PolishAndWax.com

Written by guest contributor Darren Priest of Expert Mobile Car Detailing

Car wax is offered in three (3) versions; liquid, paste, and spray. While there are many combinations of wax products like cleaner waxes, etc., a wax dedicated to just protecting and enhancing will be your BEST choice. Waxes can be found in varying combinations of both natural and synthetic ingredients.

Car wax is used to not only enhance the look of your paint, but to protect your paint from the many harmful elements that exist in the world of car ownership. Wax will enhance the look of your paint by creating a uniformed, flat, and consistent reflective surface. Wax will aid in "filling" fine scratches and blemishes, as well as add luster, depth and gloss to your paint.

There are many harmful elements that can come in contact with your paint, and will require the protection offered up by auto waxes.

Advances in chemical engineering have made waxes of today far superior to waxes of yesterday. 'Waxing' is an ongoing process of paint care, as it will degrade and lose its protective and enhancing qualities over time. Just as SPF sun block is used to protect one's skin from damaging UV/UVB rays, so does proper use of car wax add a protective layer to your cars paint.  Just as the science behind sunscreen allows a transparent layer to protect your skin, so has science been able to create waxes that allow a transparent layer to protect your paint.

Car Wax Review

• Wax is good.
• Waxing is not cleaning or polishing; each has its own objective and is unique in purpose.
• Wax protects your paint from the elements of weather.
• Wax enhances the appearance of paint by creating a uniformed reflective layer that fills minor imperfections and scratches.
• Wax needs to be used periodically as it will "wear off" over time.
• The days of hard to use paste waxes are gone.
• Spray waxes in my professional opinion, offer the winning combination.

FAQ's

Q: What is the purpose of car wax?

A:  To offer protection to your cars paint from elements of weather, pollution, and UV sun rays, and/or visual enhancement.

Q: What forms do waxes come in?

A: Waxes come in three forms; paste, liquid, and spray.

Q: Which form of wax is best?

A: Typically, paste waxes will offer the most durability, but are also the hardest to work with. Spray waxes typically offer the least durability, but also are the easiest to work with.  Due to advances in chemical engineering, it is possible to get a "winning" combination with spray waxes in regards to durability and ease of use.

Q: I heard that 100% carnauba was the best?

A: Carnauba has long been the accepted standard in car waxes. It has many characteristics that make it ideal for use with car waxes. In its natural state, carnauba would be unusable. It must be processed with other chemicals and ingredients in order to make it usable.

Q: How is wax applied?

A: Usually applied by hand with applicator towel, rag, sponge, etc.

Q: Are baby diapers still the preferred choice in removing wax?

A: While it has long been the rule, baby diapers are no longer the preferred choice of professionals. With modern day advances in textiles, microfiber towels are now the preferred industry choice.

Q: Are there any others benefits to car wax?

A: Yes. Wax creates added depth and gloss. It does this by filling and covering minor imperfections, and by creating a uniformed reflective surface.

Q: How long will wax last?

A: No wax will last forever. Every wax will be a combination of qualities: ease of use, durability, visual enhancement capabilities.

Q: What is better, natural or synthetic waxes?

A: All waxes will be some combination of both. In order to make wax useable, it has to be processed with other ingredients and chemicals.

Q: How often should I be waxing my car?

A: Every 4 to 12 weeks depending on the following variables. Dirt and sun are the biggest enemies to your paint and wax, so the longer you allow dirt to remain on your paint, and the more time it is exposed to sun, the more often you will need to wax your car.

Q: What is the difference between waxing and polishing?

A: Proper paint care includes three categories: cleaning, polishing, and protecting.  Each is unique in purpose and has separate, and unique products for these different tasks. Waxing is about protecting and enhancing only.

Q: Does my new car need to be waxed immediately?

A: Yes, your new car needs to be waxed. Dealers do not necessarily wax your car as part of the new car prep.  Note that a freshly repainted car may need time for the paint solvents to escape before wax can be safely applied, so please check with the company that did the work before you wax.

Darren Priest
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Expert Mobile Car Detailing
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