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A guide to car waxes - protection and shine of the bodywork
(photo Moje Auto)
Car paints on our cars lose their shine and durability with use. Even though cars have increasingly modern interiors and better parameters, their coatings are not becoming thicker and more durable. Modern manufacturers assume that the useful life of an average car is approximately 10 years, which means they do not choose exceptionally durable paints for new models. Car wax is the saving grace for paint. All you have to do is look around you to easily notice that there are a large number of cars with more than a decade of experience on our roads.
Car shine techniques – wet and dry wax.
What does wax protect the bodywork against?
Regardless of the season, the paint on our bodywork is exposed to many adversities, such as:
Weather conditions have a significant impact on a car's paintwork . In summer, it's exposed to scorching sunlight, in spring and autumn to varying degrees of rainfall, and even occasional hail. In winter, however, sub-zero temperatures cause the paint to become covered with a layer of ice. Each season degrades the paint's quality to some extent. Therefore, it's worth setting aside a day at the beginning of each season to thoroughly protect the paintwork. This is an extremely time-consuming process, requiring precision and often several hours of diligent work. The next step is to wash the car regularly. Even if the car looks clean a week after the last wash, dirt has likely accumulated on the paintwork during that time, which can negatively impact the paint.
Third-party influence – a car is the pride of every car enthusiast. Every day, they make every effort to ensure it's in good working order and maintains its aesthetic appeal. Unfortunately, the current flood of cars means that roads and parking lots are simply crowded. A classic example of this is a weekend shopping trip to the supermarket. A driver parked next to you, getting in or out, might accidentally hit your door with theirs. A moment of inattention can cost us several sleepless nights and financial loss. As the saying goes, "better safe than sorry." Just in case, it's worth parking further away from the supermarket entrance, where parking spaces aren't as crowded, and walking a few meters will give you greater confidence that you've done everything you can for your car's paintwork.
What else affects the bodywork?
– Time – nothing lasts forever. Car paint, like any other part, is subject to systematic wear and tear. It's truly worth investing some time in its maintenance and polishing to prolong its youthful appearance. Furthermore, a car that's well-maintained depreciates less, so you can profit from it when you sell it.
– Road dust that settles on the paintwork – the current level of all kinds of pollution is simply high, and – worse still – it doesn't look like anyone will come up with a silver bullet anytime soon to change the current situation. Unfortunately, dust, dirt, and other deposits unfriendly to paintwork are often its natural habitat, especially in cities. Choosing the right wax and skillfully applying it to the paintwork not only creates a positive visual experience, but also serves as an invisible protective layer. Any dust settles on this layer, not directly on the paintwork.
Paint care is a process that should be performed regularly along with washing the entire car. In addition to standard activities aimed at washing the car, we should also use products for the care and gloss of the paint. This procedure allows for the removal of finer contaminants. It facilitates the subsequent washing process, and after using hydrophobic preparations, no water drops will remain on the surface.
Let's summarize the most important information in an infographic that every driver can save on their phone.
(My Car infographic)
What is wax used for?
Waxes are available on the market in many types to protect and care for the body paint. Their action is primarily to protect the paint, especially against UV rays, and therefore prevent the color of the paint from fading. Another feature is that paint protected with wax is much easier to wash; care in this case is limited to rinsing the bodywork with water under pressure.
Choosing the right wax with such a variety of products available on the market is not an easy task. We can specify hard, natural, synthetic, coloring and scratch-filling waxes. The choice of the right wax will be influenced primarily by: the time needed for application, the durability of the wax on the varnish, the visual effect after application and the hydrophobic effect. This, of course, will translate into the driver's satisfaction with the final waxing effect. And as Akio Toyoda, head of Toyota Motor Corporation, said.
(My Car infographic)
Types of waxes
Hard waxes are one of the most popular waxes on the market. To use them, you need a special sponge and a microfiber cloth. These waxes are characterized by the highest durability and resistance to weather conditions, they provide excellent color depth. Their disadvantage is a very long application time on the bodywork. Hard waxes include natural, synthetic and hybrid. Natural waxes are waxes based on carnauba wax, obtained from Brazilian palm leaves, and beeswaxes. This wax guarantees the highest level of shine after application.
The action of synthetic waxes is based on modern polymer technology. After application, the polymers contained in this type of wax bind with the car's paint surface, providing very good protection and resistance to environmental factors.
Hybrid waxes combine natural and synthetic waxes, resulting in excellent color depth. This provides a high level of paint protection and is also very durable.
Milk waxes are less popular than hard waxes. Their liquid formula makes them easier to apply and requires less time. However, they offer significantly less paint protection than hard waxes.
Spray waxes are a great choice if you're looking for quick, effective results. Convenient dosing makes applying the wax much easier and faster.
To use it, spray it on clean and dried paint and then polish it with a microfiber cloth. Most waxes of this type are synthetic or hybrid waxes, providing a very good hydrophobizing effect (repelling water) and gloss. There are also spray waxes available that can be used on wet paint, thanks to which the wax bonds with the paint and its use significantly shortens the time needed to care for the car.
Waxing process
Before starting the waxing process, every driver should learn some information on this topic and decide for themselves what is of greatest value to them. For some, it will be the accuracy of coverage and an above-average visual effect. Others will value the speed and simplicity of use.
(My Car infographic)
In each group of waxes you can find a wide range of products from various manufacturers. However, high-quality wax does not have to cost a fortune. The most important thing is that the driver or car wash employee should be able to skillfully select the preparation for the paint in such a way that the waxing or polishing effect is as great as possible. Moreover, this skill will also guarantee the highest protection of the paint. The car owner will be sure that the body will achieve the appropriate visual effect. It will also be technically protected, which will significantly extend its durability. As a result, the car will look much younger than it actually is.
Wet or dry wax? What technique should be used to shine a car?
Another important aspect of car waxing is choosing the right product based on the application technique. Car bodywork can be waxed " wet " or "dry." Let's analyze both techniques, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
