Most swirl marks come from washing and drying: dirt dragged across paint by brushes, dirty mitts or rough towels leaves fine circular scratches.
Common causes
- Automatic washes with brushes
- One-bucket washing that reuses dirty water
- Drying with bath towels or chamois
- Wiping dust off a dry car
- Improper machine polishing
How to prevent them
- Rinse loose dirt off first
- Use a clean wash mitt and a rinse bucket
- Dry with a soft microfiber towel
- Keep protection on the paint so dirt releases more easily
Getting rid of them
Once they're there, swirls have to be polished out. See our swirl mark removal service.