How to Use Car Detailing Wax

There’s an art to applying car detailing wax. It will do a great job at putting the finishing shine on your vehicle and protecting it from the elements, but you need to know how to put it on your car.

Tools and Materials

• Car wax
• Damp sponge
• Toothbrush
• Microfiber cloths
• Orbital sander with buffing attachment

Step One - Selecting Your Wax

There’s a very wide range of car detailing wax on the market. You can choose a natural car wax with carnauba or a synthetic car detailing wax. Research the products and select the wax that’s right for your needs and your car. Do you want a bright finish for a short time or do you prefer a wax that will last several months and offer strong protection? These are among the factors that will influence your choice. Where possible use a non-abrasive wax.

Step Two - Preparing Your Vehicle

Before waxing your vehicle you need to prepare it properly. Give it a through wash with good car shampoo and allow to dry. After that, go over the body with clay to pull out the deep dirt. When you’ve done that, use a good polish as the final step before waxing.

Don’t apply wax when the weather is very cold or extremely hot. Put your car in a shaded spot before applying car detailing wax so the wax doesn’t dry too quickly on the finish.

Step Three - Applying Wax

Have a clean, damp sponge. Dip it in the wax and put a piece of wax about the size of a half dollar into the sponge. If you’re using liquid wax, pour an amount of about that size onto the sponge. Rub the sponge in circles on the car body. These circles should be small. You need to go section by section on the car body. Each section should be quite small. Don’t do the entire hood at once, for example.

Try to avoid getting wax into the seams between pieces of metal. If you do so, remove it with an old toothbrush before it has time to harden. After you’ve finished applying wax to one section of the car body, move on to the next section. Continue until you’ve covered the entire car body with wax.

Step Four - Buffing

When it’s time to buff car detailing wax you have two choices. You can buff it by hand or use an electric buffing pad. If you’re buffing by hand, make sure you use a microfiber cloth rather than cotton. The fibers on cotton can actually scratch the clear coat, which won’t happen if you use a microfiber cloth.

Start with the section where you first applied the car detailing wax and move along the vehicle section by section. Shake the cloth out regularly to remove the wax and stop buildup. When you’ve finished hand buffing, inspect the entire vehicle to check the finish. Complete the car detailing wax job by a final rub over all the bodywork with a clean microfiber cloth.

With an electric buffer, move over the surface from the point you first applied the wax and finish by rubbing with a microfiber cloth.

How Often Should You Wax a Car?

how often should you wax a car?

Help your car maintain its showroom shine with regular waxing. But first, figure out how often you'll need to wax your car. Certain factors will tell you when you need to wax your car, but to be sure, you can perform a bead test.

1. Frequency of Waxing

   • It is recommended that car owners wax their vehicles about once every 2 to 3 months, according to Web-cars.com, or more if the car is exposed to tough conditions. Extreme amounts of rain, or road salt in cold climates, can necessitate more waxing.

   The Bead Test

   • A good way to tell if it's time to wax your car is by the water bead test. Sprinkle some water on your car, and if the water beads that form are more than 1/2-inch in diameter or if it doesn't bead up at all, it's time to wax the car.

   Applying Wax

   • To properly apply wax to your washed and dried car, use a clean, dry cloth and put on a thin layer of wax with a circular motion. Be sure to do this in a shaded area because if the wax gets too hot it may dry too fast and become difficult to remove. Once the wax is dry, gently buff it off with a clean, dry cloth.

   Don't Overwax

   • Don't try to apply a thicker coat of wax in the hopes that you won't have to wax as often, Web-car.com advises. It will only be more difficult to buff off the wax.

   Fixing Problem Spots

   • If there are hazy spots or streaks mist the area with distilled water and a 1/2 tsp. of isopropyl alcohol, then wipe the area clean.

By Valerie Clark, eHow Contributor

 

Resources

• Proper Auto Care
• Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts

Car Polishing and Waxing

Polishing and detailing your vehicle can be a daunting task. With a little bit of knowledge and the right tools, you can bring the paint and exterior finish of your car back to a better then new look. You can get that show room shine and finish yourself without having to invest the money for a professional detailer to do it for you. Although I am a detailer, I am kinda telling you now not to come see me…. I might loose some business, but that is ok.


