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The 2023 Best Car Polish For A Flawless Brilliant Shine

Considerations

When I’m shopping for the best car polish, I usually look for 3 things, namely:

1. Ease of application

Make no mistake about it. The polishes of yesteryear were tricky to apply and were terribly hard to remove. When it comes to ease of application, the liquid polish is your best bet. Polishes in paste form are still an economical way to clean the paint of your car, but I prefer to use liquid polish since they are easier to work in the paint.

2. Formula

Some polishes contain wax, while others contain pure polish. There are products that employ a dual-action of polishing and waxing in a single application, while others use color-specific dyes and pigments to cover up paint blemishes. I decided to create this best car polish article in order to get down and dirty with different products to determine their effects in removing scratches, blemishes, and swirl marks in the paint.

3. Price

The price is usually an indication of quality, but this doesn’t mean the most expensive product is the best car polish that you can buy for your car. Later on in this review, you will find cheap products that perform better than the most expensive polish in this test.

ImagesProduct NameOur RatingOur Reviews

Turtle Wax T-374KTR Color Magic Car Polish

95%
Rating 
 Read more

Meguiar’s G19216 Ultimate Polish

98%
Rating 
 Read more

Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish

98%
Rating 
 Read more

Mothers 07100 California Gold Pure Polish

 96%
Rating
 Read more

Zymol Z503A Cleaner Wax

99%
Rating 
 Read more

**Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

Waxing Is NOT Enough!

If you religiously wax your car once a month or every three months, then you should give yourself a pat on the back.

Waxing is all well and good. But when was the last time you applied polish to the paint?

Waxing and polishing are two separate activities. Waxing is good for sealing the paint finish. Wax will add a layer of protection to the clear coat while giving your paint a smooth and brilliant shine.

However, polish is used to clean and prep the paint prior to waxing. Polish will help remove fine scratches, swirl marks, and dull or oxidized paint. Polish will also remove stains caused by tar, asphalt, acid rain, and bird droppings.

Polish contains mild abrasives that will erase a fine layer of the clear coat in the paint. This will level the surface of the clear coat to bring out an even and lasting shine.

Make Your Car Look Brand New

Make Your Car Look Brand New

Want to make your old car look brand new? Do you have a new car and want to keep it looking new? Simply follow these three simple steps to DIY auto detailing.

Step 1 – Wash the Car Regularly Using Clean Water and Car Shampoo

Regular washing will remove loose dirt and prevent contaminants from scratching and staining the paint. It is highly advisable to wash your car weekly or at least once a month.

You have to be careful when washing your car because using the wrong products and techniques will inevitably introduce more scratches and swirl marks in the paint. Want to know the expert way to wash your car?

Step 2 – Apply Wax after Washing and Drying the Vehicle

It is not recommended to apply a new coat of wax after each wash, but it is good practice to wax the paint monthly or at least every 3 months. Waxing will preserve the shine and color of the paint while adding a layer of protection against harmful road and weather contaminants.

Think that waxing a car is tedious? It is a bit tiresome if you are using the wrong techniques. Read more to know the easy way to wax your car.

Step 3 – Apply Polish

Polish should be applied to the paint once every 6 months, preferably once every 3 months if your car is constantly exposed to weather and road hazards. If you park your car on the street or if you don’t have access to a shaded garage, you should consider polishing your car once every 3 months.

After polishing the vehicle, you should apply a thin coat of wax. You will immediately notice the difference. It is easier to apply wax after the paint has been treated with polish. This will also give you a smooth and flawless shine that will last for weeks.

There is a world of difference between waxing vs polishing. If you want to know the simple tricks on how you can polish your car like a pro, click here.

Those three simple steps are all you need in order to make or keep your car looking new. Keep in mind that the condition of the paint is one of the factors that will determine the resale value of your vehicle. Regular waxing and polishing will mean the difference between losing money and pocketing a couple of hundred dollars when it’s time to sell your vehicle. You can take my word for it.

Introducing The Best Car Polish

1. Turtle Wax Color Magic Car Polish

The Turtle Wax Color Magic Car Polish utilizes an advanced blend of polishes, pigments, and dyes to fill in minor surface imperfections to achieve a brilliant and lasting shine. This product is color specific so you will need to choose the right color for your car.

What really caught my fancy was the ease of use. The Turtle Wax Color Magic Car Polish is easy to apply but it will mess up your microfiber towels due to the pigments and dyes in the formula. When used as directed, this product works very well in restoring the color and luster of the paint finish.

However, this product is not what I would call a true polish. It does a good job of removing very fine scratches and swirls but it will only serve to cover up mild to moderate surface damage. When the product wears out, the scratches will still be there. I also found out that the Turtle Wax Color Magic Car Polish is not ideal for buffing out dull surfaces or oxidation.

Pros

  • Works well to restore the depth of color
  • Easy to apply
  • Covers very fine scratches for a smooth and flawless finish
  • Offers marginal protection from UV rays
  • Good value

Cons

  • Product is a bit messy to use
  • Can be a bit challenging to buff out
  • Does not remove oxidized paint

2. Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish

Unlike the Turtle Wax Color Magic Car Polish, the Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish can be used on any color of the paint. Meguair’s is one of the leaders in the auto detailing industry. In fact, this product is one of my favorites when it comes to removing fine scratches and swirl marks in the paint.

