As a car owner, maintaining your car on a regular basis is an important task. However, just as you want your car to run reliably, you should also pay attention to its paint job. Keeping your car's paint job not only prevents corrosion and helps you catch scratches or dents, it also helps your car retain more value.
There are two ways to keep your car shiny - with car wax or polish. But many people don't know the difference between the two or how to wax or wax a car. So if you want to learn about the benefits of car polish compared to wax and how to keep your car shiny, keep reading.
Car polishes and waxes
Over time, a car's paint job can develop marks, scratches, and become duller due to oxidation. To fix this, you need car polish, which is a mild abrasive. It works by removing a very thin layer of paint and any blemishes on it. When the polish is lightly massaged over the car paint, it removes imperfections and smoothes the paint back to its original luster.
Auto wax, on the other hand, improves the appearance of the paint by applying a layer of wax to fill in the surface scratches of the paint. It also adds an extra layer of protection to further smooth and protect your car's paint job. In addition to protecting your car paint from scratches, wax also prevents fading from heat, UV rays and other irritants. Of course, it also adds brilliance to your car's finish. If you've just polished your car, waxing it afterwards will boost the shine and make it last longer. Essentially, car polish removes blemishes and creates a glossy finish, while wax protects and smoothes painted surfaces.
When to use car polish or wax
Before deciding whether you should use a car wax or polish, you need to assess the condition of your car's paint job. First, wash and dry your car thoroughly. Then, inspect the painted surface and feel for any rough spots or scratches. If you can see or feel scratches and bumps, your car needs to be buffed, as the blemish is most likely beneath the painted surface. If the paint is smooth, you can apply some wax as per the product directions.
To really enhance and maintain the shine of your car paint, you should wash, polish and wax it regularly. It is recommended to wax the car every three months to protect the paint. If you stick with it, polishing your car once or twice a year is enough to keep your car scratch-free. While you can get great results when using both car polish and wax on your car, there is no hard and fast rule that you must use them together. Depending on your needs, you can always use one or the other. However, avoid polishing your car too often, as it can remove excess paint and ruin your car.
Simple steps to polish and wax your car
If you've been wondering how to polish or wax your car, here are the steps you should follow.
First, wash your car with water and car wash. Be sure to dry the car thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth to avoid water spots. Whether you're washing, polishing or waxing your car, always do it in the shade or outside when it's not too hot. When you wash your car in the sun or in hot weather, it can form water spots on your car after drying, which can cause a dull finish after you polish.
After washing your car, it's time to polish it. Put the polish on a suitable pad and follow the product directions to apply it to your car. Always apply polish panel by panel in a circular motion. You can polish your car by hand, but using a machine will take less time and effort.
Polish the surface until the polish is gone, leaving only a shiny paint. Then you can move on to the next area. Remember to stop polishing after the polish wears off, as continuing to polish paint that is already shiny may dull the surface.
After polishing, it's a good idea to wax your car to protect the finish and give it an extra shine. Before you go any further, however, you'll want to wash and rinse your car to remove any excess polish that's left behind.
Once your car has been washed and dried, it's time to start waxing. Apply some wax to the included pad or sponge and apply it to your car in a circular motion.
Apply the wax to the entire car, one area at a time. Unlike polish, you need to let the wax dry before wiping it off. Once dry, wipe it off with a clean microfiber towel. Your car will now have a wonderful shine that will last for months.
We hope you now understand the difference between polish and wax, and when to use them. You can use either of these when needed, but remember to use polish and wax on your car every few months for best results.