Car Wax Rules And Prep
So, before learning the ropes on how to wax a car, there are a couple of things you need to remember:
“The best detailing eBook on the market right now!”
Part 4 Of 4: Removing The Wax Residue
When the wax dries, it leaves a hazy appearance on the paint. When touched, it crumbles or wipes off in a powdery form. If the wax is still wet or pasty to the touch, wait a little longer to remove it.
Step 1: Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the wax residue off the paint. Just like when you were applying the wax, use a circular motion to achieve the best streak-free results.
Step 2: Use a power polisher to remove the wax residue from the paint . If you have a power tool to wax your car, you can use a clean waxing cloth on the head to remove the wax film from the paint. On slow to medium speed, move the power tool in circular motions over the painted surface until all the wax residue is removed.
- Tip: When using a power polisher to wax your car, be very careful around objects like wiper blades and arms. The polisher can catch on exposed parts and cause damage to your car and the polisher.
Step 3: Remove any wax from glass or plastic surfaces. Use clean, soapy water and a clean cloth to wipe any glass or plastic surfaces that have wax on them as soon as possible.
Step 4: Evaluate the cars appearance. Determine if you have achieved a consistent shine over the whole vehicle, or if there are unsightly dull spots or areas you missed.
It may be necessary to apply a second coat if the paint was particularly faded or damaged. If so, follow the procedure again to coat your car with wax a second time.
If you are satisfied with its shine and appearance, your job is complete.
Must Have Supplies For Car Waxing
Now to get to the fun part!
Let’s pick out the products & tools required for achieving that high gloss shine after waxing your car.
Just as any other detailing task, waxing requires a few things to make sure you can work to the best of your ability so the wax job comes out with the best results.
These products are easy to find in your local store or can be found online for greater convenience.
We will also make sure to provide links to our favorite and most value oriented products to make the whole processes super easy for you.
You May Like: Which Is The Fastest Car In The World
First Thoroughly Wash Your Vehicle To Remove All Of The Dirt
This may seem like common sense, especially given how dirty your vehicle looks sometimes, but believe it or not there are people out there who have never waxed their car before who go right to the waxing.
For some reason, they assume that applying wax is going to remove all the dirt in the process. On the contrary, that can actually drive the dirt into the finish, making it even more difficult to clean later on.
Dont make that fatal mistake. Instead, spend some time thoroughly washing off your car. Use a clean sponge and clean water. If your car is completely filthy, it may be best to empty the dirty water bucket and start with fresh soap and clean water every so often.
Its highly advisable to avoid cleaning the wheels, including the rims, until last. Thats because the brake dust and road dirt that gets caked onto the wheels and rims can be extremely filthy. It will dirty up the water and, if youre not paying attention, you could end up unwittingly spreading that to the rest of your car.
Keep Your Car In Cold Condition
Heat melts the wax so when waxing your car needs to be completely cool. And for that, you have to stop the car engine at least one hour before waxing. Besides that, you would want to keep the car in cooler weather since hot weather will dry the wax faster, preventing it to clean your car properly.
Keep your car away from all the heat, and make sure that no sunlight comes around your car. The best option is to use an indoor room or garage. However, if you dont have a garage or room, keep your car in a place that is cooler and has a lot of shades.
Read Also: What Is An Equus Car
Wax Mistake #1: Applying Wax When Your Car Is Wet
If you intend to apply wax on your car right after washing it, you must first dry it off. The old saying oil and water dont mix applies here. The moisture on your cars surface will prevent the wax oils from bonding evenly with your cars paint. As a result, you wont get the shine youre looking for.
What Is Natural Carnauba Wax
Carnauba wax is derived from the oils found within the common Palm Tree .
Packed into round metal tins, and rocking one hell of a lengthy stint in the automotive detailing arena, carnauba wax is without question one of the most instantly recognizable automotive surface protectants in the world. But despite its popularity and prolonged presence in our lives, few people know exactly where this all-natural substance comes from, or how it is manufactured.
