A Beginner’s Guide to Removing Light Scratches with a Car Scratch Remover

Car polish, removing car scratches

To car enthusiasts, there is nothing more horrifying than finding scratches on your car. Luckily, light scratches can be removed with the help of a car scratch remover. But unfortunately, not all scratches are light.

The car’s paintwork has several layers. It consists of a topcoat, base paint, and primer. Those who wax or coat their cars put an additional protective layer on the paint.

First, you need to determine how deep a scratch your car has, meaning how many layers has the scratch penetrated. You can do a fingernail test by going over the scratch with a fingernail. If your fingernail doesn’t catch any paint, the scratch has damaged the topcoat resulting in a light scratch. If it does capture some paint then the base coat and primer are damaged resulting in a deeper scratch.

Light scratches can usually be removed with the help of a car scratch remover. With deep scratches, you generally need to do a lot more than just use a remover. You may also want to consider going to a professional for deep scratches.

Looking After Your Car, Car Polish

Removing Light Scratches With A Car Scratch Remover

Items you will need:

  • 2 microfibre cloth
  • Masking tape
  • Car scratch remover

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Start by cleaning the exterior of your car thoroughly and then pat it dry with a clean cloth.
  2. Locate the scratches on the car and mark them with masking tape. This will help ensure that you don’t miss a scratch when applying the car scratch remover.
  3. Using a microfiber cloth, apply a generous amount of the car scratch remover onto the scratch. Use a circular motion to apply and firmly rub it in for about 30 seconds.
  4. Wipe the remover off using a clean microfiber cloth.
  5. If the scratch remains, reapply the car scratch remover until the scratch is no longer visible.
  6. Apply a small amount of car scratch remover to the area surrounding the scratch so the paint blends.

Removing Deep Scratches From Your Car

Items you will need:

  • Primer spray
  • Paint spray
  • Car polish
  • Polishing pad
  • Masking tape
  • 2,000 grit Sandpaper

As stated before, only attempt to do this if you are familiar with how automotive paint works. Otherwise, you may risk ruining the paintwork of your car.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Wash your car thoroughly and pat it dry.
  2. Using sandpaper, rub the area of the scratch until the metal panel of the car appears.
  3. Apply masking tape and paper in the area surrounding what you’ve sanded off. So the paint doesn’t spread to it.
  4. Use a primer spray and spray the sanded area and let it dry.
  5. Spray paint over the primer now and let it dry.
  6. Now, polish the area using a polishing pad. Make sure to apply the polish in a circular motion and keep rubbing it in until all the beads of the polish are removed.
  7. Remove the masking tape and paper.

The process may seem simple, but if you don’t have the right equipment or don’t work carefully, you can easily mess up the paintwork of your car.

How To Protect Your Car From Scratches

Here are some tips to help you prevent swirls and light scratches on your car.

  • Don’t use a cloth or towel to wipe the dust off a dry car.
  • Wipe your car only after you’ve washed it thoroughly using a microfiber cloth.
  • While washing your car, rinse and clean the sponge or mitt often. Have two buckets with you while you wash the car, one with water and the other to rinse the mitt and sponge.
  • Dry your car off with a clean, thick microfiber cloth that easily absorbs water.
  • Avoid automatic car washes as the machine can leave scratches on your car.
Car polish, removing car scratches

Getting Rid Of Car Scratches

No matter how protective you are of your car, it will eventually get scratched. You can deal with minor swirls and scratches yourself. Just use a good car scratch remover to get the job done. When it comes to deeper ones, you may want to consider going to the professionals, unless you know how to work with sandpaper and paint. Otherwise, you may end up ruining your car’s paint by trying to save some money.

Car Polish Vs. Car Wax: How Is It Different From Each Other?

Car polish

Whether or not you’re a car owner, you may wonder about the difference between car polish and car wax is. Over time, cars may have some imperfections like paint scratches or oxidation. And you will want to get the right kind of products to get rid of these. The best car polish and car wax give vehicles wonderful shine. Most people seem to use these terms interchangeably. However, they are two different products. Let’s dig in about their differences.

