Is Waxing a Car Worth it? How to Do it Properly?

Car waxing is not a luxury; rather, it is a necessary practice to keep your vehicle in the best condition possible for as long as possible. It restores your vehicle’s luster to the way it was when it was brand new.

In today’s world, our automobiles are subjected to a variety of harsh conditions. As a result, car waxing appears to be a promising option for preventing scratches and discoloration on your vehicle.

I’ve been waxing my car for over a decade and am acquainted with every product on the market. That is why I can tell you which ones are the best and why.

Is Waxing a Car Worth It?

Waxing a car is worth it if you want to maintain the clear coat that exists over the vehicle’s paint. This ensures that the paint remains shiny for extended periods.

Furthermore, car wax also protects the paint from environmental factors such as rusting and fading caused by excessive exposure to direct sunlight.

Car waxing isn’t that expensive, rather, it’s well worth the money and effort for maintaining your vehicle’s appearance for a long time.

So, when you think about it, car waxing is a great investment that will pay you back in the long run because it will not only make your car look better but will also ensure that it sells for a much higher price than a car that has not ever been waxed.

Also read: 5 Easiest to Maintain Car Colors (All You Need to Know)

How Much is Car Waxing?

The total cost for car waxing can vary greatly depending on your location and the car in question. If you chose to do it yourself, the average wax will cost you around $15. However, if you get it done from the market, depending on the labor charges, the overall process can cost between $50 and $100.

The large price difference is primarily because, in addition to the car wax, manual labor is also used in the process to achieve the best results.

Although most car detailers now use electronic gadgets for the task, old-school aficionados still believe that nothing beats the gentle strokes of hand that not only give the car a great aesthetic but also help in evenly distributing the car wax.

How Often Should You Wax Your Car?

Many experts believe that a car wax can stay effective for up to three months, but to be safe, you should wax your car every 60 to 70 days.

The interval between car waxing is determined by a variety of factors. If the car is kept indoors, it can be waxed after a longer period of time because the wear and tear of the wax layers are negligible.

Furthermore, it varies from person to person, so those who want their cars to stay shiny must wax them more frequently than those who only wax to keep their cars safe from environmental abrasions.

Waxing your car too often can also have adverse effects. It can affect the coating on top of your vehicle’s paint.

In addition to this, too much wax can cause a clouding effect which creates white patches of wax that welcome dust and other imperfections like anything.

Will Washing a Car Remove the Wax?

No, washing a car with car soap does not completely remove its wax in a single go. However, it diminishes the effects of wax. Thus, if you wash your car several times, the layer of wax will eventually wear off completely.

However, the quality of the car wax is also important. Carnauba wax is the best because it not only gives the car the best shine but also stays on the car for a long time. This type of wax is more resistant to water than other types and, as a result, it is not easily removed by washing the car.

To keep your car’s wax layer effective for longer periods of time, use a high-quality car washing shampoo that creates lather and thus reduces the amount of rubbing required to wipe the dust off your car.

Also read: 10 Cars Under $20K that Look Like They’re for $50K+

What are the Benefits of Waxing Your Car?

Waxing a car has several benefits, some of which are as follows:

It adds an additional layer to protect your car’s paint from scratches;
Protects against harmful UV rays that damage the paint;
Gives the car a shiny look that gives it a newer and better look;
Gives an additional layer that repels water and makes it easier to keep the car clean with the help of soft cloth;
Helps in hiding the car’s imperfections.

Therefore, waxing a car has far more advantages than simply giving it a gleaming and impressive appearance.

What are the Disadvantages of Waxing Your Car?

There are several disadvantages of car waxing. Some of which are as follows:

If done incorrectly, white patches appear on the car’s body, giving it a very bad visual effect;
Even though car wax repels water but still the water beads formed as a result of waxing can cause water spots, which can spoil the overall appearance of the vehicle;
In areas where dust storms are common, car wax can act as a dust magnet. In such cases, the car’s body can attract far more dust than if it had not been waxed;
Although car waxing works well for covering minor imperfections, it falls short of concealing larger flaws; in fact, when the rest of the body appears too clean, the flaws stand out. In such cases, imperfections that were previously hidden also become too prominent;
Car waxing takes time not only to apply properly but also to wash the car afterwards. In case a waxed car is not washed thoroughly, the sticky paste formed as a result will stick to the vehicle’s body, giving it an awful look;
Waxing the car too frequently can cause discoloration of the body, lowering the overall market value of your vehicle.

Which are the Best Car Waxes?

Everyone’s definition of the best product differs, but taking the overall satisfaction rate of global customers into account, the following car wax brands qualify to be called the best in the class:

Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax;
Griot’s Garage Premium Carnauba Paste Wax;
Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax;
Turtle Wax T-477 Ice Spray;
Mothers California Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax.

Customer feedback indicates that all of these waxes are outstanding. However, in order to be called the best, a number of factors must be considered. One of these is the overall effective period during which the wax layer remains intact.

All the above-mentioned car waxes outperform competitors’ products in that they not only provide the best shine to cars but also reduce the need to wax your car too frequently.

Also read: Does Car Color Affect Price? (+Most Expensive Colors)

How to Apply a Car Wax to not Damage the Paint?

Car waxing is more of an art than a simple task, so you must be well-versed in all aspects of the process to achieve the best results.

Therefore, if you’re looking for the most effective way to wax your car without damaging the paint, here are the steps you should take in order:

Wash the car beforehand and clean it with a microfiber towel to ensure that there are no grains of sand or dust present on the car’s body which can cause abrasions of the paint;
Dry the vehicle completely because if the wax is mixed with water, it forms a thick white paste that is extremely difficult to remove from the car’s body;
Apply a limited quantity of wax on the car’s surface while concentrating on one section at a time;
Apply the wax to the car’s body in gentle circular motions with minimal force to ensure a thin layer is formed;
At first, a thin white paste will appear on the car, requiring you to continue the circular motion with your hands. All wax on the body must be distributed evenly;
While performing this step on one section of the car, if you feel you have applied an excessive amount of wax to the car’s surface, you can immediately shift it to the next section where you want to wax;

This way, you will not only avoid wasting expensive wax, but you will also ensure that no circular white patches appear on the car’s body once you are done.

You can also speed up the process by using a device that not only requires less work, but also produces better shine and results;
It is critical to start with small portions and then progress to the next ones once a section has been completed;
• If you apply wax to too many parts of the car at once, the wax may harden or dust may stick to it, resulting in a dull shine. Furthermore, these small grains can scratch the car’s paint, affecting the overall appearance of the vehicle.

By carefully following these steps, you can not only improve the shine of your car’s paint, but also protect it from damage.