How to Polish a New Car

Many have heard that you are not supposed to polish a new car. While this may hold true for some cars, there are others which are in dire need of a polish within the time period they can be considered new. In order to keep your car looking shiny and new, it is a good idea to get a coat of polish on the car in order to maintain a glow you will be proud of.

Step 1 – Wash Your Car

Since a polish is little more than an abrasive which removes any excess material on the surface of the car, you do not need any more abrasive in the mix, It will cause the car to get scratched as you try to polish it. Simply use water and soap to clean the car thoroughly. Using a car sponge will allow you to remove even more dirt than you can with a towel. Make sure you really scrub the splash panels in order to get up all the dirt which is kicked up from the road. This is a particular nightmare in the paint if left unattended. A good car washing will extend the life of any paint by reducing wear.

Step 2 – Dry Your Car

The best way to dry a car is to use a chamois. This highly absorbent piece of lamb skin works wonders to remove as much water as possible from your car. The worst thing you could do is allow your car to air dry. You will end up with sun spots or water spots if you do not take the time to dry your car off with a chamois. Avoid using cotton cloths as they can actually scratch the finish of your car which will make your polishing job just that much more difficult to finish.

Step 3 – Apply Your Polish

Unlike wax, you do not have to worry about using polish in direct sunlight. You can apply it when the car is warm or cool. Polish does little more than remove irregularities in the surface of your car. It does this either through abrasives or through a chemical reaction. No matter what, you do not want the polish to stay on the car for too long as it may effect your finish. Work in sections of the car in order to minimize the amount of time the polish is on the car. Make sure you use a polish applicator rather than a cotton towel as you can end up scratching the car.

Step 4 – Buff The Car

When the section you are working on has a dull, hazy appearance to it, buff it with your buffer. The best buffers to use are electric as they will make short work of the polish which is on the car. If you cannot afford one, you can use a manual one instead. You may want to work in smaller batches on your car in order to get the polish off in the quickest manner.