Polishing - Care for Your Car’s Paintwork
Few things are as eye-catching as a car with beautiful and shiny clean paintwork. But in order for the paintwork on your car to maintain its shiny appearance long after it has left the car showroom, you need to take care of it.
However, there are many paint care products to choose from and the wide range can be confusing.
This is what you need for proper paintwork care
Care for your car’s paintwork by following these three steps:
- Paintwork cleaning
- Polishing
- Waxing
You will need the following products:
It may also be worth buying a scratch remover to help you remove scratches and other marks from the paintwork.
However, the easiest way is to use a quick shine detailer with wax. This will quickly give your car a brilliant shine. Several different products in the paintwork care category can also be used in combination if you want to give your car a little extra love.
How to polish your car
Polishing a car is an important part of car care that helps restore and protect the paint, and gives the car a deep shine. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to polish your car.
- Wash and dry your car thoroughly
Wash your car with a car shampoo and then dry it with a microfibre cloth or car dryer. - Use a clay bar
Use a cleaning clay, also known as a Clay Bar Kit, to remove iron and tar before you begin polishing. - Check the paintwork
Inspect the car’s paint to detect any scratches, oxidation, or other damage that needs special treatment. - Choose a polish
Choose a polish that matches your car’s paintwork and needs. There are different types of polishes to treat various damage, such as lighter scratches and oxidation, or just to give your car extra shine. - Apply the polish
Apply a small amount of polish to a polishing wheels or soft microfibre cloth . Work in small areas to get the best results. - Inspect your work
Carefully inspect the paintwork from different angles and in different light to ensure that you have covered all surfaces and that no polish remains on the car. - Apply wax (optional but recommended)
To protect the polished surface and add extra shine, apply a coat of car wax. For best results, follow the instructions on the wax container.
How to polish by hand
- Use small circular motions to apply the polish to the paint using a polishing cloth . Apply using pressure and make sure to cover the entire area.
- Allow the polish to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A dull film will form after a few minutes.
- Use a clean microfibre cloth to buff the dried polish for a shiny and protected surface.
How to polish using a machine
- If using a polisher, attach a soft polishing pad to the machine. Apply a small amount of polish directly to the polishing pad.
- Turn the machine on at a low speed and apply polish evenly over a small area of the car. Work in straight lines - first horizontally and then vertically.
- Increase the speed of the machine and continue working area-by-area until the polish begins to clear. Make sure that the polishing pad is flat against the paintwork to avoid holograms and swirl marks.
- Once the polish is worked in and dried, use a clean microfibre cloth to buff the surface to a high gloss. It is also important to use a cleaner on the painted surfaces of the car, such as an IPA or Panel Wipe, to remove the holograms that may remain on the paint.
How to wax your car after polishing
Car polishing is an important part of thorough paintwork cleaning. After polishing the car with car polish, it is a good idea to wax the car. By doing this, you will get the best possible results from your paintwork care.
- Buy a good car wax.
- Wash and dry your car.
- Read the instructions on the wax container.
- Apply the wax to a polishing wheels or microfibre cloth.
- Select an area of the car to start waxing and apply the wax in small circular motions.
- Remove the wax with a soft cloth.
Be careful not to use too much wax on the car – you get the best results by applying only a thin coat.
Once you are finished waxing, you have completed the final paintwork cleaning step!
Frequently asked questions about paint care
What is paint detailing?
Paint detailing is an important part of the care of your car. By doing a proper job on the paint cleaning, you can ensure that the paint on your car has a brilliant shine.
What products for paint detailing do you need?
Car polish, car wax, paint cleaner, polishing cloths, polishes, polishing sponges and scratch removers are among the paint detailing products needed when waxing and polishing the car to protect the paint.