North American winters bring in sparkle and snow. Despite snowfall and ‘white December’ being all about pure bliss and celebration, it is almost a nightmare when it comes to cars. As the roads are covered with ice, heaps of salt are spread onto the roadways to melt them. And the result? Road salt gets into the chassis of the vehicle to create eternal destruction in the form of rust. According to the Automobile Association of America, more cars are destroyed by rust than by accidents. Quite surprising right? So now is the time for you to protect your car with vehicle rust proofing. Here’s the process you need to follow to keep rust out of your car.

Step 1: Determine the Extent of the Rust

When an area gets rusted, bubbles start to show up in the paint above it. Before commencing repairs on it, examine the extent of rust that has formed. It is easy to repair rust that’s formed only on the surface of the car. Things get tough if it has gone through the metal – you will have to cut that portion out and replace it with a new piece. All you have to do is to tap the area of rust with the tip of a nail or pick. If the tip penetrates through the surface, you’ll have to replace the portion. If it doesn’t, then it’s a phenomenon of surface rust that can be repaired easily.

Step 2: Use a Paint Stripper

Strip the paint on the affected area with the help of a paint stripper or sanding wheel. You would need eye protection and face mask, because it hurts if the paint or rust flakes hit your eye, plus it’s not ideal to breathe them in too. Try isolating the work area to secure the rest of your vehicle body from accidental sanding. Alternatively, you can use a chemical paint stripper that shall be applied on the affected area, which shall stay for 15 minutes. Cover it with a plastic sheet to prevent evaporation. This subsequently makes it easy to scrape off the paint. Use a metal spatula to remove it effectively.

Step 3: Now, Remove the Rust

Now that you have removed the paint, all you have to do is to take out the rust. This could be done with the help of an electric grinder or sanding. Grinding must be done slowly and meticulously and once most of the rust is removed, focus on taking away the fine rust particles with a sandpaper.

Step 4: Bring it Back to Form with Paint

Once you are successfully done with removal of rust, go ahead and purchase a matching paint color for your car. Be sure to invest in a good quality primer too. Prepare the surface and apply three coats of primer. Let each coat dry for about 10 minutes. The final coat shall be kept to dry overnight, after which the paint shall be applied the next day. Make sure the paint matches with the color of the existing paint.

And the Important Part…Rust Proofing!

Just because you removed rust from your car and restored it back to normal, doesn’t mean that the process ends there. Rustproofing ought to be done for securing your car from winter damage. There’s high quality rust proofing products available to serve the purpose. Or, you could also get the help of rust proofing services to secure your car from rust.

Vehicle rust proofing is done using rust inhibitor sprays and is as simple as a few direct sprays onto the vehicle body. Here are a few things to remember while rustproofing your car.

Protect the paintwork that you have done. Apply suitable amount of wax, so that the process of rustproofing can go as intended.
To prevent the paintwork from going erroneous, make sure to use a sealant. This is applicable even for minor paintworks as well.
Protect your car from every factor that can cause corrosion. Yes, this includes road salt. If you live in an area close to the sea, the chances of rust can be higher, therefore try using a car cover that can prevent the salt from getting in.

Before buying a rust inhibitor spray, get to know the right application procedure for the best results. Christmas season is not just about holiday housecleaning and decorations, it also means that you have the responsibility to protect your cars from the horrendous effects of rust. So go ahead and buy the best automobile rust proofing product if you identify any signs of rust. Merry Christmas!