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Great car wax will hide blemishes and scratches and leave your car looking shiny and new, but how often should you wax your car?
If you invest in long-lasting car wax, the answer is: not as often as you might expect.
When looking for car wax, we always recommend quality over quantity, which means investing in a product that will give you excellent protection. Within that, you want to look for a wax that does not need to be applied frequently.
I mean, why would you want to do more work than you need to?
There are some professional car waxes out there that will give the quality you need and the longevity that will free up your time.
Our Top Picks
1. Car Guys Liquid Wax
Car Guys Liquid wax can last for up to a year. Apply it only once or twice a year and let it do its job. And the polymer formula ensures that you get a professional finish. The car wax creates a seal on your car that outlasts most other car waxes on the market.
This is a car wax that can save your car from damage if you live in a hot climate. The professional seal is going to stop the harmful UV rays from penetrating. The liquid car wax comes with applicators and is one of the easier waxes to apply. You don’t need to know what you are doing to get an expert shine that you will love.
The finish is glossy and wet, and you will almost be able to see your face in the bodywork. Not only are you going to get more from less work, but your neighbors are going to be jealous of the expert shine.
Made and bottled in the USA
2. Shine Armor Ceramic Coating Wax
Shine Armor uses a spray applicator to make waxing your car as easy as possible. The spray bottle helps you to apply the wax more evenly, ensuring that there are no missed spots. There is no point in investing in a long-lasting car wax if you leave bare patches.
The 3-in-1 formula uses a ceramic coating that repels water, giving your car a waterless wash as it is applied and leaving you with a professional shine. The special formula means no streak or smears when you are done, so you don’t need to invest in expert applicators to get a professional gloss.
This spray is safe for all surfaces, which makes it the perfect choice if you have more than one vehicle, such as an RV, or a boat. The spray can be used with them all. The ceramic coating will seal the paintwork, providing a clear shield against dirt, dust, and debris while providing a beautiful gloss finish.
3. Chemical Guys HydroSlick HyperWax
Chemical Guys know what they are doing when it comes to car wax. They have dubbed it a hyper wax, and this hyper wax takes the best attributes of a wax and a ceramic coating. The wax is easy to use and gives amazing shine, depth, and clarity; like a ceramic coating, you also get longevity, beading, and slickness.
The latest gel-suspension technology is used to reinvent what a ceramic coating can be, and the slickness of the product makes it one of the easier to apply—you get complete coverage without streaks or marks, and the finished coat will be even without needing to go over it multiple times.
The coating is hydrophobic, repelling any water that can damage the paint, and the ceramic shield stops larger particles from penetrating. If there are any small imperfections in the paintwork of your car, the wax will fill them for a smooth finish.
4. Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax
When you think of car wax, you might not think of cutting-edge technology, but that is what you get from Meguiar. The advanced Si02 hybrid technology gives you the benefit of ceramic protection to seal the paint against almost every contaminant. And, that same technology makes the car wax easy to apply so that you get complete car coverage every time.
The advanced formula produces a slick and protective covering that will repel water and protect your paintwork from the elements. And, the car wax dries clear, so you don’t have to worry about going over the wax once it has dried. Not only will not have to apply it very often, but you won’t have to spend a lot of time applying it when you do.
Meguiar car wax ensures that there is no mess when you are done. Other waxes might leave white residue on trims, seals, and gaskets, but Meguiar’s doesn’t. Easy to use with almost no clean-up.
5. 3D Poxy Montan Car Wax
3D Poxy car wax is exactly what you need if you are looking for a showroom finish. The ultimate wet look that the professionals get is achievable in your driveway. You will be left with a deep, wet-looking shine that is sure to turn heads. And, don’t worry about the color of your vehicle; 3D Poxy car wax is designed to be used with any color of paint.
You don’t have to sacrifice performance for looks here. Once your wax is applied, your car is going to be protected from harmful UV rays and other elements. Dust and dirt are not going to scratch up your car, and water is not going to soak into the pains.
This car wax is proudly made in the USA and has a twenty-five-year history. Easy to apply with no residue, this is a car wax that is going to have your car look like it just rolled out of the showroom.
What To Know Before Buying a Long Lasting Car Wax
Follow The Instructions
Car wax is easy to apply, but there are subtle differences between products, and if you don’t follow the instructions, you can be left with streaks or white residue.
One of the most common things to look out for is haze time. Some waxes can be applied and buffed, and others need to have time between application and buffing. If you don’t check the instructions first, you will only be creating more work for yourself.
The Color of Your Paint
Not all car waxes are created equal. One of the most common mistakes is to buy a car wax without checking if it suits your car finish. This can make a big difference if you have a black car, for example. It only takes a couple of seconds to make sure that you have the right car wax.
Related: 5 Best Car Waxes for Black Cars
Have An Area To Work In & The Right Equipment
Sunlight is the enemy of your car’s paintwork, and the reason you are applying car wax is to prevent damage. You should avoid applying car wax in direct sunlight if you can. The sunlight is going to dry the wax too quickly, and you might not have time to buff the wax properly, leaving you with streaks or swirls.
Be sure that you have the right equipment to apply and buff too. Some car waxes come with the needed cloths and sponges included, but most do not. When you buy your car wax, check what else you need and assemble that before you begin.
If you have an area to work in and the right tools, waxing your car is going to be a breeze.
Know What The Wax Does
Yes, some waxes can fill scratches and hide blemishes, but that is not the main purpose of car wax. If you have some light damage, investing in a car wax specifically designed to deal with superficial damage can cover up the damage. But, deeper scratches and other damage are going to show through.
Car wax is designed to add a protective barrier against future damage and will leave your car with a rich shine. If you have serious damage, that damage might only be left glossy at best.
Straight Lines, Not Circles
You might believe that applying and removing your car wax in circles is going to improve your self-defense skills, but movies don’t always tell us the truth.
For a streak-free shine, it is always best to apply and buff your car wax in a back and forth motion, sticking to straight lines. This goes for manual application or buffing machines.
Related:
- 6 Best Dual Action / Orbital Polishers (Corded and Cordless)
- How To Wax Your Car By Hand Or With A Buffer
Feel free to use circular motions to put your wax on and take your wax off, but you are going to be left with streaks.
