Polishing Your Car - Car Cleaning Guru (Full Video)

Welcome to carcleaningguru.com's video tutorial for polishing. The tools required will be an all-in-one polish product or a designated multi-stage polish product, a microfiber or sponge applicator pad, microfiber towels, a detailing spray and if necessary a machine polisher and machine polishing pads. First we'll look at the process of polishing your vehicle by hand. Step one polishing. Working from top to bottom in sections apply an all-in-one polish product to a microfiber or sponge applicator pad. Dab the pad over the area to be worked upon and begin spreading the polish evenly. Once spread begin to work in the polish with moderate pressure in both circular and linear motions trying to follow the contours of the vehicle. Continue working the polish until it becomes almost clear on the surface of the paintwork. Move on to the next area and repeat the process. Pay particular attention not to rub excess polish product into panel gaps, badges and seals for instance. Headlights and light clusters can also be polished in the same manner. Step two buffing. Following the manufacturer's guidelines for product curing time buff off with a plush microfiber towel. Ensure all residue is removed from the polished areas again paying particular attention to edges, panel gaps and badges. Fold the towel regularly to reveal a fresh residue free surface for buffing. We'll now look at the process for polishing your paintwork using a dual action orbital machine polisher. Step one application. Apply two or three pea-sized blobs of polish product onto the polishing pad and dab over the surface to be worked upon which should be approximately one square foot. Begin to spread the polish on a low speed using only the weight of the machine. Step two polishing. Turn the speed of the machine right up and begin to work the polish in using moderate pressure. Move the machine at approximately one inch per second working in up and down and side to side linear motions overlapping each pass by half the diameter of the pad each time. Continue working the polish at this speed and pressure until it begins to turn clear. At this point turn the machine back down to a lower speed and make a final few light passes using just the weight of the machine. Step three buffing. Buff off the polish residue with a soft plush microfiber towel. Repeat this process for the rest of the vehicle working from top to bottom on approximately a one square foot section. A detailing spray can be used to both mist the polishing pad to prevent it from drying out and to help spread the polish and also to aid the removal of polish residue during buffing. You can use a smaller spot polishing pad and backing plate on the polisher to enable you to reach awkward or smaller areas such as bumper recesses and wing mirrors. Using a detailing spray helps lift any awkward polish residue off the paintwork during buffing.