You may have heard the term ‘paint correction’ uttered by car cleaners, often followed up with jargon-filled discussions of dual-action polishers, paint protection and other seemingly alien items.
The fact is, however, if you’ve ever polished a car (even by hand), then you’ve performed paint correction because any process that removes imperfections from paintwork counts. If you are getting busy with polish and want the best results, a panel wipe will help clear polished panels of any residue, ready for wax, sealant, or ceramic coating to be applied.
It’s important to note that panel wipe liquid typically contains strong solvents which could damage some surfaces and should be used carefully. Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer and wear appropriate protective equipment, such as gloves and eye protection, when using the product. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best panel wipes around just now.
The best panel wipe shortlist
Editor’s choice: Steyer Fast Evaporating Panel Wipe – Buy now from Amazon UK
The best premium panel wipe: Gtechniq Panel Wipe – Buy now from Amazon UK
The best environmentally friendly panel wipe: Bilt Hamber Cleanser – Buy now from Amazon UK
The best panel wipe
Steyer Fast Evaporating Panel Wipe
Editor’s choice
RRP £11.65 | VIEW OFFER
This panel wipe from Steyer will cut through excess polish, old sealants, oils and grease to ensure that any body panel is safe for any sealants to be applied. While it may not be as tough as some others, its flexibility of use gives it that slight edge. It can be used on painted or bare surfaces and as a glass cleaner. Invest in a couple of decent micro-fibre cloths, and as it’s a fast-evaporating formula, you can wipe on – wipe off as you go along.
Pros
• Safer to use around plastic and rubber areas
• Flexible uses
Cons
• Not as strong as some
Gtechniq Panel Wipe
The best premium panel wipe
RRP £14.83 | VIEW OFFER
For removing tougher sealants (like ceramic coatings), nothing will match the raw power of Gtechniq’s Panel Wipe. It’s practically a cocktail of solvents and alcohol, meaning it’ll eat through contaminants as well as old sealants. The downside to this power is that this panel wipe can’t be applied to PPF, vinyl, plastic, rubber or resprayed paint, making it a bit harder to use than the others.
Pros
• Great results
• Powerful performance
Cons
• Requires a bit more effort
Bilt Hamber Cleanser
The best environmentally friendly panel wipe
RRP £18.18 | VIEW OFFER
If the Gtechniq is too powerful and you’re after something a little more general purpose, Bilt Hamber Cleanser is a clever choice. Made without isopropyl alcohol (a core ingredient to most panel wipes), its gentle formula means it can be used as a tar spot remover and for cleaning away other common paint contaminants. It’ll make short work of old waxes and sealants, too.
Pros
• Gentle formula
• Can be used on many surfaces
Cons
• Best results may require additional applications
Autobrite Direct Prep-It
Recommended
RRP £13.54 | VIEW OFFER
A solid choice for preparing a panel for protection, Autobrite Direct’s Prep-It makes use of solvents to ensure that all potential contaminants are removed prior to car cleaning. We like the fact it’s made in the UK and that it’s designed to leave an anti-static surface, which will ensure any paint protection will have the best bonding possible.
Pros
• Tough on contaminants
• Anti-static finish
Cons
• None
U-POL System 20 Slow Panel Wipeth Product
The best slow-clean panel wipe
RRP £29.10 | VIEW OFFER
U-Pol System 20 works hard to remove any contaminants and leave you with a nicely prepped surface. The advantage of the slow panel wipe versus the fast is that once you’ve covered the area you’re working on, it gives you plenty of time to go back and use a second cloth to dry the surface. This extra step helps to completely remove all debris, leaving a much cleaner surface.
Pros
• Very clean surfaces
• Top-quality
Cons
• Involves a bit more work
What is a panel wipe?
Panel wipes (also known as IPA wipes) are powerful degreasers that can dissolve small contaminates in localised areas. Often made with a combination of distilled water, solvents and isopropyl alcohol, panel wipes will ensure that a surface is as clean as possible before a layer of protection is applied, with the aim of ensuring the best possible bonding of a coating to the paintwork for long-term protection.
Can it be used on other contaminants?
There’s no denying that panel wipes are effective cleaners. They can cut through ceramic coatings, which means tar spots, fuel spills, and grease won’t be an issue whatsoever. The issue is that most are incredibly harsh and will probably do a fair amount of damage if you were to use them as a general cleaning product. Still, Bilt Hamber’s Cleanser might be acceptable to use if you’re careful.
Read next:
Car dryers: The best ways to clean a car
A guide to more eco-friendly car cleaning products
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tool Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. He also contributes to What’s The Best.
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