When can you wax a new car – Why should you wax it in the first place?

Close your eyes and tell, can you inhale that brand-new smell? It’s coming from the new car you bought after years of hard work and savings. 

It’s shiny and gleamy. It’s finally in your hands after so many years of research. How do you feel? Amazing, right? The moment you bring your new car home, you start getting unwanted opinions like how to use it, how to clean it, or even when can you wax a new car.

All the information you soak up can be conflicting and misleading. Like, who would you listen to, your uncle Larry who has years of experience in car maintenance, or your friend Bob who just got the same car as yours a year back? Things get overwhelming when you lack knowledge about something and don’t know who to trust. Now just grab a chair, go to the corner, and listen to us.

What is a Car Wax?

We bet you have no idea what car wax is, especially if you are someone who just got their first car ever.

Car wax is a synthetic protective coating made from carnauba wax extracted from a Brazilian palm tree. It also contains both natural and synthetic polymers that give exceptional shine and detail to the paint that is otherwise unthinkable to achieve.

Nowadays there’s another product introduced in the market called Sealant. It is similar to car wax, but if we go into its composition details, then it is slightly different. It contains a synthetic blend of polymers that works to protect the car’s appearance from UV rays, road salts, acid rains, tar, corrosion, bird droppings and bug guts. Also, it has a greater lifespan than car wax.

Why should you Wax your car?

Would you like to see your new car discolored and drenched in dirt and gunk after spending hours cleaning it? Nobody would want it. When you don’t apply car wax, it is exposed to rain, dust, corrosion and salty sea breeze if you live near the ocean. Hence, car wax is a must to protect your car from mishaps. It will not just protect your car paint but prevent premature rusting as well. Generally, it is recommended to apply car wax at least 2 to 4 times a year.

When can you wax a new car?

Professionals advise waxing your newly purchased car as soon as you reach home from the dealership. Also, it is said to do the deed every 5 – 6 months. However, this also depends on several factors like sun exposure, season, type of paint, and wax.

In order to determine how often your car paint should be waxed, you can use any of the two methods below:

• Surface check test

To tell if your car needs to be waxed or not, you need to perform a surface check test. Feel its surface or car paint, to be precise. If it’s gritty and rough, get it waxed or do it yourself or at the very least, get it washed.

• Bead Test

This is another method to determine if your car needs to be waxed. Just check a small area of your car (it could be any part) let’s say the bonnet. Now what you have to do is just pour a little amount of water on its surface and check if it beads. Get it waxed if you notice beads formation.

Note: First, clean the car’s surface off dust and gunk to get accurate results. Then pour water on it.

Why should a new car be waxed?

As we said above, if you wish to retain your brand-new car’s newness, then you must apply car wax. Take it as your own example. Why do you apply sunscreen when you go out? Because you know that you will be exposed to the sun, right? Then think of your car as the same. Not just sunlight, your car goes through a lot of dust, mud, humidity, rain, and whatnot while on the road. Therefore products like car wax and sealants are introduced to protect their shine. Besides car waxing, regular washing also has a significant role in protecting your car and keeping it like a brand-new one.

How to apply car wax?

Now that you know when can you wax a new car, here’s a step-by-step method to apply car wax.

Step 1 – Preparation

The first step is to prepare your car for car wax. That means it needs to be washed first to remove the dirt. If you have a car shampoo, it’s good. Otherwise, you can use normal detergent or soaps as well. Next, dry it up through the panels leaving no traces of water.

Step 2 – Tackle Defects

Next, you need to tackle the existing defects. Take a car polish and apply it gently so that it covers all the defects. Since it is abrasive in nature, it thoroughly cleans any previous scratches and wax off the car

Step 3 – Apply with a hand

• Take a spray wax preferably best-selling Turtle Wax ICE Spray Wax and apply it to the car’s surface one section at a time.
• Dap in the wax using a wet microfiber cloth. Do it with light hands and take your time to achieve the best results.
• Buff out the leftovers with the other side of the microfiber cloth.
• If needed, re-apply to the undone areas.

How to improve the lifespan of a car wax?

Typically a car wax lasts for 1 to 3 months and sealants, 6 to 12 months. How long you can go with a car wax depends on the factors like quality of the wax, how it was applied, and external factors.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply car wax and get the best and most long-lasting results. Also, some brands list the lifespan of their product on the box, you can check that before buying a car wax.

Using a car cover is also a great way to retain the car wax for a good 4 to 5 months. Lastly, you can’t prevent the external damage but you can minimize it to some extent. For instance, reduce the time your car spends outside exposed to the sun and other harmful elements. Hot and humid weather can drastically affect the lifespan of car wax.

Difference between car wax and polish:

Until recently, we couldn’t tell the difference between car polish and car wax. In fact, several people confuse polish and wax as the same thing, however, they are not. Below we have discussed some key differences between both. Have a look.

Car Wax

Car wax is a thin protective layer of synthetic material that protects a car’s surface from dirt and grime and prevents dullness. It is typically done for brand-new cars to protect their shine and gleam from getting faded. The more often you use it, the longer you can protect your car’s newness.

Car Polish

A car polish, on the contrary, comprises abrasives to eliminate minor swirl marks and scratches from a car’s surface. Unlike car wax, polish is done to bring back the lost shine of a car. That said, frequent polishing is not advised as it could damage the car’s surface due to its abrasive properties.

Wrap Up – When can you wax a new car

In a word, as soon as you take your new car home, apply a thin layer of good quality car wax. If not the same day, do it before taking your car out for the first time. The reason we force it so much is that failure to do so will cause your new car to look old and dull. This may eventually affect your car’s paint and cause permanent damage. It is better to be safe than sorry.