Car waxing is a job you usually leave to your car detailing guy. However, did you know that you can definitely do it by yourself for less than half the cost of having it done for you? Today, we’ll be showing you 5 super-easy steps on how you can wax your luxury car by yourself, as well as the different types of wax you can use on your car. Read on and find out!
Car Waxing | Taking Care of Your Luxury Car
1. Wash Your Car
The first thing you should do before car waxing is to, of course, give your car a bath. We can’t have you waxing your luxury vehicle while it’s still dirty from off-roading (we don’t judge your life choices). Therefore, make sure to get your car cleaned before you even bring out the wax. Waxing a dirty car might lead to scratches on its paint, and we don’t want that on your car, right?
2. Pick Your Poison
There used to be a time when you just brought out a can of your favorite car wax and just spray and buff until it’s shiny. Nowadays, there are many choices on which wax you should pick for your car. There are three types currently available on the market, namely:
- Liquid Wax
- For cleaning, gloss, and durability.
- Paste Wax
- Easy to apply but loses luster quickly, sometimes abrasive.
- Spray Wax
- Quick to apply, doesn’t last as long as the first two types.
Depending on your car, you might need to select different types of wax. Make sure to consult with your car guy when making this purchase. They should be able to recommend a good brand and type for your specific make of luxury car.
3. Prime with Clay
Just like putting on makeup, you have to clear the gunk off your car before you start polishing. For this reason, we use clay bars. Car waxing, while there’s still dirt on your car, can cause abrasions and will scratch the paint job. To avoid that, use a high-quality clay bar! These bars will clean up the dirt around your car, leaving a nice, squeaky finish. Just go over the whole body of the car using the clay bar to “soak up” the dust particles that may not have been washed off.
4. Polish Before You Wax
The next thing you should do in the car waxing process is to polish your car before you wax. This will remove the defects you might want to cover up. These include scratches, swirls, water spots, and, of course, bird poop. Polishing off these imperfections gets your car nice and ready for waxing. Most people would say car waxing washes off the imperfections, but this could not be further from the truth. To properly take care of your car, you must make all the preparations necessary before you start waxing!
5. Apply the Wax (Finally!)
After doing all the above steps, it’s time to finally wax your car. Yes, we know you’re tired out from all the pre-work needed to be done, but it’s going to be worth it, we promise. Now, pick up your wax of choice and… well, wax up your luxury car. However, as we said above, there are different car wax types. Here’s how to apply them:
For Spray Waxes
- Wash and dry your car thoroughly.
- With a microfiber cloth, spray and wax one small area at a time.
- Distribute the wax evenly.
- When done, flip the cloth to its dry side and buff out one last time.
For Liquid and Paste Waxes
- Make sure to do this out of the sun.
- Use a manufacturer-approved applicator. Otherwise, use a foam applicator pad.
- Work on one area at a time, covering at least 2-4 square feet at a time.
- Depending on the manufacturer recommendations, allow the wax to dry before buffing.
- Use small amounts of wax at a time.
- Use back-and-forth motions, not circles.
MeguiarsUSA shows us a step-by-step video guide on how to wax your car:
And there you have it, a quick 5-step guide on how to wax your luxury car. It’s a long process but it’s simple and will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. No longer will you have to bring your car to a detailer to get it all nice and shiny when you can just do it from the comfort of your own garage. Hopefully, you can use these tips to ensure that your luxury car is looking as cool as possible, all the time!
Do you have any tips on car waxing? Let us know in the comments section below.
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