All you need to know about car polish

The weather can take its toll on a car's bodywork in a number of ways. It can be weathering, traces of pollution or even micro-scratches. All these damage the shine and lustre of your car's bodywork. Polishing is an effective way of restoring your car's shine. Let's take a closer look at the specifics of this essential step in vehicle maintenance.

What is car polish?

Car polish is a chemical product containing abrasive agents. It can be liquid or in the form of a soft paste. This product removes a light layer of the Clearcoat that protects the bodywork paintwork, taking with it any defects that may have crept in. In fact, many of the slight defects present on car bodies are located on the Clearcoat layer. Polishes are therefore used to polish bodywork. However, the range of car polishes is very specific and should not be confused with polishers.

Polish and polisher: two different products

Although polish is said to be used for buffing bodywork, it is a different product to polisher. The latter protects the car from UV rays and makes it shine. Although these products are very important for the maintenance of your car, they are different.

What are the different types of car polish?

There are many different types of car polish with different characteristics.

• Abrasiveness: there are different levels of abrasion for each product, to best suit the intensity of stripping required.
• Their level of use: there are renovation polishes, fine polishes and finishing polishes. Each has a specific area of application depending on the finish required.
• Capacity for action depending on the type of paint: not all paints are the same. It's important to choose a polish that's suited to the type of paint on your bodywork, otherwise you won't get good results.
• The greasiness of the product: car polishes can be used by hand or with a polishing machine. In either case, not all polishes are equally easy to apply.

When should you choose a car polish?

Whether you want to remove swirls or scratches, it's a good idea to use a professional car polish. You can also use polish to effectively treat oxidation marks and limescale. There are a few tips for applying professional car polish safely

How do I apply my car polish?

Polish is a professional product used by body repairers. Used incorrectly, it can cause irreversible damage to your car's bodywork. Fortunately, there are a few tips on how to do this easily.

How do you choose your polish?

The most important stage is preparation. You need to know exactly what you need in order to choose the right car polish or polishing paste for the job. As we've seen, products can differ. Depending on the type of Paint and the level of work required, you can easily choose a car polish that's right for you.

Apply car polish easily

You can do this step by hand or using a polisher. These orbital machines reduce manual effort. They do, however, require a good 'touch' to avoid leaving excess polish on the bodywork. Whether using a machine or by hand, use honeycombed sponges or microfibre cloths to avoid lint.

• Work under cover: this is essential to avoid contaminating the installation with any airborne waste. What's more, the sun is the polish's enemy, so it's essential to work in the shade.
• Wash your car beforehand : the surface must be free of dirt.
• Protect all plastic parts: plastics and polish don't mix. It's essential to cover them up or you risk damaging them.
• Apply car polish in small areas. Application conditions may differ from one type of polish to another, but you should always work on small areas, without leaving any excess product. The type of application should also be adapted according to the manufacturer's recommendations. You can use microfibre or different types of honeycomb foam.

Which brands polish bodywork?

For impeccable polishing, always choose a product used by professionals. This guarantees impeccable results.

Scholl: a brand with recognised expertise in high-quality polishing pastes. The products are generally applied in several stages, from preparation to abrasion to anti-fog protection. These products are particularly effective against holograms. The S range gives excellent results on dark paints. Perfect if you're looking for a black body polish.

3M: The 3M range is an American brand with world-renowned expertise in chemicals. When it comes to polishes, 3M offers products for professional use. These products are generally all-in-one and contain all the essential components for carrying out all the chemical phases of polishing.

• 4CR: the 4CR brand manufactures products for body repairers. Since 2004, this brand has put all its expertise into the products it offers. You can be sure of working with polishes used by specialists. In particular, the brand offers solvent-free polishes that can be used on fresh paintwork, for example.

The best car polish

As we've seen, to be sure of finding the best car polish, you need to identify your needs. Because the best polish is the one that will meet your expectations. From this point of view, it's essential to get the product research phase right. Once your needs have been determined, you can rely on the reputation of professional car polishes. 3M, 4CR and Scholl are the products of choice, recognised by professionals. Following the instructions for use will guarantee impeccable results to restore your car's bodywork to its former glory. There are many technical parameters involved in choosing the best polish, so don't hesitate to seek the advice of qualified professionals. Our dedicated technical team can answer all your questions and help you make the best choice of car polish. Don't hesitate to contact our technical teams free of charge (on 01 60 27 20 19), who will be able to advise you on the best choice, or consult our other tutorials on the subjects of car polishing and buffing.