
elements in wood ash include calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium,
which are inert and have no effect on finishes in their dry form,” says
Meguiar. “There is, however, a serious risk of chemical etching on
automotive paint finishes when these elements are mixed with water. Leaving an
ash-covered car outside on wet nights or foggy mornings may very well result in
chemical etching and, in some cases, serious damage to a vehicle’s
painted surfaces.”
As
an example, potassium when mixed with water has the potential to form potassium
hydroxide, which has the same corrosive characteristics as drain cleaner.
To combat the potential ash hazard Meguiar’s suggests the following
precautions and remedies:
- Keep all vehicles in a
secure garage when not in use and be sure vehicle windows and sunroofs are
closed to minimize any residual exposure to the ash.
- If a garage is not
available, the next best option is a fitted car cover to protect vehicle
surfaces and keep excessive ash residue off of painted surfaces, wheels,
and tires as much as possible.
- If a vehicle must be left
outside in an exposed area during the fires, owners can minimize or
eliminate the threat of paint damage by carefully washing and then thoroughly
drying their vehicles each day until the ash threat subsides.
- Once the fires subside,
owners should give each vehicle a comprehensive cleaning, first washing
away any remaining ash residue with a product specifically designed for
autos.
Good luck to everyone who is threatened by the latest round of wildfires.
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