How to Protect a Black Car: Avoiding Scratches, Swirls on a Black Car

Black cars look stunning—when they’re clean. They also show dirt, water spots, and other stains more quickly than other car colors. If you don’t take good care of it, you will end up paying more money for the exterior. In this blog, I will give you everything you need on how to protect a black car.

Why Are Black Cars So Easy to Get Dirty?

The color black has a lot of great qualities, but it doesn’t seem to be the most hygienic color on the paint job, does it?

The fun fact is the color black gets dirty faster than white color. It may be weird, but it is the painful truth. The color white reflects light as opposed to absorbing it. This means that it takes more time and energy to actually get a white car dirty.

Read More: Ways to maintain & keep black car CLEAN!

When a black car is exposed to the sun, there is little resistance from the black paint job on the car. So the ultraviolet energy in sunlight attacks the paint job and fades its finish. This end result shows up as a dull color on your car’s solid black surface, creating an unattractive look.

Even so, there are ways to keep your black car as clean as possible without scrubbing endlessly. The key is avoiding scratches and swirls on a black car. It’s not easy because these colors are often difficult to keep clean, but you can take some steps that will help you save some tedious repair work.

What Kind of Paint Damage is Common for Black Cars?

The most common areas that need to be repaired or replaced on a black car are the top of the car and the areas around the wheels. Unfortunately, these are the two most vulnerable parts of your black car. Cars that spend a significant amount of time outside can get dirt build-up and scratches in these places because they leave doors opened, and are subject to collisions with other objects. These areas can thus easily cause paint damage to your black car.
There are some common paint damages to black vehicles.

#1 Scratches

The paint in your car is covered by a clear coat. The lower layers of paint act as a barrier to protect the upper layers from scratches. When you hit something hard or scratch your black car with a sharp object, the paint underneath gets scraped off. This causes an ugly look and sometimes even more damage to the vehicle’s color.

• Find out: Wash your car without scratching the paint!

Also, regular car wash shampoo can make the scratches worse.

#2 Swirls

Swirls are some of the most common paint defects. These swirls can show up on any car, but they’re especially prominent on black cars. They are caused by different weather conditions that cause the movement of dirt particles in your air. These swirls are so hard to remove because they follow the curves of the car’s surface and will not easily be removed by polishing or washing.

#3 Faded Paint

The paint on your car is one of the most expensive parts of a vehicle. If you do not look after it, soon your paint may start to fade and expose the underlying layers. If this occurs, you will find that they have been damaged by UV rays and other external factors. This is the result of the oxidation process. This is why I always have to spend more time to detail a black car.

#4 Rust Marks

When you have spent a long time in the sun without a car cover or a lot of proper maintenance, you can start to see secondary damage caused by time alone. The main paint layers will start to fade and you may notice rust starting to grow from the bottom. This is because black car colors can’t reflect the heat away from the car body. This means that your paint job can end up with plenty of damage when it is constantly exposed to sunlight without protection. I think this is the worst damage.

Benefits of Detailing a Black Car

With all of the issues related to a black car, now I bet you understand more about the benefits of detailing a black car. The best way on how to protect a black car.

#1 Shining Finish

The most common way to get your black car to look the best is to do it yourself. The best way is to bring in a professional who has the right equipment. I have been detailing cars for over 25 years and I can tell you that, as long as you make sure your car is clean, the results are great.

#2 Clean and Shiny Interiors

A clean black car interior makes it a lot more appealing than a dirty one. It also helps protect your leather and plastics from dirt stains. Nothing looks worse than a light-colored fabric on your black car seats. Nobody wants to take a good look at the dirt stains on your seats after you thought that you’ve cleaned the interior. I highly recommend you get an interior detail for your black car every month, depending on how often you use it.

#3 Protects from Oxidation

Although most people don’t like the look of oxidation on a car, it is actually an important process that keeps your paint job looking good and lasting longer. It is all down to the paint’s base coat. The process of cleaning and protecting your black car from oxidation helps make it last longer.

#4 Easier to Maintain

Cars that aren’t detailed often experience more problems, since there is a lot of dirt that gets trapped underneath the panels and within the bodywork. I always recommend people to do their own detailing, then try using one of those branded products sold at car boot sales and garage sales.

How to Protect a Black Car

Besides frequent auto detailing, there are other methods I used to protect my black ride.

#1 Two-Bucket Wash Method

The best way to clean your car is to use the two-bucket method. This will help you avoid swirls and scratches on your paint finish. As you wash, one bucket is used for cleaning the car, while the other bucket is used for rinsing. This prevents dirt from scratching and damaging your paint.

Read More: Why are there water spots on your black car?!

#2 Use Snow Foam

Snow foam is one of the best options for washing your car. It is more effective than traditional soap bubbles. I always use snow foam to wash my black cars, since it helps remove dirt and grime that will cause swirls and scratches in your paint finish.

#3 Use High-Quality Wash and Dry Products

The best way to clean your car is to use high-quality wash and dry products. Especially if your vehicle is black. A poor-quality wash will leave swirls and scratches on your paint finish. This will make you want to get a new car pretty soon.

#4 Cover Your Car with a Car Cover

The best way to avoid dust, dirt, and grime from collecting on the surface of your car is to get a car cover. This very simple way works but many neglect it. Get yourself an official car cover that matches the size of your vehicle precisely.

#5 Apply Wax

The best way to protect your car from oxidation is to apply car wax often. Buy a high-quality car wax and always use it as per the instructions on the product.

#6 Deep Clean

If you live in an area that experiences a lot of pollution, then I recommend you deep clean your vehicle every year. This will help remove even the most stubborn dirt that sticks to your paint finish after driving in poor weather conditions and environments.

FAQs

#1 How Do I Avoid Putting Swirl Marks in Black Paint?

Swirls, scratches, and swirl marks are very common in black paint. This is due to the rust-colored oxidation in your paint finish. It is the worst thing you can do to keep your car looking clean and attractive. If you want to avoid swirls on your black car, then take extra care during washing and drying. Also, use snow foam to wash your vehicle.

#2 How Do I Remove Swirl Marks in Black Paint?

Swirl marks can be easily removed. It is suggested that you use high-quality car wax to remove swirl marks from black paint finishes. After waxing, let your car dry for at least 24 hours and then apply a coat of wax to help prevent swirled marks from coming back.

#3 How Do I Wash a Black Car Without Water Spots?

Water spots in black paint are a common problem. To prevent them from happening, it is suggested that you wash your car using a glove-backed sponge that is made from natural materials. This will make your vehicle less likely to get water spots in its finish.

#4 How Do I Wash a Black Car with Water Spots?

The way to remove water spots in black paint is to use lukewarm water and mild soap.

#5 How Do I Carefully Remove Road Grime, Bugs, and Bird Poop From Black Car Paint?

Black paint reflects light and so it is important to take extra precautions when washing your car to avoid scratching or marring the finish. Before you wash your car, you should use a wax-free polish. Use a soft cloth and gently buff the paint with it to remove all traces of dirt and water spots, but do so with care as any scratches will be more visible.

#6 How Do I Remove Scratches From Black Cars?

The best way to remove scratches from black cars without having to repaint them is by using a clay bar. Clay bars are strips of plastic that are smooth and shaped like construction paper. They will remove scratches, swirls, and imperfections from your car. Before you use the clay, you should wash your car with a detailer polish so as to clean the paint from grime, dirt, and debris such as bug-attracting oil spots.

Final Words

I know it takes more time to protect a black color car than any other color, yep it is a pain in the neck. However, it is something you will have to handle if you want to keep your car looking clean and preserving its original appearance.
There are lots of other methods that I didn’t cover here on how to properly wash and detail a black car. You might want to share those tips with us below in the comments section.