to do anything...

MESSAGES LOG IN EXPLORE HELP US EDIT PRO

We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.Cookie
SettingsOkay

wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust
wikiHow

CATEGORIESCARS & OTHER VEHICLES

How to Fix Sun Faded Car Paint

Download Article

PARTS

1Washing and Using a Clay Bar

2Buffing and Polishing

3Waxing

OTHER SECTIONS

Tips and Warnings

Things You'll Need

Related Articles

References

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 26, 2021 References

When you store your car outside and uncovered frequently, you might notice some areas of the paint
start to look a little sun faded. Don’t worry about paying for a whole new paint job—we have good news
for you! There’s actually a pretty simple way to restore the faded paint’s color and brightness all on your
own with a few car detailing supplies. It’ll take some time and a lot of elbow grease, but it’s an
affordable and effective way to reverse the effects of sun exposure.
Part

Washing and Using a Clay BarDownload Article

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 1

Wash your car thoroughly with car washing soap and a car washing sponge. Fill a bucket with water and
add 1-2 oz (29.5-59 mL) of car washing soap. Spray your car down all over using a hose. Dip your sponge
into the bucket of soapy water and scrub your car all over. Rinse off the soap suds with your hose to
leave your car nice and clean.[1]

If it’s hot out, work in small sections and rinse off each section as you go, so the soap suds don’t dry on
your car and leave streaky residue.

Always wash your car before you perform any detailing work. Otherwise, you can end up rubbing bits of
dirt and debris into the paint and making it look even worse!

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 2

Spray the faded areas of paint liberally with an automotive clay lube. Point the nozzle of a bottle of clay
lube directly at the paint. Squeeze the spray bottle’s trigger and move the nozzle around until the entire
faded area is covered in lube.[2]

Automotive clay lube is a special lube for use with automotive clay bars, which are special resin bars
used to remove micro contaminants from the surface of your car’s paint.

The lube is important because it helps the clay slide smoothly across the paint while it picks up dirt, so
you don’t scratch the paint.

Purchase clay lube and an automotive clay bar online or wherever they sell auto detailing supplies near
you.

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 3

3
Rub an automotive clay bar over the faded areas to remove micro dirt. Stretch the clay bar out into a
hand-sized puck. Gently rub the clay across the paint using left to right or up and down motions.[3]

Automotive clay bars are also sometimes known as detailing clay.

Part

Buffing and PolishingDownload Article

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 4

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.[4]

Working with a damp buffing pad provides some lubrication to help you move it smoothly over the paint.

Never set the buffing pad face-down or it can pick up dirt and debris and end up scratching your car’s
paint.

All the supplies you need to complete this part of the job are available at home improvement centers,
auto detailing supply shops, and online.

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 5

Apply about 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of car buffing compound to the buffing pad. Put a small dab of buffing
compound in the middle of the pad. You can always apply more as you work if you need to, so use the
compound sparingly.[5]

Buffing compound is also known as cutting polish.

Buffing compound works like a very fine sandpaper to remove imperfections in the paint and expose the
undamaged layers beneath the top.

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 6

Polish the faded paint with the buffing compound. Press the buffing pad lightly against the faded area of
the paint. Move the buffer over the area you’re working on in even, overlapping strokes. Alternate
between using left to right and up and down motions.[6]

If you’re fixing a large area of sun faded car paint, such as the whole hood of your car, work in small
sections of about 2 ft (0.61 m) by 2 ft (0.61 m).

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 7

Wipe the compound off the surface with a microfiber cloth when it looks shiny. Rub the microfiber cloth
firmly across the buffed area to remove all remaining residue from the buffing compound. Inspect the
area to see if the color is restored to all the faded paint and feel it with your hands to check if it’s
smooth.[7]

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.

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 8

Repeat the process up to 3 times until you're happy with how the paint looks. Put another small dab of
compound on the buffing wheel and press it lightly against the paint. Move the electric buffer side to
side and up and down, overlapping each stroke, until the paint looks bright and shiny. Wipe off the
residue with a microfiber cloth and inspect the surface closely.[8]

If you see some faint swirls on the surface, don’t worry. You’ll be able to polish them out in the next step.

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 9

Apply 1 coat of finishing polish using using a polishing wheel. Remove the buffing pad from your electric
buffer and attach a polishing wheel. 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.[9]

Finishing polish is always the last step in polishing your car’s paint. It has a high level of shine and works
to get rid of light swirls and other minor imperfections left over after buffing the paint with compound.

Part

WaxingDownload Article

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 10

1
Rub wax onto the polished area with a microfiber cloth. Pour a small dab of car wax, about the size of a
dime or penny, out onto a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Press the cloth with the wax against the area you
polished and rub it in circular motions until you cover the whole restored area in wax.[10]

As an alternative to car wax, use paint sealant and apply it in the same way as you apply wax. Paint
sealant is more durable, but wax is shinier.

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 11

Buff the wax off with a clean microfiber cloth. 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.[11]

Feel free to stop here if you’re happy with how the finish looks!

Image titled Fix Sun Faded Car Paint Step 12

Apply additional coats of wax if you want more protection and shine. Repeat the process to apply 1, 2, or
even 3 additional coats of wax. The brightness of the paint gets noticeably deeper with every coat.[12]

To keep the paint protected, reapply wax to your car every 3 months or so. If you chose to use paint
sealant instead, reapply it every 3-6 months.

Community Q&A

Ask a Question

What is your question?

Submit

Tips

Keep your car in a garage, under a carport, or put a car cover on it when you store it for long periods of
time to prevent further sun damage to the paint.

