What is car wax?
Car wax is a paint sealant. This is used to protect the car’s paintwork and to maintain its shine over the long term. Soiling cannot adhere to sealed surfaces and attack the paint. There are different means of sealing paintwork: the traditional car wax and the modern nano-sealing . Both remedies have their advantages and disadvantages.
What is the difference between a car wax and a nano paint sealant?
There are numerous paint protection products for cars. From hard wax to spray wax to nano sealing. But what are the differences? Do I need all products or do I have to choose?
A basic distinction is made between paint seals and car waxes . Paint seals are mainly synthetic , while waxes have a natural basis. Both products aim to protect the paintwork and to seal it in the long term. It is therefore not necessary to use both care products.
The big difference between the care products lies in the degree of gloss and the service life . While “frequent carers” and paint professionals swear by the use of high-gloss car wax, those who are less enthusiastic about care tend to resort to sealing. The sealing does not bring about a shine, but it protects the paintwork from dirt much longer than the natural waxes, which gradually wear off after a few months.
The service life of car waxes is usually between 2 and 6 months. Paint seals, on the other hand, can have a lifespan of 6 to 30 months. The sometimes big differences arise not only from the different ingredients but also from the individual kilometers traveled. Long and frequent journeys put a strain on the paintwork and have an impact on the service life.
The reason for the longer service life of paint seals compared to waxes is that the seals bond with the car paint. Car wax, on the other hand, is only applied to the paintwork like a protective layer.
The application of wax and sealer is similar. Before the products can be applied, the paint should be cleaned thoroughly. This is particularly important when it comes to sealing paintwork. We also recommend polishing beforehand to remove fine scratches. Before applying the wax, polishing is not absolutely necessary.
Which product is suitable for you depends on what you expect from the gloss level and how often it is used.
The difference at a glance
Car Wax
- produced on a natural basis
- high gloss level
- more complex application
Nano paint sealant
- produced on a synthetic basis
- long service life
- easier application
Apply the car wax properly
The processing of car wax is easy and can be carried out by anyone. Nevertheless, you should plan some time, as the work steps must be carefully prepared and carried out.
- Hand wash
The first step is to wash the car thoroughly. We urgently recommend hand washing, as car washes can scratch the paintwork. We do a scratch-free hand wash, see our article wash the car yourself .
- Rinse off
In the second step, the car is rinsed thoroughly and all residues are removed. If you don’t want to go to the wash box for this, you can also use a high-pressure cleaner * for home use.
- polishing
We recommend polishing before waxing. You can find out how it works, what is required for it and which products have convinced us the most in our car polish test and polishing machine test .
- Apply car wax
Now it’s finally time to grow. Before you start, be sure to put on gloves * .
The car wax can be easily applied in circular movements with a soft cloth. Connected vehicle parts such as the bonnet should always be treated in one pass to guarantee uniformity. A shady place where the temperatures are not too high is suitable for applying the wax, so that the wax can be easily applied.
- Ablation
After a short drying time, the wax can also be removed in light circular movements. The result is optimal when the vehicle is in the garage overnight so that the wax can bond with the paint and a perfect protective layer is created.
- Enjoy the shine
Those who have followed all the steps can now marvel at the result of their work!
Who will benefit from the wax?
Car wax as a paint sealant is particularly suitable for vehicles that are only used for short journeys and that are well maintained. Car wax is a very thin seal that can be removed by washing the car. The advantage of wax is that it is easy to use.
It is also positive that the texture of wax also fills small scratches in the paint, so that an optimal result is achieved in conjunction with a polish. The disadvantage to be mentioned is the short holding time of the seal, as it is worn off when the car is washed. The sealing with wax must therefore be repeated relatively often. Make sure you choose a high quality product so that you don’t have to wax your vehicle after every wash. Slightly more expensive waxes often last much longer. You can find the right product in our car wax comparison table.
Compared to other types of sealing, even the more expensive car wax is very inexpensive. If you also want to protect your car from extreme weather conditions, then take a look at our car tarpaulin .
What is the difference between spray wax and hard wax?
Hard waxes often consist largely of the very hard and natural carnauba wax. Spray waxes, on the other hand, are often based on synthetic ingredients and have only a very small proportion of wax. The more carnauba wax there is in the products, the harder they become.
Spray waxes are therefore often more of a detail than a sealant. They are primarily used to create a gloss on the car paint. Hard waxes, on the other hand, should protect the paintwork from external influences and repel dirt at the same time. However, there are also spray waxes based on carnauba wax that act as paint protection. Always pay attention to the ingredients of the products.
The application of spray wax is done much easier and faster than the laborious waxes with a hard wax. As the name suggests, spray wax is simply sprayed onto the paint and polished off with a microfiber cloth . The rigid hard wax, on the other hand, is worked in with polishing sponges and cloths. Only sections are processed here. When using it, you should also pay attention to the outside temperature. Neither too hot nor too cold temperatures are recommended for waxing varnishes.
If you are looking for Best Car Wax.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is car wax applied?
Car wax is easy to apply in three steps.
1. Preparation: The preparation includes a thorough cleaning of the car. We also recommend polishing the car before waxing.
2. Applying the wax: The wax can be applied to the paintwork with a soft cloth in circular movements. To ensure that the application runs evenly, connected parts such as the engine hood should always be processed in one step. We recommend using a high quality application sponge.
3. Removal of the wax: After a short drying time, the wax can also be removed from the car in circular movements. A soft cloth is also suitable for this.
How long does car wax last?
Depending on the product, the holding time of car wax varies. As a rule, the wax wears off with the next car wash. However, there are high-quality products that promise a longer shelf life even after washing. You can find this in our car wax test.
How long does car wax have to dry?
Most manufacturers recommend a short exposure time of a few minutes for the wax. Ideally, however, you let the wax dry on the car overnight so that it bonds perfectly with the paint. Try this out if your car is in a garage. But be sure to look at the manufacturer’s information.
What’s the point of car wax?
Car wax is a thin type of paint sealant. It is particularly suitable for well-maintained vehicles that want to keep them in good condition. Smaller scratches can be filled with car wax, as some car wax tests show. In addition, the wax gives the car shine and extends the polishing results.
Car wax – where should I buy it?
We recommend buying on the Internet. You get the largest offer online and can independently find out more about the various products in the car wax tests. The prices are also often cheaper than the expensive workshop prices. Many providers such as Amazon also offer delivery on the next working day. If you do not like the product, you can also send it back without any problems.
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