How Frequently Should You Get A Professional Polish?

Your car’s paint job works as the first line of defence for its bodywork. While car paint is designed to be durable, modern paints are typically water-based, and are less tough than the paint used on older vehicles. Because of this, proper waxing (and polishing) of one’s car is more important than ever in order to protect against deterioration.

Polish vs wax – which one does your car need? If you are satisfied with your vehicle’s paint job but want to add another layer of protection while boosting shine and lustre, waxing is the answer. On the other hand, if the elements, animal droppings and debris have resulted in minor blemishes, oxidation or uneven tone in your vehicle’s paint job, then polishing is the answer. Through professional polishing, any scratches and swirls are actually buffed out and filled in, giving the exterior a smooth and even finish.

Consumers are usually advised to apply a wax to their cars, at least twice a year or when water no longer beads off the car. For polishing, it is more complicated. Two things to consider in this case would be where you park your vehicle and the age and ownership history of your car.

If your vehicle remains outside year-round, then it is constantly exposed to dirt, UV rays, the sun, rain and so forth. This translates into a quicker degradation of your car’s paint job. If you store your car in a protected structure such as a carport or even under a tree, this can reduce the vehicle’s exposure to negative conditions. For age and ownership, if you have been the car’s sole owner and have maintained the car in good condition, then the paint job on your car should also be in good condition. But if your car was purchased as a used one, and the previous owner did not maintain the car well, then that neglect will show up as scratches and a dull finish on the paint job.

For polishing, how frequently you book in a polish also depends on the polish used. Cars with good paint jobs where all-in-one polish is applied, are able to get away with touch-ups once every month or two. Cars where the paintwork is in poor condition, would need more TLC, which means heavier, more abrasive polish is in order.