Polishing a car is a process in which a very thin layer of paint is removed and a new, shiny one is exposed. At the end of the work the car will appear as if it had just been picked up by the dealer. Polish your car every 2-3 months to keep it visually always shiny, remove small scratches from the bodywork and avoid the formation of rust that could decrease its value, it will remain in perfect condition for a long time.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Wash the car
Step 1. Park your car in a shady place
Make sure the body surface is cool, this will prevent the soapy water from drying out before rinsing.
Step 2. Get a large bucket
Pour in the right amount of car soap and then fill it with water so that a thick and soft lather is generated. Use only car soap and be sure to calculate the correct proportions based on the amount of water.
Step 3. Use a large sponge, dip it into the soapy water
Squeeze it to get rid of the excess water and start washing the car body.
Step 4. Make circular motions as you move across the surface of the car, paying close attention to where dirt can accumulate
Start washing from the top of the car and progressively move downwards leaving the rims for last. Once you have soaped the entire body, rinse with plenty of water
Method 2 of 3: Choose the right tool
Step 1. Use a high speed angle grinder to get a perfect result in no time
Using this tool, with the right accessory, you will remove all scratches and defects from the surface of the body making it perfectly shiny. It is advisable to have the tricks explained by an expert in the use of this tool, in this way you will avoid creating permanent damage on the bodywork of your car.
Step 2. Use an orbital bur for best results without excessive effort
Obviously not all scratches or defects will be eliminated, but the final result will be of great effect. An orbital cutter is also recommended due to the significantly lower costs compared to an angle grinder. The results obtained, however, will be of shorter duration.
Step 3. If money is scarce you can choose to polish your car by hand
Obviously this option will involve more work and more time and will give a qualitatively inferior result to the previous ones. Remember that hand polishing involves a considerable waste of material and above all of time and effort, giving a not very durable and irregular result.
Step 4. Buy a quality product to get the results you want
There are many products on the market and if your bodywork is already in perfect condition and just needs a little more shine, a simple polish will suffice. Choose, if you want, to use more complex products based on your machine, the year of manufacture or the state of the paint. Ask for advice from friends who use these products or from industry experts.
Method 3 of 3: Polishing
Step 1. Thoroughly dry the entire car with a chamois or a clean, soft cloth
Make sure you dry the entire car body perfectly.
Step 2. Apply a generous amount of product directly to the car body
Start polishing the hood to get an easy-to-analyze feedback right away.
Step 3. Place the chosen tool directly on the product poured on the bodywork and make circular movements to distribute it and to polish all the paint without missing any points
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If you use an electric tool, turn it on and hold it steadily, move it creating circles to polish to perfection and make the entire body shiny.
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If you are polishing the car by hand, make circular movements with more pressure so that the product used works effectively.
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Step 4. Continue polishing the applied product until you achieve the desired shine
Step 5. Re-polish the entire body surface until you get the desired result
Advice
- To prevent the polishing product from getting into the cracks in the body, cover them with tape.
- Polishing a car is a process that can take more than 3 hours, take your time.
Warnings
- Before starting to polish, check the car body for dust or dirt build-up. If they are not removed they could severely scratch the body during the polishing process.
- Do not use household detergents to wash the car. They are too abrasive and could remove the protective layer of the paint.