The Difference Between Car Polish and Car Wax

Car Driving, Car Polish

Car Wax

When we talk about car wax, it’s all about protection. It serves as a barrier between the car’s clear coat and the elements that can harm your vehicle. In addition to protecting the automobile’s paint, car waxing can add shine and depth to the vehicle’s color because the product has color-enhancing compounds.

There are three types of car wax: liquid, paste, and spray. It can be applied either by hand using a sponge or microfiber cloth or using a buffing machine. Its synthetic coating can be made of natural oils, petroleum distillates, beeswax, or carnauba wax. In the waxing process, the technicians apply a protective layer over an automobile’s paint as a form of detailing finish.

Car Polish

A product that removes scratches, swirl marks, dirt, oxidation, and other minor imperfections from an automobile is a car polish. It is a form of paint correction that eliminates surface defects from the vehicle. It is recommended to be used before wax as it restores car paint that has lost its original shine. The task can also be delicate and time-consuming as technicians sand down the clear coat to level the car’s surface. Thus, it is irreversible.

Car polish comes in three types: polishing compounds, cutting polishes, and finishing polishes. The polishing process can be done either by hand or by machine. Car owners should clean the car first using a microfiber towel then dry it off before applying a small amount of the best car polish you can get to the car’s paintwork. At an auto shop, technicians use a machine polisher and a correct grade of a polishing pad to do the work.

When to Use a Car Wax or Polish

Car waxing and polishing are both essential to auto detailing. Car polishing will not look great if it’s not protected by wax. At the same time, wax alone will not bring out the same sheen if applied to unpolished auto paint. 

Before anything else, you should rinse your car and let it dry. Gently run your fingers over the car paint to inspect elevated specks or rough spots. If the surface of the vehicle is smooth, you only need to apply wax and wipe it off according to instructions. The car only needs to be polished if there are bumps, irregularities, or defects on the vehicle’s surface.

Car Waxing Pros and Cons

Sun damage and pollutants can damage the paint of an automobile. These elements can also make the car’s exterior look dull. Every possible reason for the wear and tear of the car surface can be avoided through car waxing. This car job also makes cleaning easier. The smoother the surface of your car is, the harder for the dirt particles to find something to stick to. Hence, it’s less likely to get dirty. One downside of car waxing is it takes time and effort to complete the job. Having your car waxed can also get a little bit costly. A good car wax product doesn’t come cheap.

Car Polishing Pros and Cons

Polishing a car is a good habit but it’s important to use the best car polish and the right methodologies. Due to atmospheric agents and pollution, the bodywork of a car fades and becomes duller as time passes by. Car polishing removes the car’s imperfections and brings it back to its former shiny appeal. However, the process cannot change the damages relating to the second layer of the bodywork or the paint if there are too many casualties in the clear coat.

Car polish

Restore Your Vehicle to Its Pre-Purchase Condition

It’s not surprising that frequent automobile usage can affect its original look. But with proper care, like car waxing and polishing, you can still make it look brand new. These two car jobs are entirely different but complement each other. Polishing a car removes minor damages on the top coat of the car’s paint, while waxing makes vehicles look shiny and protects the coat from fading and scratching. Make sure that you use quality car polish and wax products to give your vehicle the protection it needs and a fresh look!

The Best DIY Car Polishing Tips For Beginners

DIY Car Polish
Car Polishing Tips

If you want to keep your car shiny and protected at all times, DIY car polish is absolutely necessary. For most of us, our car is one of the most valuable and useful items we own. Therefore, it’s important to keep it not only looking great but feeling great as well.

Cars can take a lot of time when maintaining. So if you are going to put the time and effort in, your car will look and work at its best for longer. DIY car polish is part of that maintenance. Polishing your car will help extend the life of the paint and the exterior.

Polishing is the step between washing and waxing. However, this is often a forgotten step. But, when done properly, it can give your car’s exterior a new look. If you want to know more about the benefits of DIY car polish, keep on reading.

