Many car owners are in a constant battle trying to eliminate swirl marks (sometimes called spider webs) and scratches from ruining the look of their car's paint finish. But instead of always trying to fix the problem, let's try and prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. After all they just don't appear by themselves. The reality is, those swirl marks and scratches are due to the action of car owners.
So here are some simple Do's and Don'ts to stop these swirl marks and scratches from appearing. Some may seem obvious but all of these recommendations are based on the experiences we've had over the years.
DON'Ts
Don't use a paper towel, old rag, flannel shirt, t-shirt, or cloth diaper to wash or dry your paint.
Don't use an abrasive pot scrubber (such as Scotch Brite (R)) to wash your paint or remove stains.
Don't use the wheel brush attachment at self-service wash stations (sometimes called wash boxes).
Don't use anything other than a carwash shampoo or detailing product to wash your car.
Don't use an abrasive cleaner such as Softscrub (R) to remove stains from your car.
Don't wash your car at a hand carwash where they typically use thin, low cost worn rags to dry your car.
DO's
Do wash your car only with a microfiber wash mitt or an authentic wool wash mitt.
Do rinse your car from top to bottom before washing to loosen dirt that can contaminate your wash mitt and cause swirl marks and scratches in your finish.
Do wash your car from top to bottom to prevent dirt from the lower part of your car from contaminating your wash mitt which can scratch your paint.
Do use a microfiber towel or synthetic chamois to dry your car (such as S.M. Arnold's Watersprite (R)).
Do take your car only to touch-less carwashes, self-service wash stations (sometimes called wash boxes), or carwashes with advanced foam brushes.
Follow these simple do's and don'ts and you'll have a scratch-free car worthy of showing off. If you still have scratches and need to remove them, click here for information on how to remove them and the best car polishes to use.
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(A TYPICAL ARTICLE WRITTEN ON HOW TO PREVENT SWIRL MARKS ON THE INTERNET)
The purpose of this article states how to prevent swirl marks and scratches. Although, it seems to be a denial of a what really causes them.
This is what the author feels is the real cause behind them:
The reality is, those swirl marks and scratches are due to the action of car owners.
The author makes this statement:
But instead of always trying to fix the problem, let's try and prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. After all they just don't appear by themselves.
He is right that swirl marks do not appear by themselves, but his solution does not in any way prevent them in the first place. Why is that? Even if you follow all these steps to the letter does not guarantee they will not happen in the future without correction being used. Many people think covering them up with wax, or polishes is prevention, but is it really?
Here is a common post I see all the time on forums that illustrate my point:
How to Avoid Swirl Marks !!!
Hey guys,
Ive been detailing my car, 1996 Nissan Maxima Dark Green in color, for years. I do all my steps and after I am done I have NO swirls. Even in the dead sun, nothing. Then a few days later, maybe after a rain or two, I have swirls !!! All over the place. Not deep either. I am prepping for swirls as well, and nothing seems to not make them appear. Maybe I am doing something wrong. Here is what I am doing.
WASH + DRY
CLAY Bar with Mothers
**ALL DONE BY HAND***
Poor Boys SSR2.5 Medium swirl
KLASSE All-In-One Polish
KLASSE SEALANT GLAZE *put in garage*
24 hours another coat SG *put in garge*
24 hours another coat SG
Top finish of P21S 100% Carnuba Wax
Any tips or advice would be good. It may just be that the clear coat is so old and its much of harsh products. Or something in the process is wrong.
Thanks for any input
-matt
Here is one response from this post :
Re: How to Avoid Swirl Marks !!!
You can't avoid it all you can do is to minimize it...
The moment you wipe you paint you are abrading it.. Whether it will become swirls or not will depend on what kind of cloth you use (MF,cotton,rags),how much pressure you put into it and if there's something on your cloth or paint..soap/lubrication is good grid is bad...Last but not least the hardness of your paint will also be a factor
If you want to avoid it the only honest answer is don't let anything touch your car
IS THIS WHAT PASSES FOR LOGIC? DO NOT LET ANY THING TOUCH YOUR CAR! HOW DO YOU DO THAT IN THE REAL WORLD?
Clearly all the products applied to this car are no concern to anyone here as a factor. No one even gives that a thought as a possible cause.How is it that rational people cannot see that applying all these coats of NON BINDING
products will not wear off ,and not effect the shine?
Here is the definition of the term "prevent":
preĀ·vent
? ?[pri-vent] Show IPA
verb (used with object)
1.
to keep from occurring; avert; hinder: He intervened to prevent bloodshed.
2.
to hinder or stop from doing something: There is nothing to prevent us from going.
3.
Archaic . to act ahead of; forestall.
4.
Archaic . to precede.
5.
Archaic . to anticipate.
I FEEL THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE RENAMED HOW TO LIVE WITH SWIRL MARKS BECAUSE I SEE
NOTHING IN THIS SO CALLED ARTICLE THAT OFFERS ANY TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT THEM.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/31/2012 03:42PM by detailer.