its normal if you are average joe car owner
its not normal if you are car detailing enthusist...... swirls are caused by mostly dirty washing equpiment that have been contaminated by contact with dirty surfaces such as the ground or a dirty work table where the wash mitts or towels can pick up sand/dirt/rock particles which would then come in contact with the paint when you wash the car....they also are caused by insufficient soap which then lacks lubrication to lift the dirt off your car with minimal scratching.... I wash my wash mitts in the washing machine everytime I wash my car.... I have like 4 or 5 so I have like a bucket of used wash mitts that I wash all at once..... I also use quality car soap like Meguiar's NXT car wash....2 buckets of water is prefered(one for soap one for rinsing mitt)..... use seperate mitt for rims and bottom side of bumpers and exhaust tips....always hand dry with fresh clean towel to avoid water spots....
when using car on regular basis.... avoid all contact with the paint.... dont lean against the car....dont close the door by pushing on painted surfaces(use door handle)....dont let your crazy friends near your car..... dont attempt to clean off bird droppings with anything other than a proper car wash or a detailer spray+quality microfiber cloth....don't put any object on painted surfaces....don't park near sprinklers....don't hose down your car.....wash every week to avoid build up of contamination.....
to remove swirl/scratchs..... use paint cleaner applied with hand or polisher(never use 10" orbitals) dual action polishers are prefered for beginners if buffing by machine to have minimal risk of misuse.....rotary buffers are for educated experianced users only....
protect finish with quality wax....
never use turtle wax products especially rubbing compound...... colored waxes dont work....nufinish is very harsh on paint..... no wax last 6 months under realistic conditions(longest is probably 2 months or 3)....dealer paint protection coatins are a scam..... teflon does not work as wax because it is heat activated at temperatures that would not be possible on automotive paint.....
