Got Swirls?

How do nasty scratches get in our vehicle paint finish?

It doesn't come from driving, parked in the garage or at the mall. They come from us - we put them there. Let's learn the key points to eliminate and prevent paint swirls. There are always exceptions to the rule and common sense always prevails.

Hand washing your vehicle from the top down. Washing from the bottom up potentially drags dirt that has accumulated on the bottom parts of the car to the cleaner upper section of the vehicle.

Use of tatty, dirty, or scratchy towels, sponges, hard brushes etc. It doesn't take much to inflict a scratch in today's modern clear coat finishes. Towels trap particles on the surface and are harsh on the painted surface which leads to swirl marks. Sponges tend to trap particles and if not cleaned out can cause light scratches. I suggest premium quality sheepskin, micro fiber or chenille wash mitts - these tend to clean out easily rather than trap particles. These products need to be cleaned by agitation in the wash water or if really dirty hosed out during use prior to placing them back in the wash bucket.

As a standard rule, anytime a wash mitt is dropped to the ground or contains trapped dirt, it should not be returned to bucket of suds but instead should be either discarded or thoroughly cleaned.

Water Quality - Starting with clean water insures a safe swirl free wash . Any particles in the wash water which get trapped in the wash mitt have the possibility of scratching the painted surfaces. You may want to install a particle filter for wash and rinse water.

Premium Car Wash - Yes - there is a difference between most retail car washes and professional/commercial car wash products - you get what you pay for. The key to safely washing your vehicle requires lubricating oils and water conditioners, lots of cleaning suds and a neutral formula. These properties all assist to clean and protect the paint surface. The oils and conditioners allow the grit to slide off the surface and help prevents swirls and water spots. The suds help suspend particles away from the painted surfaces. The PH rating should be neutral so the wash does not degrade protective waxes or sealants and extends the life of waxes or sealants. Do not use dish washing products. I recommend at least 3 gallons of clean water (5 gallon bucker is ideal) with a premium car wash and install a Grit Guard so you can clean the wash mitt and insures you do not pickup debris from the bottom of the wash bucket. We recommend these premium car washes: Meguiar's #00 and #62, Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo, Wolfgang Auto Bath, DP, Zymol Clear, P21s Bodywork and Detailers Pride Auto Bath Shampoo.

Pressure Washers - Care should be taken not to force high pressure water against the dirty paint finish. The water pressure forces particles into and across the clear coat which will mar and scratch the surface. I suggest the use of pressure washers for under body and fender well areas, inner rim areas and use at a safe distance to remove the suds and dirt after the vehicle was washed. Note: high pressure water is capable of removing stickers, moldings and push water into the cabin compartment.

Automatic Car Washes - Many automatic car washes still rely on spinning nylon bristle brushes or soft clothes to scrub your paint and many times the water is not particle clean. Any automatic car wash system that relies on some type of material that comes into direct contact with your car's finish has the potential to instill scratches. You see it doesn't matter how soft, or state of the art their system is, if the car or truck before you was dirty 4-wheel drive, the dirt removed can potentially still be in the system (imbedded). Automatic car washes which touch your vehicle are not recommended if you want to keep your finish scratch-free. Note - just because it states brushless car wash does not mean it is TOUCHLESS. True touchless car washes do not clean real dirty vehicles as well however are less likely to scratch the painted surface. I do recommend the spotless rinse cycle if offered. The water dries without spots. Really.

Drying - After the wash - Rinse the vehicle thoroughly - I recommend removal of the water nozzle from the hose and just let the water roll of the vehicle from the roof down and across the hood etc. This allows most of the water to be removed from the surface. Use a good quality chamois, Guzzler micro fiber towel or a synthetic chamois -these all work great and I know everyone has opinions on each. I lean towards the Guzzler.

Polishing and Waxing - To avoid the cobweb-effect type swirls and scratches thoroughly wash all dirt particles from your finish before applying polish or wax. Always use an "automotive" grade micro fiber polishing clothes to remove cleaners, polishes, and waxes. Automotive grade micro fiber polishing cloths draws and traps abrasive particles or contaminants on the surface up into the towel instead of allowing them to scratch the sensitive paint. All micro fiber towels are not created equal. There are many micro fibers towels which are great for the kitchen and around the house but NOT good for your vehicles finishes. Stick to automotive micro fiber towels.

Buffer Swirls - also referred to as holograms, are circular scratches grooved into the finish through either the improper use of a rotary buffer, pads and chemicals. Buffer swirls can either be very deep or very shallow, depending on how forcefully they were created and depending on the products and type of pad used while buffing.

For the average weekender we recommend the use DA orbital polishers. The DA polishers can not burn the paint so these are great for the non professional - allows you to remove swirls and light scratches and obtain a professional detailers finish. Stop by the store and we will work one on one to review your vehicles finish and suggest proper products as well as pad material for a awesome finish.

Between washings - There are many products to maintain your vehicle cleanliness and shine without pulling the wash bucket and hose out. These products remove fresh contaminants and other minor mars to your otherwise outstanding detailing job. Each of the products contains high lubricity formula's that loosen surface contamination and wipe off without scratching the paint. These are waterless wash products some do contain waxes and polymers. These products remove fingerprints, smudges, bird droppings, water spots. We recommend the use of a high quality automotive micro fiber towel and your choice of Meguiar's no.34, Pinnacle Crystal Mist, DP Waterless Wash, Detailer's Pride Final Gloss Booster, Fast Wax, Wolfgang's Instant Detail Spritz or Zymol Detail. Keep a bottle in the vehicle these products are super for removal of love bugs on the front of the vehicle and windshield before they get to damage your paint.

Buying a new vehicle? Take ownership of your new vehicle (especially a black vehicle) and request the vehicle not be washed or waxed. This could be the first time swirls are introduced on your vehicle.

Joe Altman - Owner of Automotive Candystore. For more information on car care maintenance products, selection and assistance to obtain the perfect shine and protection, stop by the store (hours and directions are at www.automotivecandystore.com.)