Nothing is as glorious as driving down the road in a car looking as shiny and beautiful as the day it left the showroom floor. You can, with a little work, give your car that type of glow by waxing it properly. Don’t worry about the high cost of having a professional do the job for you – it can be done right in your driveway. Obtain the proper supplies, and you will be able to keep your automobile looking new, while protecting it for years to come.
The paint on your car is under attack on a daily basis from the elements – mineral deposits, acid rain, brake dust, chemical pollutants in the air, and bright sunlight, among other factors, will wear it to a dull finish. Depending on whether you choose to use organic carnauba wax or a synthetic polymer wax on your automobile, you will have to repeat the process from every few months to once a year.
Waxing is best done on a cool, cloudy day, when the wax will harden most efficiently. It’s best to choose a day when the temperature is not expected to exceed 75 degrees. Hot weather will prevent the wax from hardening thoroughly. If the weather is too cold, it will harden too quickly, making the residue difficult to remove.
The first step is to wash your car. Make sure you get it thoroughly clean, to prevent any streaks showing through after the waxing process. You may want to wash it twice, especially if it is very dirty or there are tar deposits or other hard to remove stains visible. Afterward, make sure to get it thoroughly dry. It’s best to use a microfiber cloth, which won’t leave any lint residue, and will also help to prevent water spots.
You may find it necessary to use car polish on a very worn paint finish before applying the wax by hand, however this can be abrasive and possibly damage the paint. Using a clay bar instead of polish to remove dirt is another method worth considering, and is much gentler while still getting great results.
Some experts will advise that a machine polisher be used to get the best results when waxing your car, although it can set you back more than a hundred dollars to purchase one. When using that option, the machine will work more quickly and spread a more even coat of polish on the vehicle. However, hand polishing allows you to get into small crevices which a polisher can’t reach. When waxing by hand, it’s recommended that you use a foam wax applicator pad. Moisten the pad with the wax, and you are ready to get started with the application.
It’s important to use multiple thin coats of wax instead of one thicker layer. Apply the wax by hand in a circular motion, starting at the top of the car and working down. Work in small areas at a time, such as one panel on your car. When the layer of wax that was applied has dried, go back over it to remove the residue. The best type of towel to use for removing the dried wax is one made of soft, plush high-pile microfiber. Doubling the thickness of the towel will make it easier to work with, thus leaving a highly polished shine on the surface. After finishing the residue removal, go over the finish on your car once more with a fresh microfiber towel, which will ensure that all of the remaining wax is removed.
Stand back, and take a look at the results of all your hard work. It can take several hours to get your car really clean and beautifully shined by hand waxing, but it’s a job that has a great payoff. You’ll want to take it out for a spin, looking great and turning heads, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.