Knowing how to wax your car correctly is as essential as the paint job on your vehicle. Of course, no one will fancy driving a car with absolutely no paint on it; that's an eyesore.

In the same vein, when you ignore something as elementary as applying wax to your car, you will most likely be ashamed of what you drive in the nearest future. Some people argue that waxing your car takes a lot of effort and time, making it a luxury they can't afford. Therefore, they pass on the option to do so. These guys stick with the conventional car maintenance option of washing their car with soap and water only, leaving the rest to fate.

Although washing your car often has its benefit, it can never compare to a vehicle that is often waxed. We, therefore, advise that you should employ this approach of waxing your car. You will find out that it isn't as time-consuming as you thought, and when correctly done, you will be glad about the beauty your hands can produce.

Materials needed to wax your car

As we all know, waxing your car gives it that extra shine and thin coat layer of protection. Therefore, it is of great significance that we get the right equipment or tools we need to get the job done correctly. Let's take a brief look at the essential tools needed to wax your car below:

• An automobile car wax. ( Spray, liquid, or paste)
• Microfiber cloths or towels
• Soft sponges
• Disposable gloves (preferably chemical-resistant gloves)
• Water or hose.
• Bucket of water with soap for washing your car
• Wax pad
• Soft detailing brush
• Paint remover

These are the practical tools that will come in handy as you embark on this journey. It is also essential that you know that to wax your car correctly, a minimum of one hour of your time is required. However, in 2 hours, you should be done with the process. The time taken to apply wax on your car is dependent on the size of your vehicle, mode of application, availability of necessary tools, and type of car wax used.

What is the best car wax for my car?

When people make up their minds to finally wax their car, the most frequent question we hear them ask is, "What is the best car wax for my car?"They want to be on the safe side of things and not throw caution to the wind by asking this. Seeking counsel is simply the wise thing to do. With an ever-increasing diversity of car wax available on the market, people often get confused about the best choice for their car.

Therefore, we took out time to write an article on the top 10 best car wax for you. Kindly read this article to learn more. For the best car wash soaps in 2021, check this article.

In that article, we categorized the best car wax based on convenience, mode of application, affordability, and wax type.

7 steps to wax your car

Let's take a look at seven significant steps to getting your wax on for the best results you can anticipate.

1. Purchase a top-quality car wax

As earlier mentioned, we already wrote an article on the top 10 best car wax available for you. It would be best if you read it. However, choosing the best car wax to wax your car is dependent on a few factors. Examples of such factors are the amount of time you intend to spend waxing your car, the kind of result you expect, the amount of cash you are willing to pay, your patience level, and how often you intend to wax your car.

The two everyday products you will find on the market when you go out for purchase will be carnauba based and paint sealant. Paint sealant has a polymer base, and it has a unique quality of giving your car a long-lasting shine and has an extra protective function. Carnauba wax has its origin in Brazilian palm trees and is popularly known for its top-notch shine.

Nonetheless, these products come in either spray, liquid, or paste and your choice is hugely dependent on your prevailing circumstances and desire. Putting all these into consideration before purchase will set you up for a most satisfying experience. It is important to remember that waxing your car can be tedious, but the benefits outweigh the stress it exerts by some distance.

2. Wash your car

Never wax your car without washing it first. This mistake is common with most first-timers. Even in situations where your vehicle might not look visibly dirty, it is expedient to wash it and rinse it properly with a lot of water. Preferably, use warm water.

Once you have your warm water ready, add to it a sizeable quantity of automotive soap (dish soaps can also do a fine job). Dip your sponge into the water and wash off every dirt, mud, and tar present, not just the main body of the car but down to your tires as well. Make sure every area is touched and properly washed clean.

Finally, rinse off the soap with a lot of water, looking out for edges and cracks where dirt may hide. Do not apply wax on your car if its surface is still wet. It is therefore advisable that you wipe your car dry with a clean towel or cloth of your choice.

