Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Wax On, Wax Off: How to Wax Your Car

We talk a lot about car maintenance here, and the importance of taking care of your baby, but if you’ve just purchased a new car, you may not be sure how to take care of your car. Never fear! Today, we’ll explore how waxing a car works, why you want to do it, and offer some advice for how to make it happen.



Why wax?
You may be wondering why you even need to wax in the first place. After all, most cars are clear-coated today to help protect the paint from the elements. However, people wax their cars for the same reason they always have: It helps provide an additional layer of protection against the elements. In this case, wax also helps extend the life of the clear-coat, which in turn protects your paint. While you may not need to wax as frequently as in the past, giving your ride a good waxing a couple times a year can help extend the life of its paint.


What’s the best way to wax your car?
Of course everybody has their own preferred method of waxing, but doing it by hand is relatively easy and affordable. Here are a few tips from AutoGeek:

“Apply car wax or paint sealant in the shade. If the product dries too quickly or sits on the vehicle too long, it may be difficult to buff off.

Always apply car wax or paint sealant to a dry vehicle. Droplets of water on the paint will cause the product to streak and it will be unnecessarily tough to buff off.

Thin, thin, thin! Apply the thinnest coat you can. If you want more shine and depth, you’re not going to accomplish it in one thick coat. It just makes the wax or sealant difficult to remove and streaky. Buff one coat off before applying a second extremely thin coat. Check the label to see how long one coat has to cure before applying another (usually 12-18 hours).

Poly foam wax applicators are the best for achieving a thin, even coat. They’re absorbent, durable, washable, and reusable. They’re also inexpensive, so don’t be afraid to throw them away when they get really soiled.

Buff the haze away with microfiber. A quality microfiber towel, like the Miracle Towel, will buff your paint to a stunning shine as you remove the wax residue. The static-charged, woven fibers grab wax residue so there is less dusting, if any. Microfiber does not shed lint and the tiny, manmade fibers polish the paint while you buff. Rotate your towel frequently to reveal a clean side. Keep an extra Miracle Towel lying around in case the first one becomes caked with wax..”

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