Car Detailing Tips

Welcome to Car Detailing Tips where this Expert is going to be pulling back the curtain on some common myths of car care and auto detailing.

"As society we are buried in information; most of which is misinformation. We need to be more concerned with unlearning the bad, rather than learning the new."

Read along as I dispel some long established beliefs, continually passed along as credible information by those with an agenda counter to facts.

Myths and Facts

Myth: You can wax your car too much.car detailing tips

Fact: This depends. Waxing should be reserved for protecting and enhancement of paint. Therefore, any wax product you would be using would not contain any form of abrasives or chemical cleaners, so unless you are so OCD and neurotic as to want to wax your car every day for years, the idea of waxing your car too much is unfounded. We must also remember that many people wax their cars simply for visual perfection, so wax as often as you like and keep your car looking its best; those around you will appreciate your efforts.

Myth: If you wax your car too much, you will get wax build up.

Myth: You must stick to a single brand when choosing and using car care products to avoid brand or chemical cross-contamination.

Fact: There is no such thing as brand or product cross contamination. I hate to repeat, but once again, this is one of those areas people like to throw out as something to be concerned with regarding waxes, polishes, etc. It makes sense to stick with one brand when using polishes, waxes and quick detailers, but I have yet to ever have any true chemical reactions when using a variety of products from different manufacturers.

Myth: I heard that new cars don’t need to be waxed.

Myth: I heard you must buy products specially formulated for clear coats.

Fact: This is a myth started by car care manufacturers and perpetuated by people trying to appear as experts. In an attempt to sell more products, car care companies started to apply specialness to their own products by claiming their products are clear coat safe, or specially formulated for clear coats. A marketing tool that exploits the ignorance of consumers, it automatically creates doubt by claiming to be safe for something that most consumers have no ability to verify. The fact is that every paint type is going to come with its own inherent vulnerabilities. Just as no brand is exactly the same as any other brand, the same holds true for paint types, clear coat types, etc. Many will argue that clear coats are unique in that they are “softer” than traditional or other paints. Whether this be completely true or not is mostly irrelevant. As a rule, a person must always apply appropriate use of tools, products, pressure, etc., when doing any area of auto detailing. As far as any form of unwanted chemical reaction between clear coats and products, this is untrue and one need not be concerned with shopping clear coat safe products.

Myth: The car dealer waxes your car for you when you take delivery of a new car.

Fact: No he doesn’t. If this service is done, you have either paid for it, or it has been done as a courtesy which in every case, you would know.car detailing tips

Myth: You only need to wax your car once a year.

Fact: Waxing your car once a year would be sufficient if you were only concerned with protection, and used a synthetic polymer based wax/sealant. Once again, waxing is also for paint enhancement, so applying a wax for enhancement will be based on a person’s level of expectation.

Myth: I heard that carnauba wax is the best.

Fact: There is no such thing as best as this is an individual call to make based on your specific situation, and expectations. There is also no such thing as a pure carnauba wax, as Brazilian carnauba wax is impossible to use in its natural state, and a wax product must be “blended” and processed with other ingredients to make usable.

Myth: I heard that synthetic waxes are the best.

Fact: Once again, this is an individual call to make. Waxing is about protection and appearance, and just like most things in life, you must trade off one benefit to receive another. The same goes with wax products. Synthetics will outlast carnauba blends for durability, but suffer from the inability to “cover” or “hide” surface blemishes as a carnauba paste wax can do.car detailing tips

Myth: I know a guy who kept his car for three years and never washed or waxed it the entire time. Just before he sold it, ran it through the car wash and it was fine.

Fact: It is true that most modern day paint finishes can last about three years with absolutely no maintenance. Unless you don’t care what your car looks like during that time, or don’t care about the next owner of your car inheriting problems of your neglect, then by all means, do nothing. Proper paint care does include regular washing, use of the clay bar, and waxing for protection and beauty.car detailing tips

Myth: It is necessary to apply wax in a strict back and forth method, as applying in a circular motion will create swirl marks.

Fact: While this sounds logical, it is a false statement made by those representing themselves as though they are some kind of expert and want to apply “specialness” to their knowledge, and therefore appear as an “expert” by those around them. Since all wax is not created equal, it is possible to put in unwanted marks by using a wax that has abrasives, or using excessive pressure and/or dirty rags. Waxing once again is for protection and enhancement. When using a wax that has no additional cleaners or polishes to it, simply apply the wax with a clean applicator, and any form of application motion is acceptable, and a person needn’t become overly concerned with creating unwanted patterns in the paint. The same holds true for wax removal.car detailing tips

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