3. Avoid direct sunlight

After washing your car and drying it correctly, the next line of action should be to find a shade away from direct sunlight. Finding a shade is essential because when you wax your car under natural sunlight, the sun will dry out your wax quickly, and this will not give you the best rest. On a lighter note, who wants to work under the heat of the sun when he can work more efficiently under a shade?

4. The Paint remover time

This exercise is essential to this process and may not need too many hands to get it done. What you need is a pair of chemical-resistant gloves, towels, and paint remover for this action. This exercise is designed to remove contaminants that might still be present on the paint of your car. To do this, take a small amount of paint remover and pour on your towels (folded into layers).

Then, apply gently on your car's surface, moving it in a uniform direction. The paint remover dries up in a matter of minutes, and you can reapply on the surface if you feel the need to do so.

This process should only be done on the part of the car that clearly has paint on it. Avoid components of rubber and plastic or any part that isn't painted; else, you will ruin it. With this done, you have surpassed a significant milestone in your quest, and it is time to get to the waxing proper.

5. Read the instructions

As with every product and device you buy, failure to read the manual's instructions will inevitably lead to a misuse of the product. When you decide to wax your car, there isn't any exemption to this reality as different products will have various applications and uses. Failure to stick with the guideline and follow them religiously will leave you flat-faced at the end of your exercise. Therefore, read, read all of it, and obey the instructions given.

6. Wax your car

This section is the main course of this exercise. After adhering to the steps above, you are now qualified to take out your wax. Remember, you must stick to the paint job only just as you did with the paint remover. Avoid contacts with plastics, rubber, headlights, and things that aren't coated with paint.

Now, take out your wax, and apply in a thin circular motion on the surface of your car. Do not be tempted to add more wax than is required; just a thin layer of wax is enough to do the job. Adding more wax than necessary will make your work futile and ruin the essence of waxing. This happens because adding too much wax will prevent it from drying properly, and this will require you to rewash your car to get out the residue. But a thin layer of wax is perfect.

7. Remove wax

This phase is the final step and a very significant one at that. Removing the wax is easy but must be done with great care and finesse. After the wax on your car dries, get a clean cloth, microfiber towel, or chamois to remove it gently.

Firstly, gently wipe off in a circular motion, just as you did when applying the wax to your car. This motion will remove a large portion of your wax; when this happens, you can then buff your car in a circular motion. After this is done, your car will be out there shining and almost looking brand new. Indeed, your hard work was worth it!

Extra tips for better results

• When you decide to wax your car, it is always advantageous to begin wax from a specific portion of your car. Considering your car in sections will make the job easier. It will inadvertently prevent the wax from sitting on your car for too long.
• When the wax sits too long on your car and dries out, it makes the process of removing your wax a lot more tedious
• For gaps and crevices, it is advisable to use small soft brushes. It is often inevitable to keep wax from permeating into cracks and crevices, which when the wax dries is often hard to remove and may leave a permanent stain. To prevent the wax that crept into these crevices from hardening and being quite noticeable over time, you can use a soft brush to remove wax on your car from these cracks and crevices.

• WAX YOUR CAR - using a soft brush[/caption] 
• You can make use of mechanical buffers to save your time and energy. We recommend random orbital buffers. This type of mechanical buffer helps prevent the uneven distribution of wax. It also prevents the sad event of burning your car paint or leaving swirl marks on your car. Do not use rotary buffers (although they are ubiquitous) as they can cause burn marks. Random orbital buffers are the best.

How to Wax Your Car - man using a power tool to polish car

Key Takeaways

• Waxing your car is vital to maintaining your car's healthy (shiny and glossy) paint job. Choosing the best car wax for you might be tedious, but we have simplified it for you with a good article on it.
• Always wash your car before you wax it. Never apply wax on a wet car.
• Always read the instruction manual carefully to understand how to apply a particular wax on your car before using it. Always wax under a shade and avoid direct contact with the heat from the sun when waxing.
• Your choice of the perfect wax for your car depends on factors such as time, money, ease of application, and expected results.
• When using mechanical buffers, avoid the conventional rotary buffers and stick with random orbital buffers to avoid burn marks and swirl marks.

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