Now it’s time to wax!

After giving you tips last time on how to wash your ride, now it’s time to wax it.  Most folks forget that waxing a car not only makes it shine, but it protects the paint and if have not priced a paint job lately, trust me you want to do all you can to protect and prolong the finish on your ride.  Waxing the paint on your vehicle can help protect it from contaminates like tree sap, bird droppings, road grit/grime, acid rain, dirt, smoke, and even small rocks.  Most small scratches can also be removed from the paint surface if you wash and wax your ride correctly.

The first step is to make sure that your car or truck has been washed and dried completely (hopefully following instructions from my last article).  You should never wax a vehicle while the surface is hot; always allow time in the shade for your ride to cool.  The brand of wax is up to you, but I do recommend that you read the instructions on the bottle carefully because the manufacturer sometime gives specific tips that are to be followed.  There are two main types of wax or polish to use on your vehicle; carnauba based wax is derived from tree leaves and provides the best deep “wet-look” to your paint finish, and the newer polymer waxes or sealants do a better job of bonding to the paint.  The polymer products offer longer protection of your vehicles finish; however, they don’t always give the impressive “glossy” look that the carnauba products will.  When it comes to applying the wax you want to get some of the waxing pads, they are small round (approx... 6 inch) terry cloth type pads.  These pads make it easy to apply the paste or liquid wax onto the vehicle.  I always put my wax on the pad then rub onto the surface in small swirling motions and only do small sections of the car a time.  Another excellent way to apply the wax to your ride is by using an orbital buffer.  These buffers are relatively inexpensive and can make the task simpler than the old fashion hand polishing.

(I took this photo in Somerset, KY at a car show…….look at that shine!)

Make sure that after each section of the wax has dried (formed a white haze), then remove it with a clean/dry cloth.  I always use the new “micro fiber” rags to wipe off all of the wax and then a second one to polish the paint.  If you use this technique, I promise you that your ride can also have that awesome deep “Glossy” look! Now you have no excuses not to wash and wax your ride this winter and get it ready for the Car Show and Cruise-in season!

Joseph

What's the best way to wash your car?

Folks are always asking me how I have kept my cars so clean and shiny and I usually tell them its hard work, but today I thought it was time to share a few of my car cleaning tips that should help you keep your ride clean and looking good!

There are more car cleaning products on the market today than ever and I know you are most likely overwhelmed anytime you try to find the best stuff to use on your car or truck (even if it’s not a show piece).  I have been told all of my life that you should never use normal dish soap to clean your car that it is too harsh and will damage your paint and/or strip all of the wax on your car off.  Well, I’m not sure if that is true or not, but I have always used a soap specifically designed for cars.  The products I use when I hand wash my car are not the highest priced stuff in the store, but I do use ones that give you lots of soapy suds.  Always make sure you let your car cool and try to wash it in the shade if possible. 

The best way to wash your car is to use two different wash mitts (I never use any type of sponge……it can trap dirt or grime to easy).  Use one mitt to clean the car from the top down and wash it in sections, that way you can wash a section and then quickly rinse it off (not letting the soap dry).  Use the second mitt to wash the lower section of your car and the tires and wheels.  This second mitt will always be the one that removed most of the road grit and grime from the lower sections.  You never want to use this one on the main areas of your car like the hood or top.  Don’t even put the second mitt in the bucket until you are finished washing the upper sections of the car.  Some folks even use a second bucket for this mitt.  Make sure you rinse the car off completely with lots of water to remove any soap.

2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta………Photo courtesy of Road and Track

Here is another tip that adds a little time but is worth the effort.  I use one of the synthetic chamois cloths similar to the ones the Olympic athletes used to dry off with after getting out of the pool events.  This allows you to safely dry the car and remove all of the water that has beaded up on the paint……water spots look awful and collect more dirt.  Then all you have left to do is put some shine on your tires and you are ready for the local cruise-in!!

I hope these simple tips will help you keep your ride clean……….stay tuned for another blog soon that will guide you how to wax your car and give it that show shine!!

Joseph