By Makenzie Crutcher on February 24, 2022 in Life Hacks
Made famous by the Karate Kid, our topic for today is car waxing. A common step of car detailing, car waxing requires patience, time, and a couple of select karate moves. The biggest positive of waxing your car at least once every 3 months is to protect the clear coat over your vehicle’s paint, the layer that protects the actual paint from environmental wear.
Does Wax Protect Car Paint?
Yes, wax does protect car paint! It’s the whole reason to wax your ride because let’s be honest, it’s not a fun activity to do in your free time.
Let’s chat about HOW the wax protects your car’s paint. Shoutout to JD Power for this quick and helpful explanation, “Regularly waxing a car is essential because it helps preserve the clear coat over a vehicle’s paint. That clear coat is the layer that protects the paint from corrosive elements, including snow, rain, street salt, ultraviolet rays, bird droppings, and tree sap, among other contaminants.”
So, if you apply the clear coat of wax correctly, it acts as a barrier between the paint and the elements. This helps prevent rust, fading, discoloration, and more!
All you need is car wax and WikiHow’s tutorial.
Does Wax Protect Paint from the Sun
Another yes! Car wax protects against environmental wear AND UV rays. Complete Car Comfort explains, “Most high-quality car waxes have built in UV protection.” The damage you can expect to see from UV rays (without adequate and regular waxing) is peeling paint, plastic and trim discoloration, a faded interior, and cloudy headlights.
However, there are some car paint sealants that protect against harsher wear like UV rays, acid rain, and small debris on the road. We’ll explain more about those and how they’re different from car wax in the next section!
Car Paint Sealer vs Wax
Car paint sealant and wax are similar. They’re both made to protect car paint from the elements and are applied the same way, but they’re not the same. Depending on driving and weather conditions, wax usually lasts around 2-3 months and sealant lasts around 4-6 months. So, while classic car drivers prefer wax to achieve that “natural” look, sealant, with its glossier look, may be your protectant of choice.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, car wax DOES protect your car’s paint and it CAN protect your car from UV damage. However, if you’re looking for a longer lasting, shinier option, car sealant might be your best bet. Either way, these inexpensive and quick solutions can keep your ride looking brand new!