What Should I Consider When Buying Auto Wax?

When choosing auto wax, you will need to consider the age, condition, finish, and color of your vehicle. You will also need to decide how often and how thoroughly you intend to wax your car or truck. Some auto wax requires more time and effort to apply appropriately, while other solutions may be quicker and easier to use. You may want to try different types to see which one results in the best finish as compared to the time, work, and cost involved.

An auto wax that results in a brilliant, glossy finish tends to produce the best results on light colored vehicles. For darker colors, choose an auto wax that will result in a deeper, glistening finish. Polymer wax tends to result in a glossy finish, while carnauba wax may be preferred for a deeper finish.

Some people don't realize that even though most cars have a clear, protective coating applied to them, it requires maintenance. Cleaning, polishing, and waxing the vehicle helps the coating last and keeps the car shiny. Auto wax also provides an extra barrier between harsh light, dirt, and other debris that could damage your paint job, so you'll want to choose a quality product.

You don't want to use anything that contains abrasives. Applying auto wax can help hide minor imperfections in the vehicle's finish. It also works much like a paint sealer, increasing the life of your paint job.

Highly concentrated, waterless formulas tend to work best when it comes to auto wax. Not only are they easier to apply, but they also create a better finish, which lasts longer. They also tend to streak less.

Another thing to consider is how long the wax job with last. A quality product should allow you to go about three months between waxing. Some products promise up to six months.

When it comes to brand names, do a little research. A brand that changes its formula often may not be the best choice; after all, continued changes indicate that the product still has room for improvement. It may also be that the company continues making changes in order to incorporate less expensive, and perhaps lesser quality, ingredients to keep costs down.

When using a new product, you may want to begin in an unnoticeable spot and apply it to only a small area. If you approve of the results, then continue applying the product to the rest of your vehicle. Be careful of trim when applying wax as some is very difficult to remove from unpainted areas.