How to Restore Your Car's Paint Finish

Dry the car with a chamois to get a water-free surface.

The sun will take a toll on the paint of older cars that have been parked outside every day. The paint may look dull and faded, even though the color is not flaking and hasn't been chemically harmed. Contaminants and oxidation collect on your car's paint and build up to cloud the clear coat and create the dull color. Removing these in a way that doesn't harm the paint underneath is how to correctly restore your car's paint finish so that it shines again.

Things You'll Need

• Car soap
• Soft sponge
• Water
• Chamois
• Clay bar
• Clay lubricant spray
• Dual-action buffer
• Liquid compound
• Buffing pad
• Polishing pad
• Car polish

Instructions

1. Park the car in the shade and let the surface cool. Wash your car with car soap and a soft sponge to clean the surface of loose dirt and debris. Rinse the car and go over it with a chamois to dry it. Let the car sit until it is completely dry.

2. Knead the clay bar for a minute until it's flexible. Spray the clay lubricant on a small section of the car and rub the clay back and forth across the lubricated area. As the clay picks up contaminants in the paint, fold the clay over to put a clean side against the paint. Repeat this until the entire painted surface has been rubbed with the clay bar.

3. Place a buffing pad on a dual-action buffer. Pour a quarter-sized amount of liquid rubbing compound onto the pad and buff the car's painted surface. Work the buffer in small circular motions on the surface to work the compound over the paint. Go from the front of the car to the rear, adding more compound as needed.

4. Replace the buffing pad with a polishing pad. Pour a dime-sized amount of car polish onto the pad. Work the polish over the paint using the same techniques you used with the rubbing compound. Add more polish as it runs out and the pad becomes dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a car cover on your vehicles that must be parked outside to prevent the paint from fading.

• Wash any buffing compound off of plastic areas of the car with car soap.

• Don't wash or wax the car immediately after applying car polish. Wait at least a week before waxing or washing the painted area.