Waxing and polishing your car are some of the most cost-effective updates that you can make to your vehicle, as well as the least time-consuming. While waxing and polishing your car correctly can take an afternoon, the beautiful finish and shine that you will be rewarded with is well worth the effort. Everyone loves to see their car after a professional hand wax job has been completed; it just gives you a little added satisfaction to clean your vehicle yourself.
Positive Prep
The only way you can get a great wax job is to first prepare the surface fully, and that means removing all the old, gunky wax that has been building up for years. Try using a product called Paint Prep to strip off all that old good like sealants and old waxes. After that, grab some paint-cleaning clay and go to town! This product pulls out old contaminants and keeps you from introducing them back into your nice paint job.
Thin Film of Wax
More is definitely not always better when it comes to waxing your vehicle! Apply only the very thinnest layer that can cure evenly – adding more wax on top of that keeps the wax from curing and being as effective as possible. Use the tiniest amount and keep burnishing it until it’s barely visible.
Add Some Coats
Just because you put on a thin coat doesn’t mean that one coat is enough. One way you can do this is to apply a thin layer of wax, allow it to dry and cure, buff and then repeat. Alternatively, you can apply a second very thin coat right over the top of the first cured coat – letting both dry before you buff it out.
Towels Matter
You should only ever use microfiber towels to buff your paint. There are a number of different reasons for this, but just know that using the right (washed!) microfiber towels and keeping them as clean as possible is incredibly important.
Removing the Wax
Buffing can be made more difficult by over-application of wax, allowing it to dry too long or other accidental issues. If you do happen to run into problems with the wax being too dry and hard to remove, you can always mist a quick wet wax over the top or add just a touch of wax over the top to soften it all back up and get the wax ready for removal.
Waxing your vehicle can be a relaxing exercise with a definite payoff when you see the amazing depth and shine of your vehicle’s paint job!
