Things You'll Need:
- Car wash solution
- Pre-wax cleaner
- Sponge
- Bucket
- Squeegee or rag
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Step 1
Wash your car as you usually do with a sponge and bucket of car wash solution. For best results, wash in a cool, shaded area to reduce spots caused by water droplets and soap drying on your car. Avoid using the combination washing solutions that include dissolved wax. Allow to air dry or wipe down with a squeegee or soft rag.
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Step 2
Apply a pre-wax cleaner just as you would regular car washing solution. Most car wax and polish manufacturers sell a pre-wax cleaner. These are specially formulated solvents that dissolve old wax and polish deposits without tarnishing or harming your car's wax job, and can dissolve strong wax deposits that ordinary car washing solution cannot clean. Choose a pre-wax cleaner from the same brand as your car wax, as incompatible chemicals may potentially harm your car's paint. Alternatively, use a known neutral pre-wax cleaner such as Meguiar's No. 9 Swirl Remover or P21S Paintwork Cleanser.
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Step 3
Use an auto clay for significant car wax deposits. Rub the specialized clay bar over the auto wax deposits while your car is still wet. Not only does claying clean old auto wax, it can also remove oxidation and surface blemishes caused by mineral deposits and air pollution. Auto detailing clay may be purchased from your local auto mechanic or auto body shop, as well as online from retailers such as Amazon (see Resources). Examples include Blackfire's PolyClay and Clay Magic's auto clay bars.
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Step 4
Try auto tar removers for additional auto wax cleaning, as well as the prepping solutions used in car body detailing shops. Examples include Wurth Clean Solve, available at many auto shops.
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Step 5
Skip cleaning and simply apply an auto polish if you have light or minor auto wax deposits that don't need heavy cleaning. Examples include Autoglym Super Resin Polish and Klasse's All-in-One polish product, which can be wiped directly onto a car and includes mixed in cleansers that will dissolve any pre-existing wax deposits.
