Know how to wax a car right - Get this result!

Harsh UV sunlight...  Acid rain ... Corrosive road salt... Bird droppings ... Insect residue...Tree sap... Road tar ... 

All these things attack your vehicle's finish, causing it to fade, chalk, dull and discolor over time.

If you're interested in protecting your investment and getting more money when the time comes to resell your vehicle, or if you just want to find out the best way to make your baby shine, read on to learn how to wax a car.

Tips and Techniques on How To Wax a Car

There's always and right way and a wrong way, a good way and a better way to do anything. This fact holds true especially concerning how to wax a car.

Here's What To Do and What not To Do.

1. Park in the shade

Commercials always show people washing and waxing their autos on a hot day, usually in full sunshine. It looks great for ads because it shows the shine, but it really doesn't show how to wax a car the right way. A hot, sunny location is the worst place you can apply soap and polish. Why?

· A hot surface will cause any soap,
  residue remover or wax to dry too quickly, making it difficult to remove.

· Paint tends to soften somewhat as it heats. This can lead to ugly micro-scratching
  as you rub to remove the dirt or as you polish.

· Certain waxes are not formulated to be applied to heated car surfaces. Basically, 

  they become chemically altered and lose their effectiveness.

3. Wash and Dry your car

Applying wax to a wet surface causes streaking. Be sure to check that trim isn't holding water behind it as it may drip or be wicked onto the surface as you polish or before you are ready to remove it.

It's better to use a soft, lint-free cloth or a chamois to remove the water. Air drying leaves spots.

4. Apply the wax

   

Apply in overlapping circles

· Start by carefully reading

  manufacturer's directions.

· Use a clean, soft cloth and apply

  the car polish in a light, even

  coat.

· Use even, slightly overlapping
  circular motions.

· Avoid rubber strips and textured
  plastic parts and surfaces - they
  absorb the wax and this makes a
  white stain hat's very difficult to
  remove.

· Only apply to one section of your car at a time rather than the whole car.   Why?  See below.

· Let the wax dry to a haze. Don't let it sit on the surface much longer than the 

  time it takes to dry because the longer it sits after it has dried to a haze, the 

  harder it is to remove. You don't need any extra work.

5. Remove the wax

 

· Use a clean, soft towel or a cloth baby's diaper (yes, they still make them!) or a
  microfiber towel.

· Use a circular motion and rub to remove the wax.

· Turn the cloth frequently so that you are always using the cleanest part you can.
  Otherwise you will redeposit the residue and this will cause the ever-dreaded
  streaking. You might want to have a second clean cloth handy.

  

6. Repeat Application and removal section by section until done - Now that's how to wax a car right!

How often should you wax a car?

It's best to do it about every 3-4 months, but a good general rule of thumb is if water is no longer beading on the car's surface, it's time for a wax job!

Now that you know how to wax a car properly, get out there and make it shine!

Next: Choosing the Best Car Wax