DIY Car Polish

Preparation

Performing a DIY car polish starts with preparation. Before you wash the car, make sure the car is not exposed to direct sunlight, and park the car is on a solid surface, and not on dirt or grass.

Rinse

Wash and rinse the entire vehicle. Start from top to bottom, but pay attention to the wheels, they hold the most dirt and mud. Rinsing will remove dirt and debris from the paint.

Polish

Polish can be done in two ways, by hand or by a machine. Although machines are much less time-consuming, by polishing by hand, you can perform more detailed polishing work.

You will need a few things, such as:

  • Water
  • Polishing compound
  • Polishing pads
  • Microfiber towels

Apply the compound in small doses, and use circular motions with the polishing pads to spread it all over the car. You can use the microfiber towel to wipe any leftover residue.

Wax

If you desire, you can add wax after polishing it to make it look more glossy. A layer of wax will serve as protection for everything you just did. For more tips on waxing, visit our website.

Finishing Touches

While the wax is drying, touch up on all the other areas of the car, like the windows, the door handles, and the interior. Move the car into the sunlight for a final inspection.

What Are the Benefits of Polishing Your Car?

DIY car polish has many benefits. The main one is to protect the exterior of your car. The paint is subjected to sun, rain, snow, wind, and road debris. A layer of polish can help smooth and reduce damages.

Paint Defects. The most common paint defects are swirl marks, paint peels, and uneven coating. Polishing can often conceal these defects and make the paintwork look smooth and appealing.

Eliminates Scratches. Car scratches are normal, regardless of how careful you are. For this reason, car polish can act as a buffer and remove shallow surface scratches on your car.

Invisible Spots. These spots are tricky to remove, and they may require repainting your entire car. However, these spots can be smoothened with car polish.

Shiny and Glossy. Last but not least, polishing your car will result in a smooth, shiny, and glossy appearance.

Polishing your car may not remove all of the imperfections on your car, but it can help protect against future ones.

Some Misconceptions About Waxing and Polishing Your Car:

Some people think that polishing and waxing are the same things, some think that polishing comes after waxing. There are many misconceptions about polishing, here are some.

DIY Car Polish

Do I need to polish my car?

Not necessarily. Although you don’t have to polish your car, polishing is very beneficial. It will improve and prolong the life of the paint. Moreover, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

How often should I polish my car?

Maintenance in the form of polishing and waxing is not a weekly task. Polishing can be done every 5 to 6 months, or 2-3 times a year. Waxing is something you need to do twice as often, every 3 or so months. The inside of the car, however, should be done weekly or monthly.

Can a Car Polish Be Cost-effective?

Unless you take your car to an expensive professional, DIY car polish is not that expensive. In the long run, it’s much cheaper and quicker to polish your car a couple of times a year than to have your car’s paint job touched up by a professional because you haven’t protected the car’s paint properly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DIY car polish is 100% worth it financially. If you don’t have the time or the skills to perform it yourself, letting a professional polish your car is still a great idea.

When it comes to car maintenance, car polishing is one of the most important aspects. Overall, restoring the glossiness, removing the appearance of surface defects such as surface scratches and swirls, and maintaining healthy paintwork can all be done by a DIY car polish.

Best UV Protection for Car Paint

Waxing your windshield

Maybe you are among the many people who realize that UV rays from the sun can cause terrible and massive damage to the paint of your car. But maybe you are not quite certain why this happens and perhaps you do not know what you can actively do to prevent damage to your car from these strong and damaging UV rays that the sun produces.

This article will help provide you the information about the best UV protection for car paint. Thus, in regards to the best UV protection for car paint, there are some natural ways that you can achieve and there are some products that you can buy that will help you to protect the paint of your car against damage from the UV rays of the sun all from your own home!

UV Rays

First, let us discuss a bit about the UV rays that damage the paint of your car. UV rays are rays of ultraviolet light. This light is classified as being a form of radiation, but at a low level. Sunlight has been proven to contain ultraviolet rays. This makes for a wonderful time at the beach. However, it is drastic in regards to the surface of your vehicle. In fact, it is realized that UV rays are responsible for causing two kinds of damage to your vehicle. While these types of damage are somewhat similar to each other, they each possess some form of distinction from each other. 

