Wednesday, March 27, 2024

How Often Should You Wax Your Car

Don't Miss

What Does It Do

Ask Meguiar’s: How Often Should I Wax My Car?

Wax is – for the most part – about protection. Youre putting a barrier between the clearcoat and the outside world to protect it from nasty stuff in the air, UV rays, and water. Water is of particular concern – rainwater and spray from the roads is full of all sorts of pollutants which can easily transfer onto the paint, so the best way to protect against it is to make sure water quickly runs straight off your bodywork – something that wax will do by making the surface hydrophobic.

Take a look at the video above of our Jaguar XE S longtermer: the left-hand side of the bonnet has been given a layer of wax, so the water runs off very quickly. On the unwaxed right-hand side of the bonnet, the water sticks around for a lot longer.

In fact, as youll see in the video below, wax is so efficient at repelling water, that its possible to dry a waxed car using water – specifically, from an open hose. This is far safer than contact drying using towels, as it eliminates the possibility of scratching.

If youve ever used car wax, youll also know that it gives the car a nice shiny finish. The diagram above should give you a good idea of why: what the wax is doing is filling in all the gaps in the clear coat caused by scratches and other imperfections. It will help you with your colour, and it will help you with your blemishes because micro scratches will be filled. You effectively get a new surface on the top, Paul explains.

Should You Wax Or Polish Your Car

Kevin Woo

Get a Quote

Mr. Miyagi taught a generation to wax on, wax off. Youll note that Sensei Miyagi never said, wax on, polish off. That would have been silly.

Waxing and polishing are words that are often used interchangeably, and incorrectly, by weekend warriors who are keen to make their cars look showroom new. Though similar, waxing and polishing serve different purposes.

Polishing a car removes small damages done to the top coat of your cars paint, such as road gunk, bird poop, and swirls that have built up over time. What polish doesnt do is make your car shiny.

Wax makes cars shiny. It also provides the paint with a protective coating to keep it from fading and acts as a defense against scratches.

A lot of weekend warriors think that keeping the car sparkling clean is easy. Grab a bucket, a sponge, some dishwashing soap, an old towel from the linen closet, and youre ready to go.

That car cleaning strategy would be okay if werent for the dirty bucket, used sponge, dishwashing soap, and old towel. Like everything in life, you have to use the right tools to achieve the desired results.

Wash And Dry Your Car

It goes without saying that your car should be clean and dry before you think about applying wax. Use a good-quality car shampoo and the two-bucket method , before drying everything off with a chamois or microfibre towel. If the paintwork has any swirl marks or light scratches, consider polishing it to remove these before you apply a coat of wax.

Don’t Miss: How Much Would It Cost To Paint A Car

Why Should You Wax Your Car

Well, there are a few key reasons. First, it protects the paintwork from harmful environmental factors like UV rays, bird droppings, and tree sap. Beyond the protective layer, waxing also makes the cars paintwork easier to clean and helps to prevent fading and oxidation. What do we love most about it? A freshly waxed car has a showroom-quality shine!

When To Wax Your Car

Car Polish Vs. Wax

If youve never waxed before, youre probably wondering how to tell whether you need it. As waxing acts as a clear protective layer on your car, its not always easy to work out. Wax naturally wears off, and this is hastened by the effects of rain, sun and even the dirty puddles that splash up on the sides of your car.

You can tell if your wax is beginning to wear by looking for water beading on your exterior. If theres very little its likely time to get out the wax.

How often you should wax your car depends on a few factors, but a general guide is at least twice a year.

If your car is new, everything should still be in good condition, so you really just need to ensure its protected. For older, or more worn down models, you might want to polish and wax more frequently, up to every season.

The time of year can also affect how often you wax, as vehicles enduring rougher weather will need waxed more regularly to remain protected. Other seasonal factors can play a big part in your waxing schedule too. If your cars going to face a buildup of salt, dirty water, mud and screen wash, a coat of wax every month or two can make all the difference.

Recommended Reading: Why Do Police Touch Your Car

How To Tell When Your Car Needs Waxed

There are two ways to check if your car needs to be waxed. The first method is to, feel the surface of your cars paint. Does it feel rough and gritty? If so, you should get your car waxed or at the very least have it washed. The second way is to test a small area of the car . You can test for this by pouring a small amount of water on the area to see if water beads on the surface.

Note- Clean the selected area first as dirt and contamination sitting on top of the wax can prevent the water from beading and provide inaccurate results.

