How to Remove Swirl Marks from Paintwork
What Are Swirl Marks?
Swirl marks are fine micro-scratches in the clear coat of your vehicle’s paint, often caused by improper cleaning techniques. Using rough or dirty sponges, low-quality cloths, or insufficient lubrication during washing can leave the surface looking dull and reduce its overall clarity. Unlike deeper scratches, swirl marks don’t penetrate the base coat or primer but can still detract from your vehicle’s appearance.
How Do Swirl Marks Differ From Scratches?
While scratches are usually deeper and may require touch-up paint or more aggressive sanding and polishing, swirl marks are superficial, confined to the clear coat layer. They are characterised by their fine, spiderweb-like appearance and are easier to remove with polishing techniques.
Why and How Do Swirl Marks Happen?
Swirl marks result from improper car care practices, such as:
- Dust, dirt, or debris that settles on the car's surface can act as an abrasive when the wind moves them or when they're brushed against by clothing, tools, or other objects.
- Washing or drying with dirty or coarse materials.
- Insufficient lubrication during washing, causing contaminants to grind against the paint.
- Aggressive buffing or polishing with the wrong pads or products.
How to Remove Swirl Marks
Farécla offers two effective methods for removing swirl marks, depending on your comfort level and tools available:
- Machine Polishing for Professional Results
For the best possible finish, we recommend using a dual action (D.A.) polishing machine paired with G3 Pro D.A. Fine Polish and the Foam Polishing Pad. This combination delivers optimal results, restoring the paintwork to its original, flawless appearance with minimal effort. The D.A. machine’s orbital motion ensures safe and efficient removal of swirl marks without the risk of over-polishing.
- Manual Polishing for Hand Application
If you’re not comfortable using a machine, G3 Pro All-in-One Polish is an excellent alternative. This light abrasive polish is specifically designed to remove holograms, minor defects, and swirl marks. It can be applied manually using a soft microfibre cloth. For added versatility, it can also be used with a machine, giving you flexibility depending on your experience or tools available.
Before Polishing: Clean
Before doing any form of paint rectification, it's important to ensure the surface is sufficiently clean of any dirt or contaminants; we recommend you follow our best practice guide to Safely and Effectively Clean Paintwork before following this guide - Snow Foam followed by Shampoo application with the "Two Bucket" Car Wash Method will lift harmful contaminants and allow you to properly assess the surface condition.
We recommend a: Pre-wash with snow foam
...followed by a shampoo wash
By Hand... with All-in-One Polish
G3 Pro All-in-One Polish is a versatile product that removes swirls, holograms, minor defects whilst leaving a high gloss shine.
For swirls, we recommend applying All-in-One Polish in a crosshatch motion with a clean, soft microfibre cloth.
Heavier swirls and defects will likely require the use of a machine and polish
DID YOU KNOW? G3 Pro All-in-One Polish is highly lubricated and can also be used with a Dual Action or Rotary Polishing Machine! For swirls we would recommend using with a Dual Action polisher with a foam polishing pad at 3500 opm.
Make sure that the surface is cool.
Shake the bottle...
... and apply a small amount to a clean microfibre cloth.
Rub the polish over the defect
Turn the cloth...
Buff off!
By Machine... with the G3 Pro D.A. System
We recommend the use of G3 Pro D.A. Fine Polish and G3 Pro Foam Polishing Pad with a G Plus Dual Action Polishing Machine to remove swirls, holograms and minor imperfections - leaving you with a mirror shine finish.
For heavier scratches, defects and swirls you may require the use of the D.A. Cutting Compound followed on by the Fine Polish
Make sure the surface is cool
Attach the polishing pad...
...and put a small amount of G3 Pro D.A. Fine Polish on it
Polish!
Buff off!
😎
Products Used
G3 Pro All-in-One Polish removes swirls, holograms, minor defects and leaves a high gloss shine
G Plus Finishing Cloths are ideal for quick cleaning and drying jobs. Its microfibre technology grips dust and small dirt particles, and the cloth’s edgeless finish prevents damaging and scratches.
G3 Pro D.A. Fine Polish is a light abrasive liquid that removes minor imperfections for a mirror shine finish - optimised for use with a Dual Action Polisher.
The G3 Pro Foam Polishing Pad offers a light cut perfect for finishing and is ideal for OE and refinished paints.
FAQs
How to Use: G3 Pro All-in-One Polish How to Use: G3 Pro All-in-One Polish
1. Wash and dry surface thoroughly
2. Shake bottle
3. Ensure surfaces are cool to the touch
4. Apply a small amount to the surface, microfibre cloth or foam pad
5. BY HAND: Apply with a dry, clean microfibre cloth in light, cross hatch motions
BY MACHINE Polish with a foam pad (dual action 3500 opm or rotary 800 – 1100rpm)
6. Remove residue and buff with a soft, clean, dry microfibre cloth
7. Reapply if necessary
How to Use: G3 Pro D.A. Fine Polish How to Use: G3 Pro D.A. Fine Polish
1 - Ensure surfaces are clean and cool
2 - Apply a small amount to a Foam Polishing Pad
3 - Polish at 3000opm
4 - Wipe clean
NOTE: For harsh defects use G3 Pro D.A. Cutting Compound if necessary
What are Swirl Marks? How do I Remove Them? What are Swirl Marks? How do I Remove Them?
A swirl mark is a very light, and typically circular, scratch pattern; they can however appear across the paintwork in straight lines. They usually occur through wear and tear by, for example, automatic car wash brushes or not following a safe two bucket wash method.
Swirl marks can be removed by hand using G3 Pro All-in-One Polish or - for optimum results - by machine with either All-in-One Polish or our dedicated Dual Action Fine Polish.
Check out our dedicated solution page to learn how you can remove swirl marks with G3 Pro
What speed should I polish at? What speed should I polish at?
The general recommended speed for machine polishing using Farécla compounds is between 1500 and 1800rpm. Pictograms on the back label of each product advise the recommended speed for that product.
For G360 Super Fast Compound, start at 1500rpm with light pressure, ending at 900rpm with no pressure.