How to Wax a Car

Introduction

Although nothing beats a professional car detailer with an electric buffer, following these steps every few months will protect your car's paint finish and keep it looking great. You will also save a lot of money over the course of the year.

By: eHow Cars Editor

Length: 1:48

Comments: 24

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderate

Tips & Warnings:

Professional car detailers differ on which car wax is best, but many agree that the more expensive carnauba wax is superior to the inexpensive varieties, it seals better, and is easier to apply and buff.
As a rule, the easier the wax is to work with, the more often you'll have to apply it.
Wax can help remove spots that washing failed to remove. Simply rub the wax on the spot until it comes off, and then continue to wax the rest of the car.
Don't leave wax on your car for more than 2 hours, or it will be very difficult to remove. Excess wax left on the car can damage the paint, especially if the car is exposed to direct sunlight.

Step1

Wash and dry your car thoroughly before waxing.

Step2

Know that some waxes contain abrasives, which can damage clear-coat and lacquer finishes, and may be harmful to dark-colored paint jobs. When in doubt, use a nonabrasive wax.

Step3

Park the car in a cool, shady spot. If you don't have access to a shady spot, wax one section at a time so the sun doesn't bake the wax onto your car. Avoid waxing if it's very hot or very cold outside.

Step4

Dip a damp wax sponge into the car wax, getting a half-dollar-size clump on your sponge.

Step5

Rub the wax onto the car using small circles. Avoid getting wax into seams and jambs, if this happens, use an old, very soft toothbrush to remove it.

Step6

Working on a section at a time, cover your car's entire surface, remembering the path you took. By the time you have finished, the wax will be ready to remove.

Step7

Using soft terry cloth towels (or, better yet, cloth diapers), wipe off the wax in the same order in which it was applied.

Step8

Shake out the towel or cloth as you work, in order to avoid wax buildup and streaking.

Step9

Leaning as close to the surface of your car as you can, look down the sides and across the front, back and roof to spot any residual wax.

Step10

Use a cloth diaper or a cheesecloth to polish the car's entire surface.

Step11

Wash your used towels, cloths and pads with liquid fabric softener to keep them from scratching your car the next time you use them.

Comments

MrLogical said

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on 3/25/2008 Absolutely Wrong!
You should never wax in small circles on modern clear coat paint.
You must apply the wax length wise along the cars design lines.
Then buff off the wax length wise.
Small circles will leave ugly swirl marks on your paint forever.

dennisyu said

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on 3/21/2008 These are decent generic car waxing comments. If you have a sports car, which has a unique set of surfaces (compared to something like a Suburban) and is easier to scratch, you should check out the videos at https://www.adamspolishes.com/t-Videos_DVD5_18.aspx

on 2/21/2008 Waterless car washes are another highly effective auto detail method today with an increasing popularity leading to increased research and chemical innovation.

The question remains, which waterless car wash is the best? Ask yourself, if they are all saving large amounts of water and are great for the environment, the next question would have to be, which is the best for my car and the most user friendly.

Some Waterless car washes are actually wash and wax in one, and others require separate applications, which in the eyes of someone trying to conserve time and energy, this may seem counterproductive. But the wax adds valued protection and a deeper shine. Ensure that it is a carnauba wax, though.

Does the product have to be mixed, shaken, pumped- if so, it is a 2 (or more) part mixture that looses its consistency as it sits for a period of time,,,

Is it in a pump bottle, poure

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