How To Wax Your Car

Waxing a car is quite simple. Just keep in mind the following steps:

  • Wax your car before applying the wax.
  • Once the car is thoroughly washed, dry it off completely. Make sure to use a clean cloth for drying purposes.
  • Grab a clay bar and apply it on the automobile. Why? Even after a detailed wash session, dust and other debris are left that a clay bar can easily remove.
  • Once the claying process is complete, start applying the wax.

This concludes our article. Remember, the paint job is a critical part of any vehicle’s appearance. If the paint is faded or has lost its shine, potential buyers will be put off. Apart from this, you might need to get the whole vehicle repainted, which is costly. Instead, invest in car detailing services. Paint sealant, waxing, and ceramic coating are some of the options available to customers today to protect the paint.

Read Also: How To Rent Out Your Car

How Often Should You Apply Wax

Well, for starters, the minimal requirement is twice per year. It should be done before the start of the summer months and before winters. Why? During peak summer and winter months, the paint will come under the most duress. Excessive sunlight, snow, and salt damage a car’s paint. Hence, PitStopArabia stresses that car owners apply paint protection beforehand.

If you do not want to take risks with the paint, PitStopArabia recommends waxing four times in a year. In other words, car owners should opt for waxing every three months to ensure that the paint does not fade or lose its shine. It will also help car owners retain their vehicles resale value. Otherwise, faded paint can bring an automobiles resale value down.

How Often Should You Wax Your Car And How Can You Tell Waxing Is Needed

Why Is It Important To Wax Your Car? – Chemical Guys Car Care

Vehicles should be waxed four times a year or once every three months. The best times are the end of spring just before summer begins and in the fall before the winter weather starts. Wax helps protect cars from the harmful UV rays in warm weather and protects from harsh elements in the cold weather. If your car is left in a garage or underground parking you only need to wax your vehicle two times a year. If you leave your vehicle outdoors then it is best that you follow the three-month rule.

You can tell if your car needs to be waxed is by splashing a small amount of water on it. If the water beads up, you do not need waxing. If it doesnt bead up, then it is time to wax your car.

Read Also: How To Find My Old Car Without The Vin

How To Tell When Your Car Needs Waxing

Luckily, we have decades of experience in car care, and are here to pass on the knowledge. Here are some key factors for the driveway detailer to help you decide when its best to protect your cars paintwork.

On the different types of car wax and their effects, Adam Tudor-Lane of Carwitter offers this advice: The higher the percentage, the harder the wax, and the more difficult it is to apply. Its a fine balance between ease of use and longevity. Liquid waxes are quicker and need to be used more regularly.

Remember: waxing your car is an investment, and a little time spent with Simoniz will help your car care regime between washes and beyond.

Remove The Wax With A Soft Cloth

Using a microfiber towel, chamois, or other soft cloth, remove the wax from the surface of your car. Start by applying gentle pressure to the cloth and using a circular motion to remove the majority of the wax. Once the visible wax is gone, you can buff the car using a fast circular motion to increase the shine and luster of the paint. After the wax is removed, the surface of your car should appear shiny and glossy.

Read Also: How To Check Recalls On My Car

Pro Tip #: Use A Soft Brush For Gaps And Molding

No matter how hard you try to keep wax off of molding and out of cracks its almost inevitable that this will occur. Thats why it is a good idea to keep a soft brush handy while you are waxing your car. The brushes can be purchased at most auto parts stores and only cost a couple of dollars. Removing wax from a cars molding after it has dried can be difficult and sometimes the wax will leave permanent staining. Wax left in the cracks and crevices between body panels will harden and become very noticeable once dry. To avoid both of these situations, use a soft brush to remove any wax from moldings or cracks and crevices before it dries.

Waxing your vehicle is a great way to ensure that it stays shiny and looking great. Waxing will work to protect your cars paint from damaging sun rays, abrasive dirt, and chemicals in the rain and snow. Properly maintaining your cars paint by regularly waxing can extend the life of your cars paint and help keep your car looking good long into the future. Using the tips in this article, youll be able to wax your car like a pro and feel proud of your hard work when you drive around in your glossy car.

helpful

What Type Of Wax Should You Use

How Often Should You Wax Car Your?

There are four main types of car waxes. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so its important to choose the right one for your needs.

Paste wax is the oldest type of car wax and its also the most difficult to apply. However, it provides an exceptionally durable finish and its ideal for older cars with delicate paintwork.

Liquid wax is much easier to apply than paste wax and it doesnt require any buffing. Its a great option for people who dont have a lot of time to spend on car maintenance.

Liquid polymer is the newest type of car wax, and it provides a long-lasting, high-gloss finish. Its also very easy to apply and doesnt require any buffing.

