Car Wax to Make a Dad Proud
Posted 05/28/09
I grew up in the Southwest and I always remember my dad waxing the car. Car wax is not something people have in their garages at home here in New York where I now live. Here cars are not the big deal they are to people in California. Car owners accessorize their cars much more there than they do here. They put on shiny rims and lighted license plate holders. A car is a reflection of who you are. Here, a car is a mode of transportation. Even if you do not pimp out your car and just use it to get around in California, the sun can eat away at your car pretty quickly. Car wax is, therefore, a necessity there to protect your car. Regular waxing will keep your car looking as new as when you bought it.So how often do you need to wax your car? Most car experts say it depends on what kind of car wax you use and how flawless you want your car to look. If you are a perfectionist, you could be waxing your car all the time under those rules. According to the description on car wax containers, it is time to wax again if rain water does not bead up on the paint.
You can get your car waxed one of two ways. You can do it yourself (or make one of your kids do it, in which case, there are three options for getting your car waxed) or take it to a detailer and have the professionals do it. Whenever I wax my car, it does not seem to stay shiny as long as when I have a car detailing place do it. I am guessing that I just do not have the same skill as them, regardless of the kind of car wax I would use. But here is how the experts tell you to apply car wax. Wash your car thoroughly first. You do not want to apply wax if your car is in the hot sun or if the temperature outside is too cold. You want the car surface to feel very smooth before you begin. If you do, you can apply a non abrasive cleaner meant for car surfaces to smooth it up. Use a damp sponge and douse it in the car wax. Rub it on your car in small circles. Cover all the paint in a pattern, remembering the path you followed. Remove the wax (in the order in which it was applied) with a cloth or cloth diaper. To avoid streaking and build up, shake out your towel every so often. Use a new clean cloth to polish the entire surface and make sure there are no spots of wax left.