How to Fix Sun Faded Car Paint: 12 Steps with Pictures
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All it takes is tools and supplies that are readily available at most auto parts stores and even some home improvement stores. Keep reading to learn how to restore car paint from your driveway. If you’re ready to become a DIY detailer, here are some easy tips for how to restore car paint.

Still, the fact remains that your vehicle starts to oxidize as soon as it rolls out of the factory. If you own an older automobile, it may not have the benefit of an additive-enhanced coating. If you want to keep update yourself with different cleaning tips, Follow This Cleaning Blog.
How Badly Oxidized Is It?
Use your wash mitt or sponge to carefully wash the car area. Start off by washing your car, focusing on washing the surface you want to treat. Dilute the car shampoo as needed with water in your bucket. Keep your car out of the sunshine and heat while you’re working.
Paint oxidation is caused by debris, contaminants or water spots that are left to bake onto the paint by the sun and weather. This step will include the use of rubbing compound and polish using an electric buffer. If your car’s paint was once shiny and vibrant, but is now looking dull and faded, don’t worry! UV rays from the sun are the likely cause, and this problem is easier to fix than you might think.
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Rub it onto the car in a circular motion and spread it around so the car paint looks a bit hazy. Use increasing pressure to work the compound into the paint. Squeeze the bar in your hand to soften it up a bit and shape it into a disc. Then spray the clay lubricant onto the spot you're working on and rub it with the clay in a back-and-forth motion.
There are several steps to the process, each with a dedicated liquid and buffing pad. The pads apply the creams, which contain micro abrasives and polishes. We used an Ingersol Rand dual-action sander with a 6-inch 3M Hook-It back up pad. Ours is air powered, but you can get these in electric form as well. Nothing can bum you out about your ride quite like scuffed and dull paint.
Use Protective Products
Here are some quick and easy steps to breathe new life into your car’s tired, old paint job. Those of you who don’t mind repeat applications can go with waxing your car. Otherwise, you can buy a car paint sealant to shield your exterior for months at a time. We’ll list common culprits behind car paint fading that you should be aware of, and will explain how to protect against them in the future. We’ll also discuss hiring a professional for the job, in case you’re not up to doing this yourself. After a nice polishing, your car must be looking slick, but this shiny look of your car paint must sustain.

Then, apply your restorative rubbing compound and buff the area. As in the beginning, clean the faded paint with your car shampoo and water. Get rid of any remaining clay bar lubricant, and then rinse and dry.
Spray the car down once more with the hose to get rid of any suds and soap scum. When you’re done, rub the car down with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Wet an orbital car buffing pad and attach it to an electric buffer. Dip a clean buffing pad in a bucket of clean water or hold it under running water for a few seconds. Attach the wheel to the rotary disc of an electric buffer. Purchase clay lube and an automotive clay bar online or wherever they sell auto detailing supplies near you.
Always put on goggles and a thick pair of rubber or work gloves before getting started. A power washer makes this job a lot easier, but a plan garden hose or bucket of water will do the trick too. It helps to get down at eye level with the surface to really make sure that the whole area of paint is all nice and shiny again. A Paint Protection Product carnauba wax along with some elbow grease is the best option for small sections.
Put about 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of finishing polish in the middle of the pad and apply it to the surface the same way you applied the compound. After the faded paint spot is smooth, you will now want to wax your car. Grab a microfiber towel and put a small amount of wax paste on it. Then you can begin waxing your vehicle by going over the faded paint spot. Once the wax dries, your car will have a showroom shine.
Don’t start compounding or polishing until the car is totally dry. Don’t try to wax or polish the car without washing it first. If there’s any dirt on the car, the brushes will scratch the paint. Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide. To keep the paint protected, reapply wax to your car every 3 months or so.
Over time, every paint job gets scratches, scuffs and the harsh rays of the sun compound the matter by dulling the sheen of the clear coat. Waxing can only go so far, deep scratches and sun damage cant be removed with just a basic wax job. These situations require more drastic measures, more specifically, buffing and polishing. A buff job like this is typically left to the pros, but fear not, 3M has come the rescue of the DIYer with their Paint Restoration System. Here are home remedies for oxidized paint restoration to restore faded car paint following the five easy steps.

Waxing will create a protective barrier that helps to deflect UV rays, dirt, and debris. In addition, waxing will also help to restore the shine and luster to dull and faded paint. The final step in the restoration process is to apply wax to the car. While the specific procedures will vary based on the buffer and compounds/polishes you use.
To use, simply shake well and spray over the surface of your vehicle. Once on, you may buff while wet, or wait until it has dried. Knowing how to restore car paint will save you time and money. We hope that the oxidation on your vehicle isn’t past the point of restoration, and that you can take care of this problem on your own. If not, then always remember that it’s best off to leave it to a professional who has previous experience doing this kind of thing.

In addition, sunlight can also cause the clear coat to oxidize, resulting in a dull and faded appearance. In this article, we’re going to discuss how to restore faded car paint and why you shouldn’t leave it alone. You’ll learn when it can be repaired, and under what circumstances it’s beyond saving, so that you don’t waste your time, effort and money on a hopeless case. Grab another clean, dry microfiber cloth and press it against the waxed surface. Rub it firmly against the surface using circular motions until there is no more wax residue and the surface looks nice and shiny.
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