Holi is the most colorful and joyful festival of India. Children and adults alike blow gulal, throw colored water and have fun. However, these happiness can become problems for your car. Chemical colours, gulal and water splashes can discolor, stain the car’s paint and if penetrated inside, can even damage the seats, floor and engine.
A couple of days before Holi, the danger of crowd and water balloons increases further. Make preparations in advance to avoid spending thousands of rupees on paint job or detailing after Holi. The 5 easy but effective tasks mentioned here will keep your car completely safe. Let us know about them one by one.
1. Cover the car
Before playing Holi, put a good waterproof car cover on your car. This is the easiest and effective method. The cover covers the entire car with color, gulal, water and dust. Cheap to premium covers are available in the market. Choose from side mirror, tire and number plate covers. If there is no cover, use an old bedsheet, tarpaulin or thick plastic sheet. Tie the cover tightly so that it does not blow away in the wind. This will keep the car completely safe and after Holi, just remove the cover and the car will look shining like new.
2. Choose the right parking
The choice of parking space matters a lot. On the day of Holi, keep the car in a garage, closed parking or under a roofed shed. Never leave water balloons on the roadside or in open fields where children throw water balloons. If there is no garage at home, choose a neighbor’s friend’s garage or a shady spot under a tree. This reduces the penetration of colors and also protects the car from mischief makers. Also take advantage of the parking facility. Proper parking automatically reduces 80% of the risk.
3. Security of wax coating
Get good wax or polish applied on your car 2-3 days before Holi. Wax forms a thin protective layer on the paint to which the colors do not stick easily. If colors fall, they simply get washed away with water. If you have budget, you can also get ceramic coating or Teflon coating done. These provide protection for 6 months. You can apply car wax spray at home also. After waxing, the car shines more and it is easier to remove the paint. This small investment saves big expenses later.
4. Keep windows and doors closed
Keep all the windows, doors, sunroof and boot of the car completely closed during Holi. Check rubber seals. If broken or loose, get it repaired immediately. Infiltration of colored water can damage seats, carpets and electronics. If you have to drive the car, keep the AC on recirculate mode. You can wrap plastic wrap on the door handle, so that color does not get on your hands. This small step keeps the interior completely safe.
5. Clean up immediately
Even if some color gets applied, do not let it dry. As soon as possible, wash with lukewarm water and pH neutral car shampoo. Rub gently with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. For stubborn stains, use baking soda paste or vinegar solution. Do not use high pressure hose on the first day. After cleaning, apply wax again. Quick cleaning leaves no stains on the paint and the car remains as good as new.