We all love that shiny new car shine in the dealership showroom or car show. There are hundreds of auto care products and treatments available. The question is what works best and how is it done.
First, you need to properly clean and wash your car. Polishing and waxing a dirty car is sure to leave fine scratches from dirt and debris on the car. Proper car washing and cleaning should be a staple of any car care regimen or treatment. It’s a proven fact that cars that get routine car washes will last longer (as evidenced in a recent Popular Mechanics magazine). To properly wash your car, first rinse it. Get the whole car wet and try to spray off dirt and loose debris. Next, use a specific car wash soap (common household items and chemicals are usually too harsh and can remove wax or sealant right away) and a soft sponge or towel. Wash one panel or area at a time and rinse when ready so the suds and soap don’t dry on the paint. When you’re done, dry the car with clean terry towels or microfiber towels (a chamois works great too).
Next, examine your car. Look at the bumpers, behind the tires, the roof, etc … Are there contaminants like bug spray, bird droppings, tree sap, etc … that are still there after washing? You can try re-washing these areas with a little more pressure to try and loosen them. If they still don’t come off, you will need a pollutant remover. This is a spray and each has its own unique formula and set of instructions. Some are similar to foaming glass cleaners and others are a thick emulsion that will settle into the problem area and not drip. These polluting sprays will remove most road debris and there are specific formulas for road tar and tree sap as they can be more difficult. Follow the instructions and then rinse and dry.
To smooth out paint imperfections, we recommend a cleaner wax. According to a Consumer Reports study of every wax currently produced, Turtle Wax was found to be the best for value, durability, and shine. So there’s no need to spend your money on expensive treatments that won’t finish as well as a $ 2 bottle of turtle wax. Apply the cleaning wax in small circular motions and do one panel at a time, just like you did with the car wash. Allow the cleaning wax to dry to a white haze then buff with a clean terry cloth. Repeat as needed.
Next, what we recommend is that you use a polymer car polish (again, no need for expensive treatments, you are just wasting your money). You can get a good polymer car polish at Walmart for between $ 2 and $ 5. They always come in liquid form and are very easy to apply and really last longer than any car wax (up to 1 year and 50 car washes like say some labels). Apply to the whole car and dry. Apply 2-3 coats for maximum protection.
After polishing the car, we recommend a high-quality carnauba wax (again, no need for expensive treatments). Platinum and turtle wax car wax is around $ 5- $ 7 and so are some top Meguiars and Mothers waxes. This will give it a better shine than new, deep and wet. Apply 2 coats similar to cleansing wax. Wait until you see the resulting shine of the wax on the polish. It’s amazing and gives your car the best possible shine and also the maximum protection available. Here’s how they get that extra deep shine on cars at auto shows – it works and you’ll be amazed.
