RRP: $19.97, buy now / £24.99, buy now.
Chemical Guys VSS Swirl & Scratch Remover car polish claims to be able to tackle moderate swirls and surface imperfections, while also polishing your paintwork to deliver a high-gloss finish. I gave it a thorough workout to see how it performs.
How I tested Chemical Guys VSS Swirl & Scratch Remover
I acquired a rather swirly sunroof panel and gave it a wash. I then clayed it to make sure the surface was completely clean and ready for polishing. After drying, I used a gloss meter to take gloss readings before polishing. Then I used a dual-action polisher to work VSS across the surface, performing four sets of four overlapping passes. After wiping away the residue, I measured the gloss again and used an inspection light to check for surface clarity.
As Fast Car’s in-house detailing enthusiast, I’ve come across my fair share of detailing products, so I’m well placed to assess this Swirl & Scratch remover’s performance against the rest of the market.
What Chemical Guys says
Chemical Guys describe VSS as an easy-to-use polish with a strong cut that will quickly and easily remove swirls, scratches, and defects. It then finishes like a polish to deliver a mirror shine. VSS has been designed for paint with light to moderate swirl marks, scratches, and defects. It uses diminishing abrasive technology. These innovative abrasives cut fast to quickly remove swirls, scratches, and oxidation. They then finish like a fine polish to create a wet mirror finish on painted surfaces. VSS restores a lustrous scratch-free finish without filling in or covering up swirls, scratches, or defects. Based on that, I want to see some impressive cutting performance followed up with high gloss.
What it’s like to use Chemical Guys VSS Swirl & Scratch Remover
Chemical Guys VSS feels quite wet under the pad, but there’s very little sling, which is always nice. It just makes using the product that much easier. Again, this feels like a polish that will spread for days and go a very long way. Despite how wet it feels, it wipes off the panel very easily. Chemical Guys says that VSS can tackle moderate swirls, so our test panel definitely put it through its paces. But it performed incredibly well and really made short work of the worst of the surface imperfections.
The inspection light showed what a difference it had made, with just a small amount of swirls remaining. And the gloss increase was strong, too. As VSS uses diminishing micro-abrasives, working it longer would deliver an even more impressive finish. That means if you were using VSS on its own to do your whole car, you’d really get the best out of it.
Verdict
Chemical Guys VSS Swirl & Scratch Remover might not excel in any one area, but it does everything very well. I like the cut, I like the finish it delivers, the gloss is good, and it’s great to work with. The fact that it cuts like a compound and finishes like a polish really gives it the edge over other products. It’s very easy and forgiving to work with, too. Other polishes might cut better or deliver more gloss, but Chemical Guys VSS tackles two steps in one go, and you can’t argue with that. And as many of us would rather add our own choice of protection, the lack of wax will be a bonus for many. VSS is an excellent choice of polish, and you won’t be disappointed.
Need a buffer to help apply it? Check out our machine buffer guide to understand the different types available.
