Car Wax: Which Type Is Best?
01/29/09
Car wax makes your car's finish glow and makes the shine last longer, but only if you use the right wax. Some car waxes can scratch and haze your car's finish; others can make your finish gleam, but coat the plastic parts in a visible residue. Here are a few questions you need to ask as you pore over the vast selection of car waxes available at your local auto store.
Do you want shine, or depth of color? A natural car wax like Carnauba wax will shine slightly less brightly than artificial waxes, but will give the color depth. Artificial waxes, like most liquid and spray on waxes, give a high shine but less depth of color, and can highlight fine scratches. Artificial waxes are particularly bad with dark colors. Experts suggest that dark cars be waxed only with natural waxes. For lighter cars, either natural or artificial waxes are good, depending on whether you want your car's finish to be shinier or to have more richness of color.
Does the exterior of your car include much plastic? Porous, matte plastic, especially dark plastic, reacts badly with some car waxes and acquires a conspicuous residue that may take special cleaners to remove. If your car is detailed with a lot of plastic, find a wax that is rated as working well with plastic.
How durable do you want the car wax to be, and how long are you willing to spend in applying it? Consumer Reports performed a comparison test and found that liquid waxes were the most durable and the best at cleaning. They also took the longest to apply, mainly because of all the extra buffing needed to spread the wax evenly and reduce streaking. Spray on waxes were the fastest to apply, but they lasted the least amount of time and were the least effective at cleaning. Consumer Reports suggested that spray on waxes were best for owners who were willing to reapply them frequently, for interim treatments between full treatments with more durable waxes, or for new cars whose factory fresh finishes required little attention. Paste waxes were about as durable as liquid waxes, and their application time was comparable. Consumer Reports noted that while paste waxes used to be difficult to apply, they now come with applicators that make them even easier to apply than liquid waxes.
When you choose a car wax, consider what visual qualities are most important to you, whether you need to take the plastic detailing on your car into account, how long you are willing to take to apply wax, and how often you are willing to apply wax. Be honest with yourself, and do not feel pressured to buy a wax that takes a lot of effort and upkeep simply because the experts say you should. Unless the experts are going to come and wax your car for you every month, choose the type of car wax that suits both your car and you.
Similar References