Swirling in Black Paint on a Car

A black car looks sleek and glossy at night when light reflects off the dark surface, but in the daylight, your black car is plagued by noticeable gray swirl marks. Swirl marks come from using an orbital buffer, or from waxing or washing your car with dirt on the surface of the car or on the sponge. Black cars show swirl marks because of their dark surfaces. Don’t give in to a new paint job; swirl marks can be removed.

Things You'll Need

• Car soap
• Sponge
• High-speed buffer
• Medium compound
• Light compound
• Car polish
• Polishing pad

Instructions

1. Wash your car with car soap and a soft sponge. Frequently rinse the surface to remove dirt and debris from the surface without scratching the paint. Let the car completely dry. Park the car in the shade to let the surface cool.

2. Pour a quarter-size amount of medium compound directly onto a panel of the car. Place the high-speed buffer on the car and turn it on. Work the buffer over the panel and through the compound. Work left and right, not in circles, with the buffer. Repeat this step for each body panel on the car.

3. Buff the car again using the light compound. Keep the buffer against the surface but don’t forcefully press the buffer into the paint.

4. Swap the buffing pad for a polishing pad on the buffer. Polish the car with car polish using the same techniques as you did with the compound. Work the polish back and forth, not in circles.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t buff or polish the car if the surface is hot or in direct sunlight as this can damage the paint.