What Are the Swirl Lines in the Paint Job of My Vehicle?

Swirl marks in auto paint can be a cause of concern for many vehicle owners, and for those with dark-colored cars, the problem is usually more apparent. Swirl marks are actually tiny scratches in the auto paint itself and can be caused by a number of different factors. Most vehicle owners experience swirl marks because of poor paint maintenance techniques. Potential problems are easy to identify, and swirl marks can be removed with just a few simple materials.

Poor Cleaning Practices

Most swirl marks arise from improper cleaning practices. When a car is covered with dirt, the surface of the auto body panels is littered with tiny abrasive particles. When a vehicle owner washes his car with a sponge, the particles move across the surface of the paintwork and create tiny scratches in the paint. Always wash down your car with a pressure washer to remove dirt and abrasive particles first, starting at the roof and working downward toward the floor. Never wash your car with a sponge and detergent until the panels are completely free of grit.

Dirty Polishing Cloths

A Saturday morning wax might seem like a great idea, but using dirty cloths will only serve to compromise the integrity of your paintwork. Dirty cloths can spread grit across the freshly washed paint when they are used for a second time. If you must reuse the cloth, put it through a wash cycle after use. The choice of cloth material is also important in preventing swirl marks. Some materials have a thick fiber content that can actually scratch paintwork during polishing. For this reason, it is better to use genuine microfiber gloves instead of old items of clothing.

Coarse Polishing Compounds

Although polishing compounds are designed to restore blemishes in auto paintwork, they are produced in a variety of different grades, each with a specific use. When coarse compounds are used on perfect paintwork, the abrasive qualities actually create small scratches that are easily visible in direct sunlight. Compounds should only be used for restoring dull paintwork. As a rule of thumb, the duller the paint, the coarser the compound needs to be. Compound swirl marks can be easily removed afterward using a professional-quality polishing glaze and microfiber cloths.

Car Covers

Placing a car cover over a vehicle might seem like a great way of protecting paintwork, but the reality is somewhat different. Car covers gather dirt while they are in storage, and once they are placed over a vehicle, dust particles fall onto the paintwork and remain there until the cover is removed. It is practically impossible to remove a car cover without the material scraping against the side of the body panels, and any contact will actually drag the dust particles across the paintwork, causing minor scratching and swirl marks.