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Autumn comes with all sorts of problems for drivers, and drivers are sharing their hacks to beat them, including rubbing a vegetable on car windows to stop them fogging up.<\/p>\n
Others are suggesting simple DIY de-icing solutions using vinegar and gadgets that can heat the car without even turning the gas on.<\/p>\n
But even falling leaves can damage your car, experts have warned. Autumn foliage is a pleasant sight for many, but a driving expert has warned why you\u2019ll want to act fast if dried leaves are on your car\u2019s exterior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dry autumn leaves are typically coated in water, which adheres to your vehicle\u2019s paint, triggering chemical contamination.<\/p>\n
This adhesion comes from a leaf\u2019s outer portion, which releases a waxy substance known as cuticle that becomes sticky when combined with water, Way reports.<\/p>\n
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Aspens, Maples, and Oaks are examples of highly acidic trees, corroding car paint\u2019s clear coating, and top layers of separate components like plastics, glass, and rubber.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Checking your vehicle\u2019s exterior daily for leaves and increasing washing efforts throughout autumn will help you avoid these pesky stains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, you\u2019ll want to remove dried leaves from your vehicle by hand, one by one, since brooms and leaf blowers are more likely to damage car paint.<\/p>\n
Drivers who can\u2019t park their vehicle in an enclosed area like a garage can benefit from purchasing a car cover.<\/p>\n
You can double down on your car\u2019s body protection by waxing your vehicle during the autumn.<\/p>\n
Dried leaves are more likely to slide off a car\u2019s waxed exterior.<\/p>\n
A wax coat additionally provides a smoother, protective layer shielding your vehicle\u2019s paint from scratches that moving leaves can incur.<\/p>\n
A worst-case scenario of a driver postponing leaf removal would consist of dried leaves printing a silhouette of their shape on your car\u2019s outside.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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