No matter how thorough and consistent you are in washing your car, there are always going to be certain things that a sponge and bucket can’t do. This is where polish comes in. Polishing your car allows you to remove fine scratches, add gloss and shine, and eliminate that fine layer of build-up that accumulates from being on the road that dulls the appearance of your car.
While the benefits of polishing your car are clear, knowing when to polish your car may not be, especially if you’re in the middle of winter or a rainy spring. Should you polish while the weather is at its worst, or should you wait for a drier, warmer season? There are a few factors to consider, including whether you polish your car yourself or hire a professional auto detailing service like Full Speed Mobile Detailing.
Vehicle Care Habits Impact How Often You Need to Polish Your Car
While polishing can restore the gloss of your vehicle’s clear coat, it does so by removing fine layers of clear coat with friction created by a combination of buffing pad and compound.
For that reason, before polishing, it is important to consider common causes of the swirls, scratches, and clear coat imperfections that create the need for polishing. Improper washing practices is one of the greatest contributors to swirls. As convenient as a tunnel wash may be, they are known as “scratch-n-shines” in the detailing industry. However, improper hand washing or towel drying with dirty or Ruff towels can also produce scratches. Also, using aggressive chemicals (which are also commonly used in tunnel washes) can also dull the clear coat. Lastly, allowing bug and bird splatter to remain on the car instead of quickly removing it can contribute to imperfections that will require polishing.
Waxing vs. Polishing vs. All-in-Ones
As opposed to polish, which uses friction to polish and correct the clear coat itself, waxes and sealants add a layer of protection that sits on top of your clear coat to protect against UV rays and other natural elements, as well as road debris. Waxes may improve your vehicle’s appearance by temporarily hiding clear coat imperfections, but they do not actually change imperfections like polishing does. However, waxes and sealants offer increased protection, so it is recommended to keep a protective coating on your car at all times. Depending on its durability, most people need to add a layer of wax or a sealant a few times a year unless you’ve added a ceramic coating, which is a more or less permanent layer of protection that lasts several years.
When it comes to polishing, some vehicle owners opt to use all-in-one (AIO) polishes, which offer a combination of corrective polish, glaze (which temporarily fills minor clear coat imperfections), and protective wax in a single product. While you get the simplicity of an all-in-one product, these mixtures often aren’t as potent in terms of corrective properties (for polishing) or long-lasting as standalone sealants or waxes (in terms of protection).
However, when you want to properly address the swirls and other imperfections in your clear coat, you quickly find out that polishing has a whole range of options between pads, compounds, and polishing machines. There are abrasive polishes, which are a bit like sandpaper in that they contain various levels of coarse materials (light to heavy-cut) that help rectify everything from light imperfections to deep scratches. Then, there are finishing polishes that are not intended to correct swirls or scratches but to enhance the gloss to a fine glistening jewel. These various compounds will each have different effects depending upon the polishing pad and machine used.
With so many options, it can be hard to decide which products are right for your vehicle, as well as how much you should be paying for them. Hiring a professional detailing company takes the guesswork out of polishing your car, in addition to making sure the rest of your vehicle looks its best. If you’re not one to spend time and money figuring this out for yourself, it’s often best to let experienced professionals handle it.
The Benefits of Professional Polishing Over DIY
Cleaning your car is a lot like cleaning your teeth. You brush your teeth regularly, which keeps them looking good. But no matter how well you clean, you still need to go to the dentist at least once a year so they can remove the deep build-up that you can’t reach.
Your car can also benefit from this kind of professional deep cleaning. When you opt for professional details services, you’re allowing the experts to choose the most effective and long-lasting polish for your car and lifestyle. And, since “mobile” is in our name, Full Speed Mobile Detailing will bring the expertise to you.
Don’t wait for the next intense season to get your car the protection it needs. Now is the perfect time to protect and polish your car. Contact Full Speed Mobile Detailing to set up a polishing appointment today!
