Caring for the exterior of your car is more than cleaning the exterior of your automobile. For car detailers, providing a professional and shiny look for a car can be an art and a science. One topical query that users ask when detailing a car is: should you wax a car after polishing? The simple answer is yes if you desire an enhanced shiny look with definite protection.
If it matters whether you used polish or wax on a solid surface, you may wonder: should you wax a car after polishing? Anyway, I get confused about what the difference between the two is. In this guide, you will discover what they are and how these services complement each other. Also, it will help you maintain your car’s perfect shine.
What Is Car Wax?
Car wax is more on the defensive side of things and further amplifies the sparkle of the car. It forms a sacrificial layer on the car’s surface to protect it from UV radiation, rain, and any other grime. Wax does not fix flaws but seals the beading job performed by the detailer in the previous detail.
Commonly used wax is carnauba wax or a synthetic polymer, which is applied using a soft cloth or sponge. The result is a hydrophobic layer to the exterior of your car that increases the shine of car paint.
Car Polish Vs Wax
It is important to distinguish between car polish and car wax. Both of them are used in maintaining the appearance of cars. Details are essential components that help improve the looks of your car. But they have varying roles when it comes to auto detailing.
Purpose and Function
- Car polish cuts defects on the surface of the car and to give the paint a brilliant shine. It removes small flaws like scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation. But also it restores your paint’s shine.
- While car wax functions as a shield on top of the glossy finish. It protects a polished surface from wear. It prevents contact with UV radiation, rain, and dust. Wax also deepens the colour of the paint together with the composition for a shiny look.
When to Use
- Polishing should be done before waxing. It prepares the best surface for the wax to grip. Should you wax a car after polishing? The answer is yes. The reason for this step is that the wax can perform the role of a protector.
- Sun-protection is less often needed as waxing can be done more frequently as part of regular maintenance to the car. It is useful for keeping that shiny look over the period of time.
Impact on the Vehicle
- The main idea behind polishing is to address existing damages and flaws effectively. It performs similar functions of intensifying the gloss of the paint. As if it were a reset button on your car’s paint.
- Waxing follows the paint through polishing and has the role of protecting the paint job from any dirt or grime. It serve also as shield against undesirable things which could significantly shorten the life of the brilliant shine attained through polish.
In conclusion, car polish and wax are assets, which cannot be left out when it comes to car detailing. When applying them together, no only does the surface have a brilliant luster, but the protective layers are also long-lasting.
The Advantages of Polishing Your Car
Washing your car is one of the most important steps you should undertake any time you are detailing your car. Here are the benefits that the product offers your car’s look and safeguard.
1. Removes Surface Imperfections
Eventually, it is possible for the paint found in automobiles to have marks, swirl marks, and scratches among others. These imperfections reflect light poorly, and since light is reflected anywhere it is diffused, the paint looks faded and worn. Polish can also be used to eliminate or to minimize these imperfections allowing the paint to gain a smoother surface.
2. Restores Gloss and Depth
Polishing aids in returning that deep mirror like glossy surface in by evening out the surface of the paint. Clean car shines more, looks fresher, and is more noticeable under the sun light.
3. Prepares the Surface for Wax
Polishing therefore forms the right surface for wax application. Since wax can stick to the surface better, since it removes imperfections and makes the car’s surface smooth. It can cover the car evenly. Otherwise, wax may not perform as effectively and this is a reason why a preparatory step will always have to be carried out.
4. Helps Your Paint Last Longer
Polishing assists in sustaining your car’s paint since it washes off such particles that may cause more harm to your car. It’s like applying an oil treatment to the hair before going on a kids’ play to prevent it getting dirty early!
Benefits of Waxing Car
While polishing revives that rich looking paintwork, waxing then makes certain that that shine can survive day to day use, road muck and the weather. Here are the uses of waxing following the polishing process.
1. Provides Long-Term Protection
Wax helps to protect the paintwork on your car from such things as fading due to ultra violet rays, tarnishing, dust and splash from salty water. Lack of this layer puts your recently polished surface at the mercy of the harsh environment out there.
2. Enhances and Locks in Shine
Like many other aspects of a great design, think of wax as a last step. It waterproofs the shiny surface added to the polished car hence provides the car with the deep wet shining look. More importantly, it seals the car shiny to ensure that the results of polishing are well maintained to an agreed duration.
