Waxing Your Car Is A Worthwhile Effort

I admit that I love cars, so it's easier for me to apply myself to the discipline of washing and waxing. Still, I often get busy and have a hard time keeping up. What keeps me motivated is the knowledge that the time and effort pays off in the long run.

Many people don't know that washing a car fails to remove all the possible contaminants that can adhere to your car's paint. It's certainly important to wash with regularity. And it's a good idea to use a car shampoo, a deep bucket of water a proper washing mitt and micro fiber towels for drying. It won't hurt to use a soft cotton terry towel but use a light touch. Drying is faster and easier with an auto squeegee.

It's important to wash and wax your car away from direct sunlight and it helps if the surface is cool. An overcast day can be ideal. A hot surface can make water dry faster - with unappealing water spots. And it also makes wax harder to work with.

There are lots of different kinds of wax on the market and many different ways to apply it. Your paint needs to be "cleaned" after it's been washed. That means removing those extra contaminants I mentioned earlier. Tree sap, bug juice, industrial fallout and other airborne evils can stick to your paint, preventing it from having the kind of shine that you want. It's also important to know that "clean" paint is easier to wash and keep clean.

After your car has been washed you then go to the paint cleaning stage. There are a few ways to do this. A common way is to use a cleaner wax, which incorporates a cleaning agent and wax in one product and applied in one step. Another way to do it is to is to use a paint cleaner as a special product. You can then apply a pure carnauba wax, or use a polish before the wax. A third way to do this is to use detailing clay.

Many people are unfamiliar with detailing clay but it's a great product and can be very effective in removing contaminants. Detailing clay is available online, at many auto parts stores and from top quality catalogs. Detailing clay requires some kind of lubricant in the process, like a quick detailing spray. You can also use a spray bottle with soapy water. The clay won't last forever. When it starts falling apart you know that it's pulled up too much junk to work any longer.

One of the advantages of detailing clay relates to the downside of using cleaner wax. If you press too hard when using cleaner wax you can create swirl marks in your paint. The same is true when washing your car. Detailing clay greatly decreases the risk of making those marks, and it's pretty easy to use. It sounds kind of odd, but it really works well.

The end result of regular washing and occasional waxing is a car that you'll be more proud to own and sell. When you take that kind of care of your car, be prepared for ready buyers. On the other hand, you might like your car so much you might not want to sell it.

Otto Wortman is involved in the German auto enthusiast community. Otto buys many of his BMW parts from AutoWerks of America

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