The reason you have swirls is primarily due to improper washing and drying tools and techniques. Things like: using a sponge, using a bath towel, using a chamois, using 1 bucket, using water blade, using a dirty wash mitt, using a dirty applicator pad, using a contaminated clay bar, using touch car wash is the worse, using too strong of a pressure washer... all are common things that contribute to adding swirls and imperfections to the paint.
The ideal situation is to always hand wash, using quality sheepskin wash mitts, 2 bucket wash system, an automotive shampoo that has great lubricity and suds, using waffle weave drying towels, a grit guard insert for the rinse bucket and the proper techniques will give you the lowest chance of adding imperfections to your paint.
On to removing them. If they are as bad as it sounds, you're going to need a buffer to make a significant impact on the swirls and imperfections. IMO there are only 2 that are strong enough, yet safe enough to use as a weekend detailer, the Porter Cable 7424 and the Cyclo. We stock the
Porter Cable 7424 and is a must have tool for enthusiasts and professionals.
The other option, which I would save for trained professionals (which is rare), is a rotary buffer.
Along with a buffer you're going to need some abrasive polishes. The reason you need abrasives is to remove the top layer of clear coat which contains dips and valleys which are the swirls. The abrasive polishes will even out those dips and valleys leaving you with a smooth clear coat. When the clear coat is perfectly smooth, this is when you see a swirl free finish. The
Menzerna polishes are an excellent line of abrasive polishes to use with a buffer.
If you want to give anything a shot by hand, I recommend trying ScratchX from Meguiar's. Try a small section and see how many coats and passes it takes by hand to remove the imperfections, then see if it's worth doing your entire car that way. Most people who attempt to properly polish by hand quickly realize they want to invest in a buffer.
For some further reading on the detailing process, check out these How-To Steps which will explain the
7 main steps in detailing with pictures of your clear coat to follow along with each step.
Sorry for the delayed reply, feel free to ask any other questions you may have.
George