Paint Surface Preparation

The first thing that you are going to want to do is prepare the surface for polishing. An improperly cleaned paint surface will have dirt, grim and build up that will cause further scratching when you go to polish it. First step is a proper wash and dry. Use only car wash soap, 2 bucket system. This is having a soap and water solution in one and rinse water in the second. Before each pass, you rinse your mitt, then gather the soapy water, wash a small section, then rinse again. This helps keep the wash mitt clean. Wash the car from top down only. Change your water if needed half way through the process. Next is to use some detailer’s clay and lubricant. This removes the road grim, rail dust that builds up on your. If you run your hand along the surface and it feel rough, you need to use a clay bar. Once that step is complete, you will then need to remove the wax or sealant that was from the previous detailing session. You can use dish soap in this case only, a dawn type soap will remove this build up. Or a paint cleaner polish will also work well.


Exterior Automotive Paint Surface Diagnosis

Polishing the car’s paint surface requires a little diagnosis first. You need to determine that type of paint, single or dual stage, thickness and condition of the paint. Look for the type of scratching, can you catch you nail on it ? if so, then it’s deep and you might need some paint to fill that in first. Filling and wet sanding a scratch is a little more work, but may be necessary if the scratch is through the clear coat and/or paint layer.

Automotive Paint Polishing Process

Once you have determined the level of damage to the paint surface, you can select the tools and products to complete the job. Product selection will be varied, each paint brand, color and type will react differently to polishes you apply, some paints and clear coats are harder then others and need a heavier cut to do the same job as a mild cut on a different car. You should start out with a mild cut and a mild pad, if you do not get the results you want, move to the next heavier pad or product. Start mild and move up to the heavier cuts until you find the combination that removes the scratches and marks in the paint surface. Then work back to the mildest cut and glaze to complete the process. This normally takes between 2 and 4 passes on a single vehicle to go from a dull, scratched surface, to a crystal clear, rich, deep color finish.

Waxing and Sealing the Paint

Once you have polished the paint and removed the imperfections, scratches, halo’s, swirls, etc. Then you can wax or seal it. Waxing a car works very well to improve the look, as does a sealant, however, a sealant will last longer. Expect a good wax to last 4 to 8 weeks, were a sealant can last you 3 to 12 months. Environmental factors and how often you wash your car affect how long each of them will last.

Anyways, detailing your car and polishing it properly will help protect the paint and keep it looking new for years to come.

Recommended Scratch Remover product:
Meguiar's G17216 Ultimate Compound

3M PERFECT-IT 3000 DETAIL BUFFING COMPOUND/POLISH-AUTO

Easy way to wax a car

It is good to get your car waxed every now and then. But you don’t really want to go to an auto spa. That could cost you well over $40 for one wax. Instead, learn how to wax a car yourself. Just need about an hour for time and your car can look just as good as if you took it to an auto spa.
Waxing gives your car natural shine and helps to protect the paint. When applied, the car wax forms a thin transparent layer over the car paint surface. The car wax covers minor scratches, stone chips and other damages, making them less visible. The wax also "seals" the paint, preventing water from contacting the bare metal exposed in deep scuffs, chips and scratches, slowing down the corrosion process.
For best results, a car wax needs to be reapplied regularly. From my observations, a good-quality car wax stays on the car for about three-four months.

If your car hasn't been waxed in a very long time, first, it make sense to take it to a local detailing shop, or you can visit your dealer (e.g. for an oil change) and ask for one of those detailing packages they offer. What they do, they buff the car with an electrical buffer using a special polishing compound with mild abrasive to remove light scratches, hard stains and other impurities of the paint finish. Then they wax the whole car. After your car has been detailed, you can simply re-apply wax every three months or so to keep it shiny.