Also Check: What Age To Stop Using Car Seat
What Ingredients Are In Car Wax
Understanding exactly what ingredients go into an average can of car wax can be equal parts time consuming and confusing.
While proprietary blends of car wax are about as ubiquitous as hipster beards at a craft brewery, the following ingredients are recognized as the six most widely used elements in car wax.
Synthetic Vs Natural What Should You Select
One of the first decisions that you will need to make regarding your car wax is the type. This means that you will have to select either a natural car wax or a synthetic one.
Now, most natural car waxes are composed of carnauba wax. This is a vegetable-based wax and is great for people who want to apply the wax to their cars by hand.
The carnauba-based car waxes offer considerable protection from water, sun, and various contaminants. It is also not unusual to find the good quality waxes lasting from 3 to 6 months at a time.
Then, there are the synthetic waxes that are made up of lots of different polymers. These, too, provide excellent protection to your vehicle.
Whats more, these waxes also can last from 4 to 9 months and can be applied either by hand or machine.
Now, there are some people who believe that the carnauba wax offers a better shine or brilliance to their car. At the same time, there are others that prefer the synthetic version as it is easier to apply.
In the end, it is best to try both versions to see which one you appreciate more.
Also Check: What Type Of Car Do I Have
The Dos And Don’ts Of Car Waxing: A Guide For Auto Detailing Students
Not only does waxing a car make it shine, but doing so also helps protect its paintjob, while maintaining its value. Without wax, cars are much more vulnerable to things like salt, pebbles, rain, dirt, and more. These elements are known to leave behind surface scratches and make a cars paint look dull.
Once you become an auto detailer, you will be responsible for waxing vehicles on a regular basis. Every auto detailing shop typically has its own preferred application techniques, equipment, and even go-to wax brands, but there are basic waxing guidelines that they all tend to follow.
Read on to learn some of the dos and donts of applying protective wax to cars.
How To Polish A Black Car
- Apply a little polish on your applicator pad and carefully work it into the paint. Ensure to polish from the top to the bottom parts of the car.
- Using a microfiber towel, buff the residue instantly or after some minutes, depending on the instructions on the bottle.
- Use another clean microfiber towel to clean the finishing.
- Repeat the polishing process till you have covered the entire paint surface.
Waxing: It is now time to wax your black car, and of course, youll need a black wax. It is best to use the best black car waxes such as Meguiars black car wax, P21S Carnauba wax, and others thatll give your car a shiny result and make your black paint last longer.
Steps to waxing a black car.
First Step: Put a little amount of the wax on a neat pad applicator and work it into the paint, starting from the top to the bottom parts of the car. Try not to apply a heavy coat at a time; rather, put several thin coats till you get the result you desire.
Second Step: Let the wax dry for some minutes, and then remove its excess. Swiping your clean finger on the waxed area will help tell if the car has dried completely or not. A smear indicates that the car needs more time to dry.
Third Step: Remove the wax from the top to the bottom parts of the car with a neat microfiber towel. Then use a second microfiber towel to buff the paint when you have removed the wax lightly.
You May Like: What Is The Safest Car For Teenage Drivers
How Often Should You Wax Your Car
A great question asked by many! And the answer to this question well it depends!
Sadly most traditional waxes found in stores and online don’t last too long, maybe a few months at best. One of the biggest factors that affect how long your wax will last is your environment.
A wax during summer in the middle of Phoenix Arizona will only last a couple of weeks compared to Chicago Illinois in the middle of spring where a wax can last a couple months. During warmer seasons it’s recommended to wax once a month, while during cooler climates once a quarter.
How To Wash And Wax Your Car
It may seem counterintuitive, but frequently washing and waxing your vehicle is the best way to maintain its exterior paint finish for years to come, regardless of the constant wiping and rubbing it entails but only as long as you’re using the right products in the correct order. All major brands of car washes, car waxes and related detailing products are specially formulated to work gently on the clear-coat paint finishes found on every car built since the mid-1990s. They’re ideal for removing dirt above and below the surface, eliminating swirls and other imperfections and leaving a high-gloss shine.
