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Where do paint scratches come from, and will wax remove them?
Most fine scratches in the paint are caused by washing and wiping, when dirt is rubbed against the surface. Wax fills fine scratches and hides them for a while, but it does not remove them: once the wax wears off, the scratches show again. Fine scratches can usually be removed by polishing. A deep scratch will not come out either way.
Where scratches come from
- Automatic car wash brushes. The spinning brushes rub the surface and leave hairline scratches, which show up in sunlight as rings around the light.
- Dry wiping. Brushing off dust, pollen or snow with your sleeve, your hand or a dry cloth drags grains of sand across the paint.
- Dirty washing tools. A sponge or cloth that has picked up sand scratches with every stroke. If a cloth falls on the ground, swap it for a clean one.
- Snow brush and ice scraper. The scraper is meant for the glass, not the paintwork. Use the snow brush to sweep snow off the paint lightly, without scrubbing at the ice.
- Everyday scuffs. Keys around the door handle, bags on top of the boot lid and branches from hedges when you park.
Scratches show most clearly on a dark car, especially in direct sunlight. A light-coloured car can have the same scratches even though they are hard to see.
How deep is the scratch?
Most wash scratches are in the top layer of the paint, the clear coat. A rough test: run a fingernail lightly across the scratch. If your nail does not catch, the scratch is probably only on the surface. If it catches, or you can see a different colour at the bottom of the scratch, the scratch goes through the clear coat.
What wax does to scratches
Wax fills fine scratches and evens out the way light reflects off the surface. That is why a car looks less marked after waxing. The effect lasts only as long as the wax stays on the surface, and the scratch is there the whole time. A coating does not hide scratches in the same way.
Wax is still useful: a protected surface is easier to wash, so it needs less rubbing and picks up fewer new scratches.
Polishing removes fine scratches
The right fix for surface scratches is Paint polishing (€350–450). Polishing will not repair a scratch that goes through the clear coat; that needs a paint repair. If you are not sure what kind of scratch it is, or there is deeper damage to the paint, call 010 508 9300. We can look at the damage and assess what can be done about it.
After polishing, the surface should be protected with wax or a coating. The options are compared in our article on wax versus coating.
Keeping new scratches to a minimum
Rinse off loose dirt before you touch the surface, wash with a clean mitt and dry with a soft microfibre cloth. Do not wipe a dusty car while it is dry. All our washes are done by hand, and the differences from an automatic car wash are set out in our article on hand washing versus automatic car washes.
Polish away hairline scratches
Paint polishing €350–450. When you book, you can see the price for your car and the available times.