How to polish a car at home

Why polish a car? A layer of wax makes any, even not too expensive, car more presentable and attractive. A transparent film protects the iron horse from dirt and scratches, preventing corrosion and increasing the life of the vehicle. But polishing a car in a car workshop is an expensive pleasure, so experienced drivers prefer to take care of the car at home.

Preparation

The procedure is carried out in the garage. If it is not possible to hide the car indoors, then choose a day when there is no rain and strong wind, otherwise the dust will mix with polish, leaving small scratches on the surface.

The car is put in the shade. The body heats up due to the sun, and paints and varnishes overheat, go bad and release toxic substances. The car is not polished in late autumn and winter, when the temperature drops below +6 degrees.

Before the procedure, it is recommended to visit a car wash or independently clean the vehicle of dirt, pieces of tar and dust. Close up deep scratches. Minor damage can be left, but then instead of transparent, use colored polish.

After washing, thoroughly wipe the car with a soft, clean cloth. In the room where polishing will take place, they arrange spring cleaning. They sweep floors, wipe racks and take out all the garbage. When the car dries and the garage becomes perfectly clean, proceed to the second stage.

Tools and materials

Which polish to choose for home use? Wax varieties mask chips and fill cracks, but attract dirt. A car covered with a plant or animal based product will lose its luster after 1-3 washings.

Synthetic options are more resistant, repel dirt and water droplets. Silicone-based polishes last 2–3 months. At home, they use protective agents, in which there are no abrasive particles.

Cover the body with liquid glass. The tool will cost more than a wax polish, but the effect of the use of such a composition is longer. Liquid glass does not mask scratches, but only creates a protective film and glistens beautifully in the sun.

A soft sponge comes with polish. Microfiber wipes or baby diapers are suitable. When choosing rags for polishing the body are guided by three criteria:

• The material absorbs moisture well.
• On a napkin or towel there is no dirt, stains of paint and spools.
• The rag is not too stiff and without fibers.

Rough rags leave small scratches on the surface of the body, contributes to peeling of paint and the appearance of rust.

Manual polishing lasts from 5 to 15 hours. The special machine will speed up the process. The technique is equipped with soft discs made of cotton or felt. They evenly distribute silicone and wax products on the surface of the body, facilitate labor and reduce polishing time by 3-4 times.

Owners of special equipment use thick formulations that last longer than liquid wax. With the help of the machine, they not only polish the car, but also remove the old paint layer, which has eaten dirt, eliminate small and gross defects, protect the iron horse from corrosion.

Standard procedure

If there is no special equipment, you have to work with your hands. Plastic and rubber parts, as well as windows, are recommended to be sealed with tape. It is difficult to wash polish without damaging the glass.

Important: Doors and windows in the garage are opened, and a respirator or gauze bandage is put on the face.Polishes emit chemical fumes, which in small doses do not harm the body. But it will take 5-10 hours to work with the trains, and if you neglect the safety rules, you can be poisoned.

The car is polished in two stages:

1. A wax or silicone agent is applied to a clean surface. Capture a plot measuring 50x50 cm, no more.
2. Wait 1-2 minutes until the polish dries, then rub it.

Start at the top of the car, gradually dropping. Between the squares there should not be sharp transitions or uncultivated areas. Do not press hard on the rag.

What happens if you wax the whole car? The composition will quickly dry out and you will have to go to the car workshop so that the professionals remove the polish along with the paint, and then apply a new layer. The procedure is long and expensive, so experimenting with a car is not recommended.

If the polish gets on the glass or the mirror, the part is immediately wiped with a dry cloth, otherwise there will remain stains that are difficult to get rid of. Napkins for polishing are regularly changed, because particles of paint stick to them, which leave noticeable scratches on the body.

Silicone and wax formulations are applied in small portions. The thick layer of the drug is difficult to evenly distribute throughout the car.

Machine update

Dirt ate in the paintwork and not washed? Are there deep scratches on the body or doors? The car was recently painted, and it's time to polish the iron horse? Simple compounds can not do. You will need preparations with abrasive particles, which remove the top coat of paint, and a polishing machine or drill with special nozzles.

At the store, ask for a "numbered" polish. Professionals use drugs No. 1, 2 and 3. It is advisable to buy nozzles for a polishing machine or drill with the means. Additionally purchase waterproof sandpaper. Choose a fine-grained version, for example, No. 2000.

Plastic parts of the car are sealed with masking tape. Wear a respirator, protective suit or old clothes, as well as rubber gloves. Open the windows in the garage, and then proceed to polish:

1. Degrease the surface of the car with special wipes. Do not touch the machine with your hands, otherwise there will be greasy marks on which the product does not fit well.
2. Moisten sandpaper with water and sand the body, roof and doors. In order not to get confused, the treated areas are marked with strips of adhesive tape. Sandpaper moves from top to bottom. Do not press hard so as not to damage the paint. Moisten the skin periodically with water.
3. Apply polishing agent No. 1 with abrasive particles to a small area. Rub the preparation with a polishing machine. Use fabric or leather discs. Keep the machine at a right angle so as not to scratch the car. Moisten the surface with water during polishing.
4. The first, rough, treatment is designed to mask scratches. After grinding, the machine is washed, then polish No. 2 is used. The tool will fix the result.
5. The car is washed a second time, then polish No. 3 is applied, without abrasive particles, or liquid glass. The drug repels dirt and water, is responsible for the shine of the car.

In hard to reach places and near sharp corners, it is recommended to turn off the machine and apply the polish manually. The effect will last 3-4 months, then the coating becomes dull, and it has to be updated. It is recommended to apply natural wax products. They are softer than synthetic options and cheaper.

Polishing a car is not difficult, but for a long time. The result depends on the skill of the motorist and the quality of the materials that were used in the work. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully prepare the iron horse for polishing, do not save on drugs and do everything with love.

Video: how to quickly and easily polish a car