Swirl Marks on Your Car
In certain lighting, you may notice swirl marks, spider webbing, and other tiny imperfections in your car’s paint. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? Learn more about swirl marks on your car and why it happens.
How To Spot It
How well you see swirl marks depend on a few factors. For example, the color of your car. In dark colors, the marks show up more frequently, while lighter colors reflect more light and it’s harder to see any imperfections. You will mainly see these marks on areas that are flat, like the trunk, hood, and roof. Yet, in darker colored cars, these show up on doors and fenders too. And don’t let the swirl marks title fool you. They’re not always a circular area. In fact, swirl marks can be in any shape at all.
Why Does This Happen?
Swirl marks come from different sources, but here are some of the more common reasons.
- Buffing or polishing with the wrong type of pad
- Using harsh paint cleaners or polishing compounds
- Using a dirty chamois or towels and applicators containing polyester threads
- Wiping dirt or dust off your car with a dry towel
- Using a dirty car duster
- Not rinsing your sponge often enough when washing
- Driving through an automated car wash that uses brushes and other wipers
- Failure to rinse your car completely before washing
- Not thoroughly washing your car before drying
- Placing a dirty cover over your car
How To Remove Them
Once you get these marks on your car’s paint, there is just one way to remove them. They must be machine polished out, AKA paint correction.
Got Swirls? Let Us Fix It
Noticing swirl marks and imperfections on your car? Call us to find out how we make your car’s paintwork glossy and free of imperfections.