Photodegradation:

There is the issue of photodegradation (also known as fading). When we view colors of various shades, this is due to the result of the occurrence of various chemical bonds at a molecular phase, which produce diversified wavelengths of light that are reflected from the surface of an object. UV rays cause much havoc in regard to such chemical bond formations, which results in the breakdown of these chemical bond formations. In such cases that this transpires, then the result is the fading of the colors, which is comparable to scenarios of bleaching.

Oxidation:
Best UV Protection for Car Paint

The issue of oxidation is somewhat different from fading. But it is truly also highly problematic. In the simplest terms, oxidation happens when there is a reduction in the number of electrons pertaining to the atomic structure of an object. As this happens, there will be a substance that is brittle and seems to be washed out. This substance does not look like the part of a surface that is not oxidized. For example, consider the issue of rust. Rust does not produce growth on iron. Rust is actually a form of iron, but with a reduction in the number of electrons. Because the molecule experiences a reduction of electrons, there is the result of a chemical change. The oxidation process is drastically accelerated by the application of the UV rays of the sun regarding nearly all types of surfaces. This also applies to the paint of your car.

How To Achieve The Best US Protection For Car Paint

There are some things that you can do to achieve the best UV protection for car paint, even when you happen to live in climates that are harsh, such as ultra sunny Arizona, California or Florida, etc. Therefore, there will be the provision of some tips that will not cost you any money and are simple to do. Also, there will be some tips that will cost money and that will require a bit more effort concerning achieving the best UV protection for car paint.

Find a place that is shady to park your car. A parking space that is covered is an easy way to ensure the protection of the surface of your vehicle. Look for a tree in the parking lot at the mall. Utilize parking that is covered.

If your garage is cluttered up, clean it out, so that you can park your car in it. 

Be sure to wash your vehicle often. It is necessary to remove contaminants that can damage the surface of your paint. Such contaminants include sap from trees, bird droppings, pollen as well as dust. The reason why it is important to wash your car often is due to the fact that contaminants are able to contribute to the break down of the clear coat that protects the paint of your vehicle. Also, when you wash your vehicle, it is important to dry it off. Truly, this serves as one way to ensure the best UV protection for car paint.

Use Car Protection

Best wax for clear coat

There are several products that can help provide protection to the paint of your vehicle. For example, the best UV protection for car paint tends to be waxes that are made of natural elements as well as synthetic paint sealants. These items aid in combating UV rays that otherwise would strongly attack the paint of your car. If you apply wax, you will need to do this every three to six weeks. But if you apply paint sealants (car polish), you will need to do this only every three to six months. You can read our different recommended waxes for white car wax, best wax for black car and wax to remove scratches!

Use a cover for your vehicle. One of the best UV protection for car paint is a cover for your vehicle. This is a practical item to use in such cases that you do not possess access to covered parking. Also, a cover is best for those who do not use their vehicle often. 

Apply a protective film. It cannot be denied that one best UV protection for car paint is the usage of protective film. Thus, if you are the one who is overly particular about his or her car, then a protective film can be applied to the whole vehicle. Such films do provide high quality protection against UV rays. In addition, they make cleaning your car much easier and also serve as a form of protection against scratching and chipping that can otherwise happen as a result of debris on the road. 

The Importance Of Polishing Your Car

The importance of polishing your car and why:

Car paint polish

Car paint polish is a very import part of keeping your car with that new car feeling. Your car is one of the most valuable and useful things you will likely ever own. With that in mind, it’s so important to keep it not just looking great but feeling great. Cars take a lot of love and care when maintaining them so if you are willing to put in the time and effort, your car will last longer and keep looking its best for longer too.

What are the benefits of polishing your car?

