Does Alcohol Damage Car Paint When Washing a Car?
2 Answers
Using alcohol to clean a car can damage the paint. Here is the relevant information: 1. Alcohol is a strong solvent: Alcohol is a strong solvent that can affect the gloss of the paint. It is recommended to use specialized cleaning solutions at a car wash. 2. Car paint coating: Car paint coating involves applying a protective layer on the surface of the paint, providing a physical invisible shield to protect the paint. 3. Main components of car paint: The main component of car paint is resin, which has relatively large molecular gaps. After coating, small molecular elements such as silicon, silicon dioxide, and nano-inorganic silicon in the coating solution can fully penetrate into the gaps and micropores of the paint molecules, forming a transparent crystalline layer similar to a smartphone screen protector on the surface. This significantly enhances the hardness and scratch resistance of the paint surface, providing long-term sealing protection and keeping the paint looking bright and new for a long time.
Listen to me, last time I messed up by using alcohol to wipe my car. The paint may look tough but it's actually quite delicate, with a clear coat protecting the color layer. When I wiped it directly with alcohol, I immediately felt something was off—a small patch of the clear coat dissolved. Only after consulting an experienced mechanic did I learn that alcohol is a solvent-based liquid and a natural enemy of car paint. Occasionally wiping off stains might not show immediate issues, but frequent use will definitely make the paint turn dull and whitish. The car wash owner taught me: use specialized cleaners for tree sap and bird droppings, and plain water is enough for regular dust. Now when I see people using alcohol to clean their cars, I get anxious—I'm really afraid their car's paint will lose all its gloss in six months. Scratches will also increase because the protective layer is gone.
