Car Wax Can Protect Your Car

05/07/09

I went through a car wash the other day after work, and was told by one of the employees who waxed my car that I was a bad car owner. I was shocked. After all, I get regular oil changes and follow my maintenance records. The guy applying car wax, however, believed I was not so good. After he was finished with the car wax, he came over to give me an earful. "The paint is all oxidized. How could you let this happen?" I guess years of not using car wax is an offense so big, that I deserved public embarrassment. There were lots of other customers, sitting in their suits like me, glancing over to get a look at me being reprimanded. I have nothing but adoration for my car. I did not mean to harm it. Luckily, I was saved by the guy who put my car wax on.

Car wax forms a protective layer on your car. Car wax is to car paint, as conditioner is to hair for a person. It gives a layer of protection from sun, rain and smog. In addition, it makes your car sparkle as if it were new and hides scratches. Regular application of car wax can keep your car looking new. You can go to the professional or do it yourself. In fact, I may be doing it at home to avoid any more embarrassing lectures from the car detail guys. The type of wax you use is not as important as the method you use and how often you apply it. When I took a look at a "Consumer Reports" snapshot of car wax, they concluded that the fancy ones do not perform any better than cheaper ones.

Wash and dry your car before you begin to put on any car wax. It is a good idea to check for any dirt that may be hiding in weird places before you start. Any remaining dirt might scuff your paint as you rub in the wax. Move your car to a shady spot to wax. Obviously, it should not be too cold out either. Use a non abrasive sponge or cloth to apply the car wax in circular motions. Keep track of where you have placed the wax. Wait for the applied car wax to get cloudy before you remove it. Use a clean, dry cloth to remove the wax in circular patterns. Shake out the cloth frequently, so you do not get any build up. After you have finished and your car is nice and shiny, sit down and ice your sore rubbing arm. You arm may be tired, but you will not have to do it again for a few months. You should use car wax every 3 months or so.