Effective car maintenance can increase the lifespan of your vehicle and add an aesthetic value. Car polish is an essential step of the car detailing process. Whether you just want your car to be a head-turner on the UAE roads or sell it for a better price, car polish may be all you need. You can opt for DIT car polishing or go to a professional for it.
This guide covers all there is to know about car polishing from buying to applying and much more.
Apart from car polish, you can check out and buy car accessories and parts for other vehicular enhancements.
Car polish services in the UAE
If you are planning to get professional help for your car polishing in the UAE following are some of the top car-polish service options available:
Abu Dhabi
1. The Car Spa
Location: ADNOC Service Station – Khalifa CitySE-36
Phone number: +971 2 622 5038
2. GTech & Wetless Car Polishing
Location: Mussafah M3
Phone number: +971 2 553 8556
Contact: +971 56 522 8905
Dubai:
1. Radiant Car Service
Location: Umm Ramool Road
Phone number: +9171506563664
2. VOne Car Polish and Oil LLC
3. COSMO Car Polishing & Accessories
Location: MusaffahM-10
Location: Umm Ramool
Phone number: +917142827878 | +9142828232
3. Deutsches Auto Service Centre
Location: Unit 2-3, corner of 15th and 22nd street
Phone number: +97143232832
Sharjah
1. Ditec Sharjah
Location: Industrial Area 6
Phone number: +971 56 145 6111
2. Eco Car Cleaning Service
Location: University City Rd, Industrial Area
Phone number: +971 50 744 4686
3. Fast Future Car Polishing Center
Location: 23 Third Industrial St
Phone number: +971 55 744 5566
Car Polishing for different surfaces
Vehicle polishing should be done according to the car material and existing finish. Here is a brief of different car materials and the best way to polish them:
- Chrome: Clean chrome wheels and parts with a pressure washer to remove the tar, bugs, brake dust and other impurities. You can also use steam to clean it. Once you have done it, move to buff, polish and wax to ensure the best results.
- Aluminium: Aluminum parts can turn dull over time and are, therefore, in need of polishing regularly. However, since aluminium is much softer than chrome, be extra careful when handling and detailing it.
- Plastic: While plastic is easier to clean and maintain, it can look lifeless and dull as well. Therefore, neglecting is out of the question. Use toothpaste or plastic-friendly products for cleaning such surfaces.
Types of Car Polish
Before you start your car polishing journey, you need to know which car polish product suits your needs the best. Different types of car polish are covered below for your convenience:
Organic Car Polish: Despite the efficiency, commercial car polishing products may cause damage to the car paint due to abrasiveness. Also, human health and the environment may be affected by their usage. Using organic products are thus recommended as they offer thorough cleaning and are also environmentally friendly.
Solid or Liquid Car Polish: Car polish is available as liquid as well as solid products. Many users report solid polish to have better results but the process of applying it to the car is difficult. The difficulty increases when the weather is hot and humid.
On the other hand, it is quite easier to apply the spray or liquid polish on a car and it spreads evenly on the vehicle. However, the results might not be superior to the finish that solid polish delivers.
How to polish your vehicle
You may think that there is not much to applying car polish to a vehicle but it is far from the truth. In fact, since cars are made of different materials, there is no one-method-fits-all approach to applying vehicle polish. You will have to employ different car polishing techniques and products to bring the best out of your car polish. The simple steps of car polishing are:
- Washing and cleaning the car with a pressure washer and a microfibre cloth
- Selecting the right product and tools according to your car
- Applying polish on the car surface
- Buffing the residue
Alternatively, you can take the car to the nearest car wash service in the Emirates for a thorough cleaning job.
Items Required for DIY car polishing
Here are the car cleaning products to have at home if you are to polish your vehicle:
- Car polish
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Pressure washer
- Microfibre applicator pad/ car polisher machine
- Microfibre cloth
- Buff
Make sure you are wearing gloves and goggles to shield yourself from the bits of dust and paint flying during the car detailing process.
Car Polish Application
After you have all the tools required for the process and have washed the car thoroughly so your paint surface is gleaming and ready for the polish, move on to polishing the car surface.
- Take a microfiber applicator pad and pour around a tablespoon of car polish on it. Since the pad is dry, it initially absorbs quite a lot of the product. However, once you have polished a few parts, the need to add product will be reduced. You should not add the polish on the paint directly; instead, work the product in the paint in a circular motion.
- Make sure you use the face of your fingers to apply pressure to the pads and not the fingertips. Keep polishing until only a thin film remains.
- Buff the polish residue from the sections you have worked on using a microfibre buff cloth. Make sure you do that while the polish is still wet. Once dried, the surface will become glazy and you will fail to get the shiny finish you were aiming for.
- Furthermore, work in an area with sufficient light for better car polishing and do not miss any section or spot.
Car Polish vs Car Wax
There are a few differences between car polish and car wax. The purpose of car polish is to make the car surface smooth by removing dirt and damaged paint. Car polishes can be abrasive and must always be applied before car wax. On the other hand, car wax is free of abrasives and its purpose is to give a final shining touch. If car wax is applied before car polishing, peeled off paint and other impurities will be sealed in the coat. Polishing after waxing will not help with the removal and the damage to the paint will continue to increase over time.
Manual vs Mechanical Car Polishing
The main purpose of car polishing is paint correction. If the paint of your car has minor scratches and dents, then polishing by hand is the more feasible option as it will cost you less and is not too difficult. However, if the damage to your paint is deeper and more serious then better hire a professional for car polishing to ensure an effective job. Some services use car polish machines to achieve a perfect shine.
Cost of Car Polish in the UAE
In case of professional car polish service, the process cost depends on a few factors such as the products and tools used, the car’s condition and the auto repair shop you choose. However, a general estimate would be AED 300 to 600 depending on the car type.
Even for DIY car polishing, the cost varies depending on which tools and products you opt for. While electric polishers are available in the market, only a few would buy and use them for DIY car polishing. These are more commonly used by professionals and cost around AED 400 to AED 900 or more depending on the brand and efficiency. Meanwhile, the cost of car polish alone varies from AED 40 to AED 70 based on which product you opt for. Other tools such as safety equipment and microfibre cloth and applicator are some extra costs to consider.
General tips for car polishing
Here are a few car polishing tips to ensure a thorough and effective job with gleaming results:
Always polish before car wax: Car wax alone will trap the impurities, damaged paint and dirt instead of eliminating them and polishing should come before waxing
Use a soft cloth for car polish application: A soft microfibre cloth is preferable for car polish application as electric polisher machines may render the inner coat of your car paint susceptible to corrosive agents
This concludes our guide on car polish. For a minor polishing job, a DIY car polish process suffices and is a milder option. However, if the paint damage to your vehicle is beyond the scope of a DIY job, visiting a nearby mechanic is recommended. Apart from polishing, cleaning and waxing your vehicle once in a while are also recommended. You can attempt these processes at home too with these car accessories and merchandise on sale.
For more tips and tricks to keep your car clean and gleaming, stay tuned to the UAE’s best auto blog.
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