The Airstream trailer has crafted the American road trip. It’s a vehicle identified by a distinct aluminum finish, which might range anywhere from a dull matte to a silver so stark, you can see your face in it.

While the ride has collected quite a few fun facts along the way, here are some about their metal polishing.

1. Not As Costly When DIYed

Polishers who do airstreams for a living usually charge up to $200 per foot. They have to make a profit after paying for auto detailing supplies and labor, both of which don’t come cheap. Just as quality polish is a part of a new Airstream’s value, so is the polish you use to restore it.

However, if you do the same on your own, you’ll only have to pay for the supplies. The task isn’t that difficult either. The Cyclo Polisher is easy to use and safe. Moreover, you should definitely learn polishing if you’ve got a very long Airstream.

2. It’s About Adding, Not Subtracting

Polishing the aluminum surface of an Airstream isn’t like sanding floorboards. It doesn’t involve shaving any layers to rejuvenate the metal—far from it. When you use an aluminum polish like Nuvite, the oxidized layer is restored to a shiny new layer, and the surface is made smooth and level again.

The process doesn’t bear any similarity to the scraping involved in stripping off the metal. In fact, a scraped surface would be more difficult to polish than an unscraped one and should thus be avoided at all costs.

3. The Polish Evaporates

If you’re hesitating from polishing the aluminum because you believe the polish absorbs into the body of your trailer, let us tell you nothing could be from the truth.

The Nuvite you use is formulated on mineral spirits. As you work this base into the metal, it starts to evaporate before much of the polish can get into the metal. We’re not saying no polish enters the surface; it does, but the amount is so small that it is considered negligible.

4. The Polish Can be Customized

There are one-step polishes that are applied with a Cyclo Polisher to give off a moderate level of shine, which is typically the form in which Airstreams are sold these days.

Then there are mirror finishes, as mentioned previously. These are achieved by polishing up to four grades of Nuvite. The process may be time-consuming, but the results are well worth it.

Buy All-Things Metal Polish Online

Perfect Polish has made it easier for Americans to polish their Airstreams at home. Get started today by purchasing a Nuvite Aluminum Polish, Cyclo Polisher for Paint care and bare aluminum, and fleece polishing cloth online.

Use the Cyclo Polisher for aluminum like a pro.