Warnings

Never buff your car’s paint without washing your car first. Otherwise you might just rub dirt and debris
into the paint and scratch it up.
Things You’ll Need

Car washing soap

Car washing sponge

Bucket

Hose

Automotive clay bar

Automotive clay lube

Car buffing compound

Electric buffer

Buffing pads and polishing pads

Car wax

You Might Also Like

Adjust an Air Fuel Mixture Screw

How to

Adjust an Air Fuel Mixture Screw

Determine Gear Ratio4 Easy Ways to Determine Gear Ratio (with Pictures)

Test a Temperature Sensor with a Multimeter

How to

Test a Temperature Sensor with a Multimeter

Find a Car Color Code

How to

Find a Car Color Code

Test a Vehicle Speed Sensor with a Multimeter

How to

Test a Vehicle Speed Sensor with a Multimeter

Change a Car Title Address

How to

Change a Car Title Address

Seal a Plastic Gas Tank

How to

Seal a Plastic Gas Tank

Clean an Abs Sensor

How to

Clean an Abs Sensor

Pull a Dent Out of a Quarter PanelHow to Pull a Dent Out of a Quarter Panel

Start Riding an ATV

How to

Start Riding an ATV

Build a Dune Buggy

How to

Build a Dune Buggy

React if a Power Line Falls on Your Car

How to

React if a Power Line Falls on Your Car

Get on the Delta Standby List

How to

Get on the Delta Standby List

Fill Gas in Canada

How to

Fill Gas in Canada

References

↑https://avalonking.com/blog/the-definitive-guide-to-repairing-fading-car-paint/

↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3CL04f2NAc&feature=youtu.be&t=105

↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3CL04f2NAc&feature=youtu.be&t=115

↑https://avalonking.com/blog/the-definitive-guide-to-repairing-fading-car-paint/

↑https://avalonking.com/blog/the-definitive-guide-to-repairing-fading-car-paint/

↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_94wO2Nxgdk&feature=youtu.be&t=120

↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_94wO2Nxgdk&feature=youtu.be&t=145

↑https://avalonking.com/blog/the-definitive-guide-to-repairing-fading-car-paint/

↑https://guidetodetailing.com/damage-repair/how-to-restore-faded-oxidized-paint/

More References (3)

About This Article

wikiHow Staff

Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff

wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate
articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors
the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our
high quality standards. This article has been viewed 27,220 times.

115 votes - 100%

Co-authors: 4

Updated: January 26, 2021

Views: 27,220

Categories: Featured Articles | Cars & Other Vehicles

Print Send fan mail to authors

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 27,220 times.
Did this article help you?

Yes No

wikiHow Staff

Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff

wikiHow Staff Writer

Co-authors:

Updated:

January 26, 2021

Views:

27,220

100% of readers found this article helpful.

115 votes - 100%

Click a star to add your vote

You Might Also Like

Adjust an Air Fuel Mixture Screw

How to

Adjust an Air Fuel Mixture Screw

Determine Gear Ratio4 Easy Ways to Determine Gear Ratio (with Pictures)

Test a Temperature Sensor with a Multimeter

How to
Test a Temperature Sensor with a Multimeter

Find a Car Color Code

How to

Find a Car Color Code

Featured Articles

Deal with Your Period As a Transgender or Nonbinary Person

How to

Deal with Your Period As a Transgender or Nonbinary Person

Upload Your Own Fonts to HTML Using CSS

How to

Upload Your Own Fonts to HTML Using CSS

Talk About Food in German

How to

Talk About Food in German

Create Redirects in HTML

How to

Create Redirects in HTML

Say Thank You

How to

Say Thank You

Treat Dry Facial Skin

How to

Treat Dry Facial Skin

Trending Articles

Celebrate Black History Month

How to

Celebrate Black History Month

Make Sandwich Wraps

How to

Make Sandwich Wraps

Drop a Pin on iPhone

How to

Drop a Pin on iPhone

Play Wordle

How to

Play Wordle

Watch the NFL

How to

Watch the NFL

Show Appreciation for Your Girlfriend in Words

How to

Show Appreciation for Your Girlfriend in Words

Featured Articles

Make Soft Pretzels

How to

Make Soft Pretzels

Wash Fruit and Vegetables

How to

Wash Fruit and Vegetables

Cook Noodles
How to

Cook Noodles

Make a Stress Ball with Slime

How to

Make a Stress Ball with Slime

Use Almond Milk

How to

Use Almond Milk

Make Your Cologne Last Longer

How to

Make Your Cologne Last Longer

New Pages

Restore a Bumble Purchase

How to

Restore a Bumble Purchase

Check Your Boyfriend's Phone Without Him Knowing

How to

Check Your Boyfriend's Phone Without Him Knowing

Tell if a Girl Is a Sex Addict

How to

Tell if a Girl Is a Sex Addict

Respond to Laughing Emojis

How to

Respond to Laughing Emojis

Respond when a Guy Calls You Sweetheart

How to

Respond when a Guy Calls You Sweetheart

Is God Telling Me to Break Up with My Boyfriend

How to

Is God Telling Me to Break Up with My Boyfriend

wikiHow

CategoriesCars & Other Vehicles

wikiHow Newsletter

Helpful how-tos delivered to

your inbox every week!

Enter your email

Sign me up!

By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.

How to Fix Sun Faded Car Paint

Home

About wikiHow

Experts

Blog

Jobs

Contact Us

Site Map

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy

Contribute

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

Let's go!