Q&A for How to Wax Your Car

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Question

How does wax help protect a car?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

Wax is a natural UV inhibitor—it's essentially like a sunscreen for your car. It's also a form of protection against things like pollen, bird droppings, and acid rain.

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Question

I live in an area where it rains a lot throughout the winter and my car stays outside. Will waxing help keep the paint from rusting and getting water marks on the roof and hoods? What type of wax works best?

Community Answer

Yes; wax will help protect your car's finish from moisture. Use carnauba wax for the best results.

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Question

What is the difference between car wax and boat wax?

Community Answer

One is for fiberglass and the other is not. If you use boat wax on your car the finish will be very dull.

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Question

Some car wash facilities offer a hot wax option. Is applying hot wax better than normal temperature wax?

Community Answer

Yes, applying hot wax is usually better than applying regular wax.

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Question

Do I wax my car first, or should I polish it first? My car has a metallic paint.

Community Answer

First of all, you must clean the paint to remove any dirt which might be stuck into the tiny scratches. After that, polish comes if you have scratches (so it is not necessary to polish always). Wax is the last step.

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Question

Can I wax my car with floor wax?

Community Answer

Probably, but it's not recommended. The floor wax may contain harsh chemicals that will quickly wear out your clear coat. And because floor wax is formulated for wood and tiles, you will not get the shine or protection of an automotive wax.

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Question

The car polish that I applied has dried. How do I continue and finish waxing my car?

Community Answer

Wash the car thoroughly and start over with the polishing.You can remove any white stains that the polishing might leave on the plastic and rubber trim. Restore the plastic and rubber trim for an even looking surface and to remove all the stains and spots left from the different chemicals used on the car.

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Question

How do I make my own car wax?

Community Answer

Use an old piece of meat, like a chop or gammon. Boil it for 20 minutes, then remove the meat and let the water sit until cool. Add 1/2 a cup of shampoo and 1/2 a cup of cranberry juice, mix well, and let sit for another 20 minutes. Use as desired.

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Question

Is it ok to wash the vehicle and leave it in the garage all week, then wax over the weekend?

Community Answer

Yes, if the car is still clean and dust-free, you can wax it after a week in the garage.

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Question

What pad is best to buff off wax with a power buffer?

Community Answer

Use 300 grit sandpaper, then 1500 grit, and then buff and polish. That should give you a solid finish.

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Question

Should I use polish or wax first when waxing my vehicle?

Community Answer

You should polish the car first (though it's optional). Polish evens out the paint layer (at the cost of exposing it), while wax creates a protective layer over it. So, you don't have to polish the car before waxing, but you should definitely apply wax after polishing.

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Question

If there is a scratch on my car which is typically showing the body, can wax clean it up and make the body look clean and neat? Should I spray the scratched area before I wax it?

Community Answer

Wax will typically only fill minor imperfections in the paint such as light swirl marks.

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