Using Car Wax

Applying car wax is an important step in caring for your car, but few owners do it properly. This guide answers some of the most frequently asked questions new car owners have about applying car wax.

What function, exactly, does car wax perform?

Car wax creates a barrier between your car’s paint and damaging substances like bird droppings and tree sap, protecting the paint. It also reduces oxidation and protects against fading brought on by exposure to UV rays. Some of the newer waxes contain ingredients that also reduce the appearance of minute scratches in the car’s finish and clean the car. But the most visible effect is the creation of rich, deep color and a high shine.

How often should I apply car wax?

Every two to three months, depending on the type of wax you use. Spray on waxes hold up worse than liquid or paste waxes. Your climate also makes a difference: If you park your car outside, live in a very hot area, have a lot of blowing sand, or expose your car to any other conditions that could affect the condition of the paint, you should wax more often. To tell for certain, watch how water beads on your car. If the drops are over half an inch wide or if the water forms sheets instead, your car needs another coat of wax.

What is the best way to wax a car?

First, wash and dry your car. The car should be absolutely dry before you start waxing. Water and wax do not mix. If you parked your car in the sun to dry it, move it to a shady spot and let it cool off before you start waxing, since heat can bake the wax onto the car, with ugly results.

Protect any parts you do not want to wax with masking tape. Then with a damp sponge, apply the car wax to your car, going in small circles (if you have an older car) or long strokes along the lines of the car (if you have a newer car). Avoid letting wax settle into the seams of the car, and do not let wax get onto any dull plastic your car may have on its exterior. Then take a soft, lint free towel and buff off the excess wax, going along the car in the same sequence in which you applied the wax. When the car is free of excess wax, go over it again with the softest cloth you can find to polish it and finish removing any streaks. Remove the masking tape, and you are done!