Preparation

First pick out the right kind of wax. If you get a nonabrasive one, it is compatible with just about any kind of paint. And abrasive paints work for cars without shiny exteriors and dark surfaces.
After you got your wax, you’ll want to wash your car fully. Dish detergents should never be used for washing the exterior. They will strip your car of paint, leaving the outside naked.
You’ll want to use one of those commercial car washing products. Scrub carefully and make sure your car is thoroughly dry before using the wax you picked out.

Applying Car Wax

To know how to wax a car, you’ll need a high standard wax, a soft sponge, as well as a soft washcloth or towel. You might also want a cloth baby diaper for removing wax just in case. Waxing will go well so long as the surface of the car is cool. Make sure your car is parked in the shade. Before you begin, test your wax in a place that is not easily visible to make sure the substance won’t mess up the paint.
You’re going to start out with a little bit of wax on your sponge, and this is how to wax a car: start at the very top and work the sponge down. You’re going to do one part at a time, applying one thin layer of the wax on the cool surface in clockwise circular motions.
Try not to get the wax on places like the rubber door seals and black window trims. Wax will damage those places if you’re not careful.
Now you’re going to let the newly applied wax to haze. After that you’ll remove the wax. You’ll do this with an opposite, counter-clockwise motion using a dry washcloth.
Move from one section to the next and save the bottom for last. There is dirt left on the bottom parts. This is an essential part of how to wax a car.
When you’re finished, get rid of wax from the matte paint in places like the bumper and rubber door seals. With a new cloth, go over the car again to get any leftover wax.
To wax your car you will need some good quality wax (e.g. Carnauba wax), a small soft sponge and a clean soft cotton towel. Your car must be very clean and dry. I usually wax my car right after washing it at a coin car wash; the whole process of washing, drying and waxing takes about an hour.
Make sure to choose the right product - you need the wax with no abrasives. Read the product label and test it on some small area first.
Park your car somewhere in a shadow - usually it works better when the car surface is cool to the touch. Work on one section at the time, for example, on one fender or door.


If you use liquid wax, shake the bottle well before use. Apply small amount of wax to the sponge and spread it evenly on one section of the car. It's good idea to start from the top and do the bottom panels last because there is always some dirt left at the bottom.


You want to make a thin, even layer of wax. Try not to touch unpainted plastic and rubber surfaces (e.g. weatherstrips) with wax - it will leave white stains on them.


Allow the wax to haze (takes about a minute or two). Then buff it to a perfect shine with a clean soft towel, rotating it frequently - clean part of the towel works best.


After the whole car is done, clean the wax from unpainted plastic and rubber surfaces. A window spray cleaner will work well for this purpose.


I recommend to wax your car regularly - once in every three-four months. I tried many products and non of them stays permanently. Any car wax needs to be re-applied regularly.

Tips
When wax is applied regularly, the car’s surface is protected. The wax creates this thin coating that not only covers flaws in the paint, but protects the paint from wear. The effects of waxing generally lasts up to three months, so if you know anything about how to wax a car, make sure to keep it up every three months.
If you have to remove wax, use a different cloth so that you don’t end up re-waxing. This also helps to prevent streaking.
Be sure to cleanse out all your washcloths. It is a good idea to use fabric softener so that your towels and washcloths are soft for the next waxing.
One helpful tip to remember when you want to know how to wax a car is to bring your car to a detailer if the hasn’t been waxed it in a long while. After that you’ll be able to continue wax treatments at home.

Recommended product of Car Wax & Sealant to use :

Top 3 Waxes

1. Meguiar's A-2216 Deep Crystal Carnuba Wax
2. Surf City Garage 150 Barrier Reef Carnauba Wax
3. Meguiar's M2611 #26 Yellow Wax Paste

Top 3 Sealants
1. Surf City Garage 701 Shine-On Sealer and Glaze System
2. Wizard's - Supreme Seal Paint Sealant (12oz) : 11500
3. MEGUIAR"S SYNTHETIC SEALANT 2.0

Top 3 Spray Wax

1. Surf City Garage 100 Speed Demon Wax Detailer Spray
2. FLITZ Speed Waxx
3. Meguiar's G14422 Ultimate Quick Detailer