The age old question… What causes all the swirl marks seen in the paint on nearly every vehicle out there?\u00a0 The short and simple answer is “improper techniques and inferior products”.\u00a0 However, from my experience, the answer is anything but simple because there are numerous tasks within the detail process responsible for swirl marks.\u00a0 For this article, I’ll address a few of those tasks, explaining how they usually cause swirl marks and share simple techniques to avoid such results.<\/p>\n
First off, to clarify, I consider swirl marks to be any lighter scratches in the paint, whether they’re circular, straight or diagonal.\u00a0 These are light scratches caused by different dirt particles being dragged around the paint with insufficient lubrication and with the incorrect media.\u00a0 As I’ll explain below, these swirl marks can be caused by the person detailing the vehicle through multiple processes, starting with…<\/p>\n
Washing is one of the processes most responsible for creating swirl marks.\u00a0 Whether we’re using some old, cotton wash media or quality mitts like the reTHICKulous Wool Wash Mitt<\/a>, we are always scrubbing the paint to a certain degree.\u00a0 What this means is that even with the most careful of methods and products, we will eventually start seeing some swirl marks.\u00a0 It’s up to us to decide how soon we want to see those swirl marks.\u00a0 Choosing the right products and proper tools for the job is a huge plus in reducing the chance for swirling during the washing process, so a quality sheepskin wash mitt will make a dramatic difference over a sponge from a local store, especially one used at a local $5 car wash!\u00a0 Quality wash mitts tend to hold dirt better and allow for plenty lubricity when cleaning the paint, both of which are extremely important in keeping swirls at bay.\u00a0 On the other hand, a wash mitt that doesn’t hold water\/dirt well tends to press the dirt against the paint and not give enough lubricity for the cleaning process, resulting in light swirl marks.\u00a0 Worst of all is the local car wash that uses mitts on hundreds of vehicles daily, so while you may get away with it if you’re one of the first few cars through the wash, anything coming through later will leave in poor shape.\u00a0 In short, washing is the process during which swirl marks begin to show, so being as meticulous as possible with the tools, products and techniques is mandatory to keep your vehicle swirl free for as long as possible.<\/p>\n For those wondering how long it usually takes for swirl marks to appear, I wish I could give you a straight answer.\u00a0 The reality is that, considering you use the best products and tools available, it helps greatly if the clearcoat on your vehicle is on the harder side.\u00a0 In that case, it will take much longer to start seeing swirl marks on the paint, anywhere from 4-6 months or more.\u00a0 On darker colors, especially jet black paint where clear coat is extremely soft, swirls will probably appear after a couple months or so, depending on how often the car is washed and how dirty it is at the time.\u00a0 Regardless of the color, you can randomly expect to get a swirl mark here and there due to dragging some dirt inadvertently, but if it’s taken care of properly, your car should never get to the point where it looks as horrible as 99.99% of the cars out on the road today.\u00a0 For reference, one personal experience involves maintaining a brand new Ferrari 458 in dark blue color with somewhat soft clearcoat ever since August of 2011.\u00a0 Between myself washing and waxing monthly and the owner washing every week or two, the car has maybe 4-5 random swirl marks in the paint.<\/p>\n From my experience, next to washing, drying is the second most responsible for creating swirl marks.\u00a0 In fact, washing is in a way the most important part of drying because if a vehicle isn’t properly washed and cleaned, the drying process will surely result in quite a few swirl marks by dragging around left over dirt.\u00a0 Assuming proper washing is done, the right products and techniques are a must when drying in order to keep the paint as swirl free as possible.\u00a0 Cheaper towels of lesser quality tend to get hard after only a few washes, which leads to bad absorption and possible swirling.\u00a0 Pressure and technique are also greatly important.\u00a0 Pressure should be extremely light or none at all, simply enough to hold the towel on the paint to let it do its job.\u00a0 As for technique, the only way to all but completely eliminate possibility of swirl marks is to use to blotting method.\u00a0 Otherwise, wiping the paint even with little to no pressure can create swirl marks if something gets caught under the towel.\u00a0 Whenever I’m working on a car, I like to use the DI Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towel<\/a> and prefer to use the blotting method, as described in my Winter Washing with Optimum No-Rinse<\/a> article.\u00a0 This ensures I’m being as meticulous as I can with the drying process in order to try and avoid swirl marks as best as possible.