When you wash your car, don’t use normal dish soap, laundry soap or household cleaners. They strip waxes and could damage the car’s finish.
Such obsessive-compulsive labor need not be arduous, however. While there are multiple procedures involved in washing and waxing a car to perfection, it’s not necessary to do them all at once. Some steps should be taken weekly. Others can be employed every few months or annually. If you want to watch some pros using the techniques described in this story, check out the instructional videos from car-care product companies Meguiar’s and Mothers.
At all times, there are some simple car wash rules to keep in mind:
- No matter which stage you’re at in the car wash and wax process, it’s always best to have the car parked in a cool, shady place.
Experts recommend washing a car this way weekly.
Recommended Reading: What Do You Need To Get Your Car Inspected
Applying The Ceramic Coating
The Problem With Natural Carnauba Wax
Unregulated carnauba tree harvesting and unethical car wax production labor violations are but a couple of the problems that have come to light in recent years. Photo Credit: UEBT
While a carnauba wax will protect the exterior of a vehicle from the elements, it only works for about six weeks on average before it begins to break down, at which point it must be stripped away and reapplied. Carnauba wax also does not have a very high scratch resistance rating, and is prone to becoming hazy when submitted to excessive levels of air pollution or airborne contaminants.
Another issue with carnauba wax, is that because it is a plant-based item, people presume that they are doing the environment a favor by purchasing these products. But no one really stops to think about where carnauba wax comes from, or the labor conditions that people are subjected to in order to cultivate this palm-based product.
Environmental and social challenges have come to light in Carnauba wax extraction areas in northeast Brazil, including high rates of deforestation, degradation of local biodiversity, persistent drought, rapid expansion of invasive species, as well as poor working conditions and low pay.
Initiative for Responsible Carnauba
Quick Nerd Note: Carnauba wax can be found being used as a hardener or as a gloss-inducing protectant in many of the products that we take for granted every day, including candy, pills, dental floss, sunscreen, floor polish, and even printing cartridge ink.
Don’t Miss: What Do I Need To Register My Car In California
Make Your Appliances Smudge
If you own;stainless steel kitchen appliances, you may want to consider using car wax to clean them rather than a surface cleaner. Simply apply a light coat of;car wax;to the;appliance, allow time to dry and buff;clean;to resist fingerprints and smudges. No more kiddy fingerprints on the fridge!;These 25 why-didnt-I-think-of-that hacks will help you save time, get organized and work more efficiently in your kitchen.
Preparing The Car For Waxing
Before you start waxing, there are few preparations needed. You cannot apply the wax on the dirty car, you have to clean the car primarily since wax doesnt work on the dirt. For primary cleaning, you can use mild soap and water. Just do the regular cleaning and after watering the car make sure that it is completely dried. Otherwise, the wax will have a hard time adhering to moisture.
Don’t Miss: Why Do I Fall Asleep In The Car
Carnauba Versus Synthetic Wax: Which Is Better
There is a lot of confusion regarding natural carnauba wax and so-called synthetic-based waxes. If youre referring to synthetic or polymer-based waxes, those products are not considered as pure wax but more of like a sealant. Synthetic products may provide longer protection and will last longer than regular wax, but most of them are a bit difficult to apply. The paint will also need to be cleaned and prepped prior to applying the sealant. However, when it comes to providing the highest level of gloss and clarity, nothing beats pure carnauba-based waxes. Carnauba is derived from the leaves of the Copernica prunifera palm tree, which only grows in the fields of north-eastern Brazil. Carnauba is the hardest wax known to man and is utilized by the finest and most expensive auto detailing products in the market. While products may state a pure carnauba blend, the truth is that carnauba is mixed with other waxes and solvents to produce a steady consistency.
