The Swirl Marks Epidemic on Cars in Pakistan

Cars in Pakistan suffer from a major epidemic of swirl marks and dull finish. Swirl marks are the micro spider-web like scratches that are visible on virtually every car in this country. This is partly due to our dusty environment, harsh weather and driving conditions, but mainly due to our incorrect washing methods.

Also Read: 5 Preventive Car Maintenance Tips You Should Know About

There are plenty of articles and videos discussing how to wash your car properly. In this article, we will discuss some common but harmful local practices and methods. Using incorrect tools and products damage the paintwork and leave swirl marks and light scratches. They are clearly visible when inspecting closely and are more prominent in darker colors. If you are still unsure; this is a common site on our cars.

These light scratches easily ruin the finish of your car’s paintwork, especially on darker colours. They are caused when small dust particles or other debris is rubber against the paintwork. They can be easily avoided by following a few simple washing tips and techniques.

While cleaning the car, it is very important to ensure any contact with paint work lifts the dust particles rather than pushing them into and scratching the paintwork. When washing your car, you must never do any of the following:

1. Never use surf or any other household detergent
2. Never use a dirty cloth, or anything other than micro-fibre
3. Never clean dust from a dry car
4. Never apply pressure to remove tough dirt/grime, bird droppings etc
5. Never use same cloth for tyres and paintwork
6. Never rinse dirty cloth in the same water being used for cleaning

The proper tools to wash your car, as explained by many articles and videos are as follows:

1. Always use a high quality car shampoo
2. Always use a clean micro-fibre wash mitt to apply shampoo
3. Always use a clean micro-fibre to dry
4. Always loosen tough dirt/grime with a proper chemical cleaner and wipe gently
5. Always use separate micro-fibre cloths for tyre and paintwork
6. Always use a two bucket system, one with shampoo and other to rinse dirty wash mitt

As you can see, it is only a matter of using the right tools for the job. It will take just as much time and will keep your car shining and swirl free. Please incorporate these steps and use the right tools and techniques in your next car wash. If someone else, washes your car, take a few minutes to educate them about proper washing technique and provide them with proper tools.