Carnauba waxis made from Brazilian palm leaves and its the most expensive type of car wax. However, it supplies an unbeatable shine and its very durable.

Also Check: Which Car Is Bigger Economy Or Compact

Where To Get Your Car Professionally Waxed

With experience and skill needed to properly wax your car, rather than try it yourself and risk damages that are far more costly than getting it professionally done in the first place, Lambency Detailing offers 3 main packages for exterior detailing that includes waxing to keep your car properly groomed.

How To Wash A Car

For the most part, standard gentle soap and water will suffice. As far as products go, to know how to wash a car, you must know a few simple rules:

Keep coolAt all times, ensure the car is parked in a shady, cool place while youre washing and waxing. There are a few reasons for this. For one, if your local water is hard, meaning that it has a high amount of mineral density, youll note that the paint finish has spots once it dries. This is especially common under the hot sun.

Additionally, most car waxes these days are polymer-based and therefore, friendlier with the sun. However, they are much easier to use if they are applied to a cooler surface. Whenever youre working on the vehicle, you should ensure the surface can be touched for a prolonged period without burning yourself.

Microfiber towelsKeep some microfiber towels nearby while youre washing your vehicle. These can also be handy for applying and removing car wax. Microfiber towels are made with a much softer material than typical towels made with chamois or cotton. Such towels could end up marring the finish of the paint, leaving ruts or scratches behind that only worsen over time.

Learn how to wax a car and how often to wax a carA simple four-step process ensures your cars paint will shine for many years to come: wash, clean, polish, wax. To prevent any unnecessary damage to the vehicle, its important to ensure youre always using the right products for the current stage of the process.

Read Also: Why Is My Car Ac Blowing Hot Air

Keeps Paint From Fading

Every day you drive your vehicle, you expose it to many elements that could damage and fade the paint job. The wind, salt, and especially UV rays take their toll on a vehicles paint. But with a shield of wax, the paint can stay lustrous and shiny for longer.

Wax provides a clear coating of protection to your vehicles exterior that it needs to battle the elements like the sun. Wax is especially vital to protect your vehicles paint job in the summer. Without protection, your cars paint could fade dramatically and significantly lower the vehicles resale value.

Tips For Polishing And Waxing

CONSUMER QUESTIONS: How often should I wax my car?

Polishing or waxing a car isnt hard, although it does require some elbow grease, the right products for the job, and a little time. Here are some tips for polishing and waxing:

  • Dont use the same cloth for washing, polishing, and waxing. If you do, there will be cross contamination of products .

  • Dont wax your windows.

  • After washing your car but before polishing or waxing, spray on a finishing product such as Final Touch. A finishing product removes smudges, fingerprints, or smears that may have occurred while you were washing the car.

  • Dont work in the sun.

  • Dont assume if a little wax is good, a lot must be better. This is not true. Dont over apply polish or wax.

  • Be aware that if you missed any patches of dirt or grease during the washing or polishing process, they will be sealed in when you wax.

  • If youre going to use an electric car polisher, be careful not to buff too much or too hard because you could wear down the paint, leaving yourself with a great view of the undercoat.

You should wax your car about every three months. If you live where it snows, you should wax your car before and after snow season. If you live where its very hot, you should wax your car before summer to give the paint a layer of protection from the UV rays. Polishing, on the other hand, only needs to be done when you notice trouble spots.

Read Also: Can I Use Clorox Wipes In My Car

Does Waxing Your Car Really Help

Regularly waxing a car is essential because it helps preserve the clear coat over a vehicles paint. The clear coat is also what gives a vehicle its shine. When the clear coat wears away, the paint becomes susceptible to fading, discoloration, and eventually, rust.

Does waxing your car make it faster?

When it comes to aerodynamics, a waxed or clean car will allow air to move freely across the surface . They discovered that the average gas mileage for the dirty car was 24 miles per gallon while the clean car performed better at 26 miles per gallon.

What happens if you never wax your car?

Applying wax to the surface means youre making it harder for dirt, tree sap, insects, and other debris to stick to the car. For example, if you dont wax your car, youre just letting tiny scratches stick around and possibly exposing the paint to damage over time.

But Why Wax In The First Place

Yes, we know your new car dealer has probably waxed poetic about the new clear sealant that keeps your car looking brand new for the first year. While this is not entirely false, the external factors have a direct impact on the colour, condition of the sealant and the paint underneath. If you park your car in a garage you can extend this effect for longer. However, when it comes to parking in the driveway your car is exposed to external elements that have a direct impact on the longevity of the sealant.

Read Also: How Long Car Tires Last

More articles

Popular Articles