3. Repels Water and Dirt
Quality wax offers a layer that is non adhesiveness to water: water droplets just roll off. If you apply this to your car you not only avoid formation of water spots but also ensure that dirt and debris do not stick and hence your car will always be cleaner between washes.
4. Makes Maintenance Easier
The wax coating beautifies and protect the surface of the car and will be easy to clean due to the fact that contaminants cannot stick onto this surface. In other words, this requires weak scrubbing, fewer demands, or merely quicker cycle washing.
Whether one should wax after polishing is a question we will answer below.
Absolutely, should you wax a car after polishing is an important step. Here’s why the two steps work best when combined:
Buffing smooths out the surface by removing defect to ensure the formation of a perfect surface that will hold wax well.
On top of the polished surface which is generated by the polish wax serves to seal it from further environmental impact and enhances the durability of the detail job.
Also Read: How Far Can a Keyless Car Drive Without Key?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Possible to Avoid Polishing the Car and Get Away with Waxing Only?
Yes, it is possible to wax up without even having to polish, but it is not advisable. Waxing over an unpolished surface will not fix scratch marks, swirl marks or a dull surface that is hidden underneath. Wax should therefore be thought of as the protection – the final stage of surface treatment – to polish is the cleaning and rejuvenating job on the surface.
How Often You Should Wax Your Car?
Washing and waxing of your car should be carried out twice to four times in a year depending with frequency a car is exposed to environmental factors. The bleaching is done sparingly to enhance the protection and the shine of the hair you have while waxing can be done every six to eight weeks for maximum protection and shine.
How Long Does Car Wax Last?
Depending on the type of car wax that is applied and where the car is situated, the validity of the wax can thus differ greatly. They do last from 4 to 6 weeks, but the quality of wax applied highly determines its durability.
Synthetic waxes normally have a longer protection period; it can last up to three months because of the chemical construction of the wax. The Carnauba waxes that are reputed to give a superior polish usually lasts about 6 to 8 weeks under favorable weather.
However, influences, for example, the scale of exposure of the wax to the sun, rain and road grime, reduce the durability of the wax. They should be re-applied after about six months and the continuous application will keep your furniture with that glossy appearance.
Should I Wax My Car?
Car waxing is critical, and even though it involves painting your car, there are more significant benefits of waxing apart from a shiny surface. Waxing also offers another benefit of affording your car’s paint a second layer of protection against the sun’s UV rays, pollutants and moisture which causes the paint to fade, peel and finally rust.
Bur speaking, wash and waxing does not only makes the car looking beautiful, but helps keep the value of the car intact by avoiding any abrasive contact with the shiny, glossy paint job most cars come from the showroom with.
If you want an attractive shell over your vehicle that shields it from essentially all types of weather and extends its life expectancy, then incorporating waxing into your car maintenance regimen is highly recommended.
What Makes Me Need Special Equipment for Polishing and Waxing?
For general polishing and waxing you can use applicator pads for washing the vehicle coupled with microfiber towels While it is possible to do most of the polishing and waxing work by hand, a DA polisher is instrumental in fastening the polishing process with most efficiency.
Synthetic wax vs Carnauba wax: what is it?
Synthetic wax also provides longer protection and sunscreen from UV rays more than natural wax for daily use cars. Carnauba wax, however, improves gloss and depth more than any other kind, and for this reason, it is used by car lovers when waxing their show cars or the cars for occasional use only.
Can one use the same product for polish as well as wax?
Polishing and waxing can be combined in so called “all-in-one” products. These can be useful for quick jobs, but they are not as effective as getting a high quality of each product that is used in the step. The best combination is to use a specific polish and then a specific wax intended for this type of surface.
Ways of Getting the Best from Your Polishing And Waxing
Utilize paint compatible high quality brushes and rollers for the intended style and state of the paint.
It is recommended that your car should be washed and dried correctly before you polish it.
Polish the confectionery in small portions of surfaces and keep to the guidelines provided by the polish producer.
During waxing, apply it thinly and uniformly then remove residual wax after by using a microfiber cloth for the best result.
Conclusion
Polishing should be hand in hand with waxing so you could be sure your car will look great and will be safe from the harsh outside conditions. Missing either could mean not achieving that coveted stunning and sleek sheen and leaving the cars paint wide open to the elements.
Shining your vehicle means that you’re not only making it look better, but also ensuring that it retains its worth for many more years.
Regardless of whether you are an occasional car wash service provider or a professional car detailer, having your car body polished and waxed gives it a perfect natural glossy look, a smooth tendency, and protects it from the external adverse conditions.
