SWIRL MARKS ON VEHICLE PAINT: WHAT CAUSES THEM AND HOW TO PREVENT

Swirl marks are unsightly micro-marring on the surface of your car’s paintwork which can quickly deteriorate over time.

They are fine scratches most commonly caused by wiping your car with a dry towel (typically when it’s dusty) or improper washing and detailing techniques.

The appearance of swirl marks will differ depending on the actions used to cause them.

Below is a list of the top 10 causes of swirl marks on your vehicle’s paintwork:

• Polishers/buffers with the incorrect pad or an untrained operator.
• Harsh polishing compounds and paint cleaners.
• Towels and applicators containing polyester threads.
• A dirty chamois or a chamois that has not been properly maintained.
• Wiping down a dusty or dirty car with a dry towel.
• Using a car cover when the car or the cover is not clean.

• A dirty car duster or a car duster used on a car with too much dirt on the surface.
• Not keeping your wash mitt or sponge properly rinsed.
• Automated car washes with brushes and other wipers.
• Not rinsing your car completely before washing, or not washing your car thoroughly before drying.

Swirl marks are most noticeable on the flat surfaces of your vehicle – such as the hood, roof and trunk.

On darker colored vehicles, swirl marks will also likely appear on the bumpers and fenders.

Lighter colored cars such silver, white or grey do not show swirl marks so easily as they reflect more light away from the marring. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have swirl marks which can potentially worsen over time and become costly to repair.

If your swirl marks are very heavy, this means the outer layers of your car’s paintwork have been compromised.

This leaves the entire body of your vehicle’s metal framework vulnerable to rust and deterioration.

Once rust has penetrated even the smallest section of your car’s framework, it will begin to spread – ultimately leading to paint chipping and a weakened structure.

Your car will also significantly decrease in value as the swirl marks begin to become more visible.

Depending on the condition and the severity of your swirl marks, you will have a couple of different options to get rid of them.

Minor swirl marks can be treated using a simple cut and polish and wax procedure (as demonstrated in this short video below).

Swirl marks that have penetrated the outer layers of your car’s paint may need to undergo a more advanced paint correction procedure to correct the damage.

Paint correction is a term that is commonly used by professional automotive detailers to describe the procedure of completely restoring and rejuvenating your vehicle’s paintwork.

Paint correction will eliminate any imperfections such as deep swirl marks, that will eventually dull, oxidize and damage the surface of your car’s paint.

This type of car detailing procedure can also be used to fix other common imperfections including scratches, bird dropping etching, acid rain etching, RIDS (random isolated deep scratches) and hologramming or buffer trails from improper detailing techniques.

While there is plenty of information online on how to remove swirl marks at home, unless you actually know what you’re doing – it’s best to have the procedure carried out by a professional car detailing service.

Attempting to remove swirl marks without the proper knowledge of the buffing and cut and polish techniques needed or how to apply products correctly, you are risking further damage to your vehicle.

Swirl marks on your vehicle were more than likely caused by improper washing or detailing in the first place, so trying to rectify this problem without the proper experience is a recipe for disaster.

A professional car detailing business will inspect your vehicle first and only recommend the best type of procedure to remove your swirl marks.

They also have all of the necessary tools, products and car detailing equipment needed to achieve way better results than you could possibly get by doing it yourself at home.

It will save you money to get the job done right the first time by a professional car detailing service – so you don’t end up further damaging the surface of your car’s paintwork.

RPM Detailing are professional automotive detailers located in the suburb of Oakleigh in Melbourne VICTORIA.

We cover all aspects of restoring, detailing, protecting and maintaining your car or motorcycle — so your vehicle looks great and remains in pristine condition throughout its entire lifetime.

All of our staff are trained professionals and detailing perfectionists.

You can be confident your pride and joy is in safe hands at all times when dealing with us.

Contact Us Today For a FREE QUOTE!