There are a whole bunch of advantages to polishing your car, making sure your cars paint stays polished allows it to last so much longer. The paint on your car is subjected to great speeds and intense wind and rain. Not only does a layer of polish mitigate these damages it also helps smooth out the ones that are already there. Using wax, as opposed to polish actually can wear down minor abrasions, remove small scratches and help buff out oxidized paint spoiling the look of your car. Using polish may not remove these small imperfections but it can help protect against future ones.

Some misconceptions about waxing and polishing your car:

Some people have some misunderstandings about polishing and waxing their car, for example, many people believe that after waxing you have to polish. This isn’t actually true, waxing your car only is perfectly fine for the paint. The only difference between polishing and not after waxing is that polishing your car will look much cleaner, much shinier and the paint job will be extra protected from the elements.

Windshield Wax

Do I need to polish my car?

Although you don’t have to polish your car, it will improve the life of the paint and save you a lot of money in the long run. The cost of car paint polish and wax for your car’s maintenance regularly is much less than having to have the paint job redone and the car re-detailed. 

How often should I polish my car?

Caring for your car doesn’t have to be a weekly task, but it should be done several times a year. Here is a breakdown:

Waxing: Waxing only needs to be done once every 3 or so months. This way you get your maximum value for money, the wax protects your car for up to 3 months before it has been worn down by the wind, rain, and air resistance. If you also have a leather interior in your car, you can sync up the times you wax your car and treat the interior as they need to be done about as often as each other. Find out more on white car wax, best wax for black cars and wax to remove scratches.

Polishing: Polishing your car only needs to be done half as often. Twice a year, about every 6 months, is a good time estimation of how often is best. Because you should be doing a thorough detailing of your car once a year, it might be ideal to do your full detail, polishing and waxing all at the same time at the end of the year. 

Inside: Cleaning the inside of your car is also important, this should really be done weekly to keep it tidy. However, giving it a proper run through with a vacuum cleaner and some wet wipes once a month can make your car look as nice on the inside as at will on the out when it’s freshly polished.

Does it work out to be cost-effective?

Waxing your windshield

Many people choose to avoid polishing their cars because they don’t want to bite the cost of buying polish. This is a HUGE rookie mistake. The cost of polishing your car, including first time purchase of equipment, can be as little as $50. It may take you a while to get used to how to polish your car but it still isn’t a very long process. Compare that to the cost of having to have your cars paint job touched up because you haven’t protected the cars paint properly. A touch-up job can cost at least a few hundred dollars, plus it will take hours. It works out much cheaper and quicker to just polish your car regularly to keep its paint job looking good.

In conclusion:

Yes, polishing your car is 100% worth it financially. Even if you don’t feel like polishing it yourself it is still a good idea to have the car polished by a professional. But, it really isn’t very hard or time intensive so you’re better off doing it yourself. If you wish to find out more on exactly how to wax or polish your car, read this article here.

To protect your car, car paint polish really is the way to go.

Best car wax for your car

High end car wax

Car wax! Currently, there are many products for the care of your vehicle on the market, where car wax is one of them. To this day it is still important to keep your car in better condition, being a good option next to the polishing of the paint.

Why should I wax my car?

Mainly, to protect the paint of your vehicle, as they provide a coating that protects it from rain, ultraviolet rays, and air pollutants. It also generates an attractive shine in the paint, enhancing the color of your vehicle. Wax also helps delay oxidation by forming a physical barrier between metal and salts, oils and other contaminants. It can also help if you have scratches on your car.

What type of wax should I use in my car?

Vehicle Wax

There are only two types of vehicle wax: Natural and Synthetic.

Natural waxes are processed primarily from a natural source, whether animal or vegetable. A layer of wax of this type can last between 3 and 6 months in your car, depending on how much you use it. Read more on white car wax.

Synthetic waxes or also known as sealants, are made of polymers and are manufactured in the laboratory. The wax layer of a sealant lasts approximately 4 to 9 months, depending on the use of the vehicle.

Both waxes can be obtained in liquid form, spray or paste.

Should I polish my car?

You can do it when you want to remove any scratches or dirt. Polishing is the process where a liquid (polish) is applied to previously painted surfaces to remove scratches and dirt. To fulfill this purpose, it contains abrasive elements that will polish the surface, although they are actually removing a thin layer of car paint.

Differences between waxing and polishing

Best car wax

Many people confuse the polishing process with the waxing process, but it is not so. Waxing is covering your car with a protective layer that will help to brighten your paint, while car polish is the opposite, removes the scratchy dirt layers that the vehicle may have. Read more on the best wax for black cars

If you want to know what is the best car wax or any other information, you have come to the right place. As experts we can give you our opinion.

Steps to waxing a car

Car wax

Steps to waxing a car, why should I do it? Car waxing is the most important technique you can use to increase the brightness of your car and make it look like new. While waxing, people generally make silly mistakes and end up destroying the beauty of the car, rather than enhancing it.

Waxing a car is the process of applying a layer of wax, which is a combination of various oils and polymers, on the outside of the vehicle. This enamel reflects the sun’s rays, so it incorporates an elegant glow on the outside of the vehicle.

For those people who love their car (like you and us!), car waxing is an important element of its treatment. Buffing a car is not a tedious job only if you are well prepared with the necessary products and basic knowledge about how to wax a car.

Learning correctly how to polish a car is a skill that every car owner should have. This ability has a lot of value and goes beyond the simple pleasure of doing the job to see the final result. Of course, that feeling is also quite impressive, but there is real long-term value in this job, especially when you do it regularly.

An effective wax work properly applied, protects any car from certain minor scratches and hides others, as well as helping to prevent oxidation, especially during the cold months.

Which wax should I buy?

Before getting down to work and starting to shine the car, you should know more about the wax layer. The finish and shine with which the car is left depends largely on the quality of the wax you use. Therefore, it is advisable to use high quality.

A low quality can be economical, however, this type of wax will lose its shine in a few days and, therefore, will require a much more frequent waxing, while a good quality wax can be a bit expensive, but its results will last much longer, reducing the need to wax a car frequently. There are different types of car wax, read more about white car wax and best wax for black cars.

The wax will come in liquid form and also in paste, both with unique benefits. Liquid wax is popular since the shine persists for a prolonged period, while the paste is popular because it provides a better shine.

If you need wax to remove scratches, you can read more here.

What should I do before waxing my car?

Best wax for clear coat

You should take some precautionary steps before deciding to wax your vehicle. The first step should be to wash the vehicle, get rid of all the land settled outside. If you do not clean the dirt with water, there is a possibility that you rub the dirt on the paint, which will cause scratches. In case there are any scratches, repair them with a polishing compound. You can now follow the steps to waxing a car below.

Steps to waxing a car

Immediately after washing the car, dry it and park it in the shade to begin the waxing and polishing process. Be sure to use the correct amount of wax, as applying more than the required amount can complicate the waxing activity.

Take a cotton cloth and apply the necessary amount on the body. Most people make a common mistake when applying the wax layer in circular motions. This technique usually ruins the effect of the wax. The proper technique is to apply the car wax in straight lines. You can do it in two ways, in straight horizontal lines or straight vertical lines.

Once you are done with the full body of the vehicle, take a short break to allow the wax to settle, but make sure it does not dry out. After the polish layer becomes a slightly opaque mist, you can start removing it. Use a cloth to clean the vehicle’s wax, remove it with a circular motion in the opposite direction in which you applied it.

Be sure to remove all wax by putting enough pressure. Change the towel or cloth as often as necessary to avoid putting the wax back on the surface of the paint during this activity. This avoids any possibility of swirl marks.

Importance of waxing and polishing

Car wax

A good wax tends to stay “stuck” as it generates a more long-term effect that will protect your car from the bad weather, so it is important to wax your car under the conditions indicated.

Waxing your car is important, facilitates its cleaning and maintains its value over time, so it must be with the correct technique, products, and utensils for a beneficial and lasting result, which will eventually make your car get less dirty and less expensive to clean. Your car will thank you for following these steps to waxing a car.