# Messed up my paint job :(

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** nissan, 240sx\
**Created:** [September 2, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569 "2010-09-02T20:02:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fullguage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@fullguage](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fullguage)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569/1 "2010-09-02T20:02:24Z")

</div>

hey guys i just found out about you and i hope you can help me. i got some car wash soap with wax in it and i washed my car with a bad piece that left swirl marks allover my car. it looks like i scratched the clear coat or something. i got a microfiber piece and washed it again but it didn’t help. have i messed up my paint job for life or is there a solution? whats the solution?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569/2 "2010-09-02T20:11:00Z")

</div>

Go to your local automotive detail shop and show them the damage. They can assess it and let you know if it can be buffed out. A light buff job is typcially not all that expensive. Leave it to the pros to fix…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569/3 "2010-09-02T20:38:29Z")

</div>

I’ve used Meguair’s Cleaner Wax to remove surface scratches on many cars. I’ve been using it for over 25 years on all my vehicles. It takes more effort than a compound, but there’s little chance of harming the paint.

[http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product\_detail.asp?T1=MEG+A1216](http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+A1216)

Good luck,

Ed B.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ignoramus9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ignoramus9](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ignoramus9)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569/4 "2010-09-02T20:54:47Z")

</div>

If you dont want to pay the high price for a buff out that a shop will typically charge, get some “rubbing compound” along with some paste wax of the same brand. follow the directions on the package and good luck to you.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/messed-up-my-paint-job/54569/5 "2010-09-02T21:01:16Z")

</div>

Start with Polishing Compound, which is much less abrasive than rubbing compound.

If the polishing compound doesn’t work, then you might want to go to the more abrasive stuff, but I would not recommend starting with the most abrasive!