The Meguair’s Ultimate Polish can be applied either by hand or by using an orbital buffer. If you follow the directions on the bottle, you can polish an average-sized sedan in under an hour. However, I found out that it is easier to use this product with an orbital buffer.

It is quite difficult to remove the product when it dries. The technique is to apply the polish in small circular motions, use a clean and dry microfiber towel to wipe dry, and use a separate towel to lightly buff the finish. Check out the best microfiber towels for cars.

After using the Meguair’s Ultimate Polish, the next step is to apply wax. When paired with the Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax, this product will produce great results guaranteed.

Pros

  • Economical to use
  • Affordable price
  • Easy to apply
  • Easily removes fine scratches and swirl marks
  • Removes mild oxidation

Cons

  • This product works best with an orbital buffer
  • Can be tedious to remove once the product dries to a haze

3. NuFinish Liquid Car Polish

I like the packaging of this product. The NuFinish Liquid Car Polish clearly states that this is the once a year car polish since you only need to apply this, well, once a year. I wish I had the time to verify their claims, but I found many things to like about this product other than the frequency of application.

First off, the NuFinish Liquid Car Polish is made from pure polymer emulsions. This product is a pure polish and does not contain wax. Since there is now wax in the formula, this product is safe to apply even under direct sunlight. Although it is not advisable to polish your car under the hot sun (unless you have a good sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer), it is nice to know that the NuFinish Liquid Car Polish can be used in any type of temperature and weather while still remaining easy to apply and remove.

The NuFinish Liquid Car Polish is also great to use on airplanes, fiberglass boats, and recreational vehicles. It also works on chrome surfaces! This product is easy to apply and requires no hard rubbing or buffing. Simply apply by hand using a damp applicator, let the product dry to a haze, and wipe off.

Pros

  • Incredibly easy to apply
  • Provides a deep and glossy shine prior to waxing
  • Removes fine scratches and swirls
  • Economical to use
  • Friendly price

Cons

  • Super difficult to remove if you allow the product to completely dry on the paint
  • Does not remove moderate to deep scratches
  • Ineffective against mild oxidation and dull surfaces

4. Mothers California Gold Pure Polish

The Mothers California Gold Pure Polish will deep clean and prepare the paint for waxing. This product can remove mild oxidation and contaminants to provide a deep and lasting shine. The Mothers California Gold Pure Polish is also formulated to remove micro-scratches and swirls from the finish.

The label says you only need to use this product once or twice a year to keep the paint looking like new. This is made from pure polish and does not contain wax. You can apply this by hand or you can use an orbital buffer. Similar to the Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish, I highly recommend using an orbital polisher since it will yield the best results.

This product is not intended to remove deep scratches. It can easily remove fine micro-scratches and swirls. It also works well in removing mild surface oxidation and stains. But if you want to remove those really deep scratches, then this product is not for you.

Pros

  • Removes fine scratches and swirls
  • Eliminates mild oxidation and dull surfaces in the paint
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • Works best with an orbital buffer
  • Haze can be tricky to remove
  • It’s a bit expensive

5. Zymol Cleaner Wax

I know that this review is for the best car polish since the Zymol Cleaner Wax is basically a 2-in-1 product. It is a polish that leaves behind a light coat of wax. This product will give you the ability to safely polish and wax the paint in one single step.

I am not a firm believer in 2-in-1 polishes and waxes, but it is hard to deny the efficacy of the Zymol Cleaner Wax. I’ve been using this product for more than 10 years now, and it remains one of the best products that I have used for waxing and polishing black paint.

What I really love most about the Zymol Cleaner Wax is the formula. It utilizes a careful blend of 21% carnauba wax and 3% beeswax. It only uses ingredients derived from nature. One whiff of the product is all it takes to make you a believer. It smells like pineapple mixed with other tropical fruits.

This product is a bit expensive, but it is easy to apply and remove. The formula contains micro-polishing agents that can clean and repair mild abrasions without using petrol-based solvents.

Pros

  • Easy to apply
  • Polish and wax in a single application
  • Removes fine surface abrasions like scratches and swirl marks
  • Smells like an island vacation

Cons

  • It’s a bit expensive
  • Leaves white powdery residue that can be difficult to remove once dried

Conclusion

The best car polish is a three-way toss-up between the Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish, NuFinish Liquid Car Polish, and the Zymol Cleaner Wax.

If you need to remove a lot of surface abrasions on the paint, then you should choose the Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish.

If you want a polish that is easy to apply while still remaining powerful enough to remove scratches and swirl marks, the NuFinish Liquid Car Polish is one of the best.

If you have a relatively newer car and you need a polish that will help maintain a flawless shine, look no further than the Zymol Cleaner Wax.

About George Bradley

George is an enthusiastic blogger and an auto mechanic expert whose mission is to provide the readers with the best tips, guides, and recent events in the automotive industry. He has been involved in researching on various topics that are essential to the car owners, especially when it comes to an understanding, maintaining and handling their vehicles.

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