How often would I need to wax my car?

Mustard_Dave

There are a couple of posts that appear to be confusing clay bars and waxing. Clay bars do a totally different job. A clay bar is used to draw dirt from the paint work.

If using a clay bar, get the car absolutely spotless (get right into wheel arches, under sills, door shuts etc.). You then need to warm the clay bar by kneading it before applying lubricant and lightly rubbing it on the paint work. You will be able to see the dirt being drawn from the paint on the clay. You should keep fording it and avoid dropping it on the floor where it will pick up grit. If you drop it - bin it. As you clay the car, you will notice it dragging slightly. As it cleans, you will feel it moving more smoothly.

Rinse the car when you have finished and then wax it.

To answer the OP, you don't really need to wax it but doing so will bring noticeable results. Waxing once or twice a year will be fine - you do not need to wax every time you wash. When you wax it, you will notice water runs off it very quickly which has the effect of reducing the amount of dirt that sticks to it.

When you wash the car, the two bucket method is the best. One bucket has your detergent in and the other is used for rinsing. You can by rinse buckets with a sort of plastic grille in it but you can just as easily improvise something.



Get yourself a lamb's wool or microfibre wash mitt - do not use a sponge. Make sure the mitt is clean before you start. Apply the detergent with the mitt and then rinse it in the other bucket, scrubbing it against the grille on the bottom of the bucket before dipping it back in the detergent.

When you have done, dry the car. If you are going to clay the car, do this next, rinse and dry.

I personally use Autoglym HD wax. There are loads of different products - some cheaper and some hundreds of quid a pot. The Autoglym stuff cost me about £45 for something the same size as a tub of hair gel. It sounds expensive when you see it but it will last you ages. I've had my tub about 3 years and there is barely a dent in it.

The wax comes in a fancy presentation box with a sponge and a microfibre polishing cloth. The sponge dries hard so you need to rinse it in warm water which makes it goes soft. Use the damp sponge to rub the wax sparingly onto the paint work. After a few minutes, buff it up with the cloth supplied.

Don't confuse wax and polish either. Polish is mildly abrasive and takes a thin layer off your car's finish. It is good for getting out light scratches but avoid using it on what is already a good finish. If you do polish it, wax it afterwards.

If you want to read more, have a look here, but be careful - these are hardcore car polishing nerds and they will polish you if you hang around long enough: http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php

PistonHeads has a good motoring forum and includes a dedicated detailing board: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&f=136&mid=87436

geek84

Good Morning Folkd

Many thanks for your replies.

I seem to get conflicting advice - some of you guys are suggesting to wax the car every few weeks, while some are saying to wax it every 6 months or so. Anybody got any different advice?

Also, I normally use turtle wax. However, I seem to find it hard to take it off the car's body work in the winter. Can you suggest how I can make this easier?

Thank You.

Kilty_2

Waxing any more than once every 6 months is overkill IMO - a good quality wax will last that long providing your wash technique is good. It'll do no harm doing it more often if you enjoy it though.

Using a light mist of quick detailer can make it easier to buff wax.

Empty_pockets

3 months if you enjoy the process, as I did. (same with oil changes)

6 months more than adequate.

paddedjohn

Good advice above but as an aside, dont ever be tempted to use washing up liquid to wash your car.

property.advert

How much would a nerd cost to come and wax a car properly and not just take your money and do a half assed job ?

I have never been motivated enough to do it but might be willing to pay.

Kilty_2

property.advert wrote: »

How much would a nerd cost to come and wax a car properly and not just take your money and do a half assed job ?

I have never been motivated enough to do it but might be willing to pay.

Have a look on Detailing World - there's a list of traders throughout the country who offer a varying list of services from a quick protection detail to the week(s) of paint correction, £4000 wax, etc :cool:

property.advert

Kilty wrote: »

Have a look on Detailing World - there's a list of traders throughout the country who offer a varying list of services from a quick protection detail to the week(s) of paint correction, £4000 wax, etc :cool:

I could also google for it but thought someone might scribble down a number which wasn't in the thousands like the daft sand dwellers spend on having a slave polish their car.

JQ.

property.advert wrote: »

How much would a nerd cost to come and wax a car properly and not just take your money and do a half assed job ?

I have never been motivated enough to do it but might be willing to pay.

£25-£50, depending where you are, and how much work is needed.

Kilty_2

I'd be interested to know how many people actually bother waxing a car or know what benefits it provides.

There's 14 pool cars at work that only ever get a quick jet wash and are starting to suffer for it - being rolling adverts (they have logos on them) I think it's disgraceful.