Waxing and polishing are the terms that are frequently confused and misused, particularly those who are new to detailing their car and have no necessary experience and knowledge of the types of treatments, as well as the precise applications for which they are intended. Without a proper understanding of the difference between wax and polish, most people end up damaging their vehicle even more or do not get desired results.
The fault is not with the product most of the time but use as per the requirement of your car washing routine, if you know the difference between wax and polish for cars and how do they differ.
Waxing and Polishing are two different techniques that are confused, despite the fact that they have distinct objectives and products used in the process.
The greatest difference between wax and polish for cars!
You will find a lot of products available in the market that claims to be “All in one” and attempt to serve multiple purposes by containing wax and polish compounds. You cannot use one product for both waxing and polishing as it will not be as effective as a product that is intended to perform a specific task.
WHAT IS CAR WAX?
Car wax usually comes in the form of a paste, liquid, or spray. It is applied to the vehicle as a top layer to add a protection layer against various factors, such as;
- Dirt and dust
- Grime and moisture
- Water
- UV rays
What is car wax made of?
You will find a lot of composition for car waxes, but finding the one that offers ultimate protection is important for efficient performance.
A traditional car wax consists of a blend of carnauba wax along with other waxes like beeswax, petroleum distillates, and natural oils. Spending a little more on good car wax, you can get a special resin and polymer composition that works for multi-purposes such as wax hardener or shine booster.
How does a car wax work?
Speaking of car wax – it is all about protection. It works as a barrier to your paintwork on the car and the outside factors. The compounds in the wax bond to the paintwork of the car to add an additional layer of protection.
Water and moisture are one of the particular concerns when it comes to car paint that can easily get damaged. Car wax gives hydrophobic protection that does not let the water droplets stay on the surface or let them pass the barrier into the paint.
Car Wax Recommendations
If you are looking for the best car waxes that are not heavy on your budget, can be used often, and offer ultimate protection, here are some of the products you need to try for sure.
Collinite No. 845 Insulator Wax
- High gloss shine
- Ease of use
- Long-lasting weather defence
- Easy application
Chemical Guys – Butter Wet Wax
- High shine formula
- Safe for all surfaces
- Best for beginners and pro
- UVA and UVB protection
WHAT IS CAR POLISH?
Car polishing or polishing is an entire process that removes the defects in the paint job, such as;
- Marring
- Swirl marks
- Scratches
- Stone chips
- Water spots and acid etching caused by bird poop and bugs remain
These damages cannot be covered with just waxing, but proper treatment against it.
What is car polish made up of?
There are diminishing abrasives that further breaks down into smaller particles that work on the paint surface to scrub or polish to get a fine or even surface. It needs force or labour with the help of the best car polishers that come with different functionality.
There are two major types of car polishers;
- Dual action polishers
- Potatory polishers
Car polishing can be done with hands but it will require a lot of effort and time with the chances that you may not get fine results. For that purpose, the best car polishers are used to give fine look.
How does car polishing work?
Car polish is a substance that uses an abrasive action to remove very tiny layers of clear coat protection from a car’s paint surface, giving it a highly polished and fine appearance.
Car polishers or polishing uses a variable degree of abrasion as per the damage and is categorised at three levels, known as “CUT”.
- Light Cut
- Medium Cut
- Heavy Cut
Car Polish Recommendations
Some of the best selling car wax you can try for the best results are mentioned below.
Meguiar’s G19220 Ultimate Polish
- Remove swirls
- Safe clear coat
- Flexible application
- Preps car surface for waxing
- Best polisher for black car
Malco Accelerate All-in-One Polish
- Best for light to medium paint defects
- Deep finish
- Easy application
- Easy clean-up
- Protection up to 90 days
What to use when; the difference between wax and polish for cars
Polish
- When to need to deal with the defects in the paintwork of the car.
- It comes before waxing.
- For removing scratches.
Wax
- When you want to protect the paintwork of the car.
- When you want to add an additional protection layer to the paint.
- To give shine to your car’s surface.
Common misunderstandings; difference between wax and polish for car
Wax remove swirls!
This is when the differences between Polish and Wax is most noticeable.
Waxes do not include any compounds that will polish or cut your car’s paintwork, thus they will not repair it, period.
Wax is designed to maintain your car’s paint, not to “repair” it, as previously