As you’re about to get in your car to get to work, you notice something on the car’s paint. After taking a closer look, you see they are fine markings or patterns. But where did they come from? If you maintain and keep the car clean, this might be a big surprise. However, this is not an otherworldly occurrence, and every car owner has faced these markings at some point.
To let you know, these are called swirl marks and have annoyed car owners for years. These pesky markings are more common with cars having darker coats such as black.
So, if you’re someone worried about how to remove swirl marks from car paint, continue reading this post to know all about it.
What Are Swirl Marks?
Swirl marks are fine markings on a car’s surface, which appear to be round in shape. They may also seem like spider webbings or as if someone has swirled something on the car’s paint. The interesting fact is that you won’t notice them until the car is exposed to sunlight or bright light.
These marks are most noticed on flat surfaces like the trunk or hood of a car. You may also observe them on a car’s bonnet or doors. If they appear on light-colored cars, you may fail to notice them. It’s because these colors reflect more light and make the marks seem invisible.
As they appear to be microscopic scratches, swirl marks are also called micro marring. However, swirl marks aren’t always circular and can go in any direction, vertical or horizontal. Needless to say, they can make any snazzy car look ugly.
What Causes Swirl Marks?
Swirl marks develop when many fine markings and fine scratches accumulate on top of one another. The primary reason for these marks to occur is improper cleaning and touching of the car’s surface.
One of the biggest mistakes you must avoid is wiping your car with a towel after washing. Even if the towel is dry and soft, you might get swirls. It happens because when you move it across the surface, it takes the dust and grime along with it. These dust particles have fine edges, which are the main culprits behind swirl marks.
For people using a dirty towel to clean their car, it’s a strict no-no! Sometimes, cars going to automatic car wash shops may also develop fine scratches, which will eventually turn into swirl marks.
Removing Swirl Marks: Basic technique
The basic and most common way to remove swirl marks is by using your very hands. If your car is new and has few swirl marks on it, you polish to get rid of them. So, the first step is to get yourself a good car polish. Try buying a multi-purpose polish that specializes in swirl removal.
Keep in mind that polishing your car by hand won’t remove all the swirl marks at once. You may need to put in a lot of effort and polishing to get your car swirl free.
Step 1: Wash Your Car
Go for a full car wash to prep it for polishing. Or, you can just wash the area having swirls which you need to handle. Either way, washing the car will remove any dirt or dust settled on the surface.
After that, use a microfiber cloth to dry the surface. Make sure the cloth is clean to prevent any more scratches.
Step 2: Paint Inspection And Claying
You need to take a closer look at the paint before you start polishing. So, put on a pair of rubber gloves and rub your fingers on the painted surface. If the surface feels rough and you observed spots, it means that there are contaminants within the paint.
If you don’t remove these contaminants, they will add to the swirls when you try polishing the surface. For this, you need to use a clay bar and a clay lubricant on it. The clay lubricant ensures that your clay doesn’t scratch the surface.
Take a small amount of clay and stretch it to fit your palm’s length approximately. Then, spray the clay lubricant on the painted surface and start using your clay on it. Move the clay on the swirled area in a vertical or horizontal motion. Avoid rubbing in circular motions, as it might create fresh swirls.
After a while, you’ll notice the difference on the painted surface. It will seem smoother and cleaner, as all the contaminants have been removed. When you feel the job is done, clean the surface off the clay lubricant using a dry microfiber cloth. Make sure to do it slowly.
Step 3: Apply Polish On The Surface
Now that your car’s coat is free from contaminants, thanks to the clay, it’s showtime! Rub your fingers again on the surface to check if it’s smooth. If it feels smooth enough, your car is ready for polishing.
So, take a clean applicator pad and pour three blobs of polish, and dab it onto the surface. Try not to push the applicator pad too hard on the surface. Doing this might heat the coating, and you’ll struggle polishing it. Therefore, gently move the pad back and forth in small circular motions to remove swirls. It is best to tackle one small portion of the car at a time.
If you’re using a sponge to remove the swirls, you can follow the same technique. A good way to go about it is by starting from the top and moving down. Start polishing from the bonnet and then go to the trunk. Slowly increase the pressure on a visible swirl until it’s removed.
In case you feel that an area on your car’s surface isn’t swirl-free, polish it again. If still, it isn’t working, you might have to use some wet sand on a particular swirl to clear it.
Step 4: Wipe Off The Excess Polish
After so much hard work, the swirls would have probably bid you farewell! Now is the time to wipe off the excess polish. Never let the polish dry out on the surface, or else it will be another mess. So, use a microfiber cloth to remove the remaining polish. Your car’s painted surface will start shining in no time.
This is a good time to check if there are any remaining swirls left and clear them as well.
How To Remove Swirl Marks Using a Machine?
The next method to remove swirl marks from your car is by polishing machine. In general, there are two types of polishing machines – Dual-action and Rotary machines. Dual-action polishing machines are very convenient and safe to use. Moreover, it produces less heat while cleaning the painted surface.
On the other hand, rotary polishing machines are a bit tricky to use. They aren’t recommended for beginners who haven’t handled a polishing machine before. These produce more heat than dual-action devices and spin faster too. So, if you haven’t polished a car before, go for a dual-action machine.
Then, follow the steps given below to remove swirls with your device.
Step 1: Clean Your Car
You must clean your car properly before using a polishing machine on its surface. Also, give it a clay bar treatment to free from any debris or contaminants. This is very important as using the machine over the contaminants will add to the scratches and markings.
Similar to the previous method, you need to dry your car using a soft microfiber towel before polishing. It will be handy to keep a couple of these towels with you. Make sure to never use a dirty towel to dry the car’s coating.
Step 2: Applying Polish On The Surface
Hold on; it’s not yet time for polishing! You need to prepare the surface a little. For this, apply three pea-sized blobs of polish on the polishing pad. Then, use your fingers and gently spread the polish on the entire surface of your pad. Try to soak the pad with the polishing liquid so that you can use your machine easily later on.
Step 3: Use The Polishing Machine
It’s finally time to use our polishing device to remove those swirl marks. Start the machine and choose a low-speed setting. This will give you more control over the device and enable you to clean better. You can begin by polishing the flatter surfaces before moving to the doors or other parts. If you’re doing this for the first time, choose a small section, clear it and then proceed.
Slowly increase the speed of the machine as you polish over a swirl mark or scratch. Move it over a swirl in gentle and controlled motions. Don’t apply too much pressure, as it won’t help in removing the markings. Keep working on one section for about a minute or two before moving to the next.
When you see the polish appear lighter on an area, stop the machine and check if the swirls have been removed. If the swirls still haven’t left the section, you need to apply more polish on it. Usually, deeper scratches and swirls need a little more time to clean.
If you’ve completed the steps properly, you will have removed most of your swirl marks from your car. In case you run into some stubborn swirls that just won’t go, you have to change your strategy. Try using a heavier-cut polishing pad and a stronger liquid polish. Then, repeat steps 2 and 3 until the swirls have permanently left your car.
Step 4: Clean Away Remaining Polish
After your car is free from swirls and has a glossy finish, you have to clear away the remaining polish from the surface. It will give you a better idea about the car’s surface and whether you’ve done a good job. As you might have already guessed, a dry microfiber cloth will be the best option here.
Use a new towel to wipe off the polish to reveal the sparkle and shine! Keep doing this until there’s no product left on the surface.
Step 5: Seal Your Paint
Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could protect this glossy surface? Well, you can do it by using a sealant on your car’s coating. You can use a ceramic coating or wax sealant to protect your paint from dust and further swirls.
Just like the polish, you need to apply a small quantity of the sealant on the surface. You can do this for the whole car to keep it shining and swirl-free!
How To Prevent Swirl Marks?
If you own a car, you have to accept that swirl marks will bother you occasionally. There is no fail-proof way to keep them away from your car permanently. However, you can adopt certain measures to reduce their occurrences.
Check out the tips given below to prevent swirls and scratches on your car.
Avoid Touching The Surface
Who doesn’t love running their fingers on their car bonnet? We all do! But your touch may be harmful to your car’s paint. It’s because touching your car’s surface can create markings and swirls on it. Your bare hands possibly contain minute dust particles. So, when they come in contact with the car, it creates an abrasion or swirl.
Therefore, try to use a microfiber cloth every time you need to touch the painted surface.
Throw Away Dirty Tools
This is almost a no-brainer. To keep your car clean, you can’t use dirty cleaning accessories. So, avoid using the same dirty sponge for every car wash. Also, keep the microfiber towels clean or use a fresh one every time you need to. Keep your wash mitt clean, or buy a new one if it’s damaged.
Along with this, don’t forget to use clean water while washing your car. Make sure to get a fresh bucket when one gets dirty. This way, you can prevent the contaminants in it from scratching your car’s coating.
Also, ensure that you don’t use the same tools for cleaning your wheels and your car’s surface. This simple step will also keep scratches at bay.
Use A Pre-Wash Car Foam
One of the biggest reasons for swirl marks is using a sponge on a dry and dusty car. What you unintentionally do here is drag the dirt already on the surface all over the paint. Do you know what that means? More scratches and swirls on your car!
So, always rinse your car thoroughly with water before you apply a sponge to it. Then, you can add a layer of pre-wash foam or cleaner to the coating. This will act as a protective layer for your car’s paint and soften any dirt on the surface. Therefore, after you rinse it off, your car will be clean and ready for polishing or further cleanup.
Use A Car Shampoo
Along with the car foam, you can use a car shampoo to keep your car clean. Make sure to invest in a shampoo that has decent lubrication and is pH neutral. With these features, it won’t strip away your sealant or wax when you use it.
Even if buying a car shampoo seems expensive, you’ll notice that it’s worth it. The product adds a layer of swirl protection to your beloved car, and you’ll see the difference soon.
Dry It With A Microfiber Towel
After you’ve done washing and cleaning the surface, it’s time to dry it properly. Instead of old sponges and fabric, use a microfiber cloth or towel to pat it dry. Plush microfiber cloths are soft and are gentle to your painted surface.
So, you can easily wipe off all the remaining water droplets on the car’s surface. These towels let you soak the water easily without harming the surface, which prevents any markings or swirls. As a recommendation, you can buy microfiber cloths in bulk and use them when you need them.
Tips To Polish Your Car
By now, you would have understood all the tactics to remove swirls from your car. As polishing is the most effective way out, you can get it right by following these tips –
- Always use a clean polishing pad
- Don’t apply too much polish on a particular section to prevent it from damaging
- Avoid applying too much pressure while polishing, as it heats the paint and causes marks
- Cover sensitive areas which you don’t want to polish
- Keep buffing a polished area, but don’t let the polish dry out
- Try not to let the polishing pad touch the ground, so that it won’t gather dust or dirt.
Wrap Up
Even if you’re in love with your car and keep it scratch-free, you should polish it every 3 to 4 months. Don’t overdo this, as too much polishing isn’t good for the paint either. You have to be gentle on your car’s coating, as this will go a long way in preventing any swirls.
Apart from following our tips on how to remove swirl marks from car paint, try not to make frequent trips to auto car wash shops. The machines will clean up the grime for good but aren’t necessarily kind to the paint. Instead, dedicate some time every week for swirl mark removal and car cleaning.