<\/p>\n I was debating listing claying here at first but figured I’d include it.\u00a0 Reason being, claying itself is an abrasive and many people don’t realize that it can easily leave marring in the paint.\u00a0 Swirl marks are potential with clay bar decontamination if you get a piece caught between the clay bar and the paint.\u00a0 At the same time, unless the paint is fairly hard and plenty of lube is used, clay will almost always leave at least some marring and swirls of its own.\u00a0 This isn’t a bad thing as you should polish after a clay bar anyway, but for those who simply want to clay then wax, the only solution is less aggressive clay bar and plenty of lubrication!<\/p>\n When I tell this to my clients the response is typically “Really?! Waxing causes swirl marks?”\u00a0 The simple answer is Yes!\u00a0 The reason that question gets asked a lot is because people don’t associate waxing with swirl marks at all due to the fact that the car has been completely washed and cleaned.\u00a0 However, waxing can surely cause swirl marks through the application and\/or removal process.\u00a0 Reason being, some waxes, typically the older carnauba paste waxes, are fairly hard to apply and especially remove, requiring quite a bit of pressure during wiping to completely remove.\u00a0 As you can imagine, on a vehicle with softer paint it will be that much easier to create swirls with heavier wiping during wax removal.\u00a0 Also, many enthusiasts don’t realize how much pressure they’re capable of applying by hand because it’s so concentrated.\u00a0 I’ve had experience with a client who removed too much clear coat using a hand applicator and an over the counter scratch remover, all due to heavy pressure on a small concentrated area!\u00a0 For these reasons I always recommend waxes that are easy to apply, such as the\u00a0P21S 100% Carnauba Wax<\/a> and Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax<\/a>, or sealants like\u00a0Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze<\/a> and Blackfire Wet Diamond<\/a>.\u00a0 All of these protective products are extremely easy to apply and are removed with very little to no pressure, as a result minimizing or eliminating chances for swirl marks.<\/p>\n This is an issue I keep seeing with many new clients.\u00a0 They keep the car under the cover over winter and start seeing swirl marks soon after, getting worse and worse throughout the winter and requiring polishing in the spring.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 It’s because they cover the car one day, take it out for a drive, then bring it right back and put the cover on.\u00a0 This is a big no-no!\u00a0 No matter how soft, expensive and reliable the car cover, it will cause swirl marks when placed on a car that wasn’t washed just before the cover goes on.\u00a0 Even a 10 minute drive to the grocery store and back will leave dust particles on the paint, so when the cover goes back on it’s simply rubbing all this dust into the paint.\u00a0 On some very hard paints, it might not do anything for a while, but on softer black paints the car will look horrible after going through only a few of these situations.\u00a0 So, wash your car before putting a cover on it AND make sure the cover is completely clean inside to avoid swirl marks.<\/p>\n Dusting is a touchy topic with many car owners out there.\u00a0 There are a few dusters that are highly recommended and work great for everyone and there are some that just drag dust around.\u00a0 I personally only recommend cleaning the car with a mitt while washing and I will leave it at that.\u00a0 Reason being, dusting can definitely cause swirl marks because you are dragging a duster across the paint finish trying to pick up dust particles.\u00a0 If you must use a duster, I would advise the obvious like keeping the duster clean and using it as delicately as possible.<\/p>\n This is one of the most poorly advertised processes and products within the detail industry.\u00a0 There are numerous quick detailers sold by a few different manufacturers that encourage car owners to simply spray on and wipe off for a great shine and some protection.\u00a0 What they don’t tell you is that along with the shine and protection come some swirl marks and scratches.\u00a0 Similarly to, but much worse than dusting, doing a quick detailer wipe down is a process where dirt and dust is basically pushed along and into the paint with a towel.\u00a0 As you can imagine, if there is a good amount of dust on the paint, especially if the paint is soft, one wipe with the quick detailer and towel will easily cause swirl marks.\u00a0 This is regularly done at car shows and concours events, so ironically the cars are being damaged while at the same time being displayed as great pieces of machinery.\u00a0 To avoid this I would simply recommend avoiding any quick detail wipe downs unless it’s just after a thorough wash or wax application, so basically after the paint is thoroughly cleaned.\u00a0 Otherwise, swirl marks are just about guaranteed during this process.<\/p>\nDrying<\/h2>\n
Claying<\/h2>\n
Waxing<\/h2>\n
Car Covers<\/h2>\n
Dusting<\/h2>\n
Quick Detailer Wipe-downs<\/h2>\n