How To Buff And Wax A Car?

By Power Tools

September 1, 2022


Most car owners wash their cars weekly but never seem to wax them. While there is no hard and fast rule about how often you should wax your vehicle, doing so makes it glow. To put it in a different way, washing your car can clean it, but waxing will make it shine!

So, when your car starts to look dull from the outside due to the vagaries of weather or age, waxing it will surely make a difference. You just need to understand how to buff and wax a car, and that’s what we will talk about today!

Why Waxing Your Car Is Essential?

Apart from making your car shine, waxing protects it from seasonal changes – the wax works as a protective layer to keep the car’s exteriors safe from rain, UV rays, and snow. 

The thick coat of wax covering the car’s surface also stops it from succumbing to the daily wear and tear which would otherwise take a toll on the car. It doesn’t allow scratches to penetrate the car’s paint. 

Since waxing saves the paint from damage, it also extends the durability of your car. If you wax your car regularly, it keeps the paint clean from dirt and dust. This naturally means that paint won’t scrape off quickly, which in turn means that your car will last longer. 

Lastly, many waxing products come with heat-resistant features, which help reduce the oxidation process, thus, keeping the car’s body safe from damage for a long time. 

How To Buff and Wax Your Car?

Pat your back, for you have finally decided to wax your car! 

Now, you must buy a good quality automobile wax from the market. You can either go for natural wax, also known as carnauba wax or a synthetic one (often referred to as paint sealant). 

You can choose either, but most professionals say that natural wax works better to boost the shine and luster of the vehicle. 

Once you get your hands on a good quality automobile wax, it’s time to follow the steps below to buff and wax your precious car. 

Clean Your Car

A man is cleaning the car

It’s best if you wash, clean and pat dry your car before applying wax to its surface. This step clears off dirt, grime, dust, etc. It makes the surface smooth for applying wax.

If you do not clean your car before waxing it, you could end up getting a cragged finish. Secondly, you might even end up scratching off the paint while waxing.

 You would need the following supplies to clean your car:

  • Car shampoo 
  • Microfiber cloth or towel 
  • A bucket of water 

Make sure you park your car away from the sun. Wash the vehicle with the shampoo and ensure you have washed off neglected areas such as door handles because we find the most dirt there. 

After washing the car, use a microfiber cloth or a towel to dry it off. You should only apply the wax on a dry car and not before that.

Apply a Coat of Wax

Each brand of car wax comes with its own set of instructions. The best way to apply the wax is to read the instructions for your specific product.

You can usually find the instructions in the “How to Use” section on the package. Once you do, get ready to follow the below steps to apply a coat of wax on your car. 

  • Apply a small amount of wax to the applicator pad. 
  • Now, use the applicator pad to apply the wax to the car. It would help if you started with only a minimal amount of wax because the applicator pad gets more saturated as you use wax on the vehicle. 
  • Work the wax in small sections of the car. 
  • Make sure you apply the wax vertically in each section to avoid swirl marks. Remember to avoid a circular motion altogether to get optimal results. 
  • Apply the coat with light hands without any pressure considering you are just applying a layer of wax for now. 
  • The wax will dry within a few minutes and appear matte. 

Buff the Surface 

Once it gets dry, use a microfiber cloth or towel to remove or clean the wax from the vehicle’s surface. Use a quick but easy circular motion when removing the wax from the car. 

When you are done, your car will appear shinier than before. You will also notice that this shine and gloss did not appear when you only washed your vehicle and expected it to glisten. 

One question that confused many owners about buffing is whether they should use their hands or a buffer? 

The answer is that you can use either. Just remember to use circular motions to buff the car like your hands. There isn’t much difference between the two; hand waxing will take more time and effort on your part as compared to buffer. 

Even so, many people enjoy using their hands to wax their cars. There is a slight possibility of damaging the paint if you use a buffer with a lot of pressure. Some people want to avoid taking that risk.

Once you are done clearing wax from the car, sit back and relax. It will take a few minutes for your car to start shining like new.

Things To Consider When Waxing Your Car

Whether you are using paste, spray, or liquid wax, there are a few tips to follow to get the best results. We have listed it all down below for your perusal. 

  • Direct sunlight can dry the wax too soon and make it difficult to remove. When you wax the vehicle in a cool or shaded area, the results are impressive. Thus, always remember to park your car in a shady area.
  • Don’t leave the wax on for a long time. While it won’t damage the paint on the surface too quickly, removing it will become difficult. Waxing the vehicle anyway will take a bit of your precious time. Do not extend it further by letting the wax dry for over half an hour. 
  • Every brand of car wax comes with its own set of instructions. Remember to always read the package instructions before proceeding with the procedure.
  • Always use a clean microfiber cloth or dry towel to remove the wax residue in case the pad fails to remove it. 
  • Avoid applying wax in a circular motion. It should always be back-and-forth at the time of application and circles when removing it. If you notice any swirls, switch to a new pad or towel. 
  • Use the applicator pad recommended by the manufacturer of your product. It will give you optimal and satisfying results in the end. 
  • Cover about 2 to 4 square feet of an area at a time. However, some products recommend coating the car in one go before buffing. You should cover one section at a time to get the best results. 
  • Once you have buffed the car, please take it to the sunlight and let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes, not more than that. The sun softens the wax, enhancing the vehicle’s shine and luster.

Wrapping Up

Regularly waxing your car is important if you want it to last longer. It is best if you take some time out during your schedule to do this for the sake of your precious vehicle. 

As we said, waxing your car has many more benefits than just making it shine. So, make sure you buy the best quality automobile wax and gather good knowledge on how to use it on your car.