This year, Australian summer is expected to be warmer than average. As lovely as it is to be out and about and enjoy the summer sun, excessive sun exposure can be damaging to your car. Before you get lost in your beach and barbecue plans, it is crucial to protect not only your car’s exterior but also your auto upholstery and trimmings for the summer.
Sun damage also does not merely make your car look dull. Interior sun damage can affect your driving experience and overall comfort. As car interior experts, we’ve encountered countless interior restorations for the most common damages caused by sun exposure.
Leather Car Seat Damage
Too much sunlight can dry and fade leather, especially seats. And because your car is continuously exposed to the sun when you drive on during the day or park it in an open space when you’re indoors, car manufacturers test car seats to endure sun exposure. But simulations can only test leather qualities so far.
Although leather is one of the most durable fabric materials, it is still in fact, skin. Too much heat causes leather’s moisture and natural oils to evaporate. This can lead to unsightly, premature cracks which may be costly to repair or even completely irreparable.
Dashboard Problems
Right behind the windshield, the dashboard gets the most sunlight among your car interior components. On top of that, the windshield magnifies the heat that goes through onto the dash. The same goes for rear decks. Accumulated trapped heat inside the car causes the dashboard material to degrade. The combination of UV rays and high temperature can break the chemical bonds of the dashboard materials, fading the surface colour and deteriorating its appearance.
What to Do
Prevention will always be better than cure, and it will stand true as long as the sun shines. Take these precautions to keep your interior safe from sun damage. Here are our top-tips to keep your cars interior looking its best:
- Use a car sun shade in your windshield, windows, and rear glass when you park in the open to prevent direct sunlight on your interior. They are cheap, effective, and are easy to put up, take down, and put away.
- Tint your windows for an extra layer of protection against direct sunlight. There are now a lot of car window tints to choose from, some with features like glare and UV protection. Check your local regulation for how dark you can go.
- Park in the shade whenever possible. The benefits go far beyond protecting your interior. If you don’t have a garage at home or your building only has an open parking space, invest in a car cover for when you park for a while.
- Use protective products for your interior upholstery. Make use of leather car seat covers, dashboard covers, and leather conditioners to preserve surfaces and keep them from getting too warm.
- Keep your car cool in the sun whenever you can. Crack the windows open for about half an inch to provide some air circulation. Move your vehicle during the day if you’re allowed to do so and invest in accessories that help keep a parked car cool such as a solar-powered car fan or a car seat cooler.
- Clean your car regularly to ensure that potentially damaging substances don’t linger long enough to compromise your interior’s integrity and tolerance to sun damage.
Proactively protecting your car from sun damage during summer and sunny days will pay off in the long run. Aside from keeping yourself from costly repairs for unanticipated problems, you will get to appreciate your interior’s appearance and your car’s value for a while longer.
For auto interior restoration and re-upholstery for sun-damaged interior or for more information about anything related, contact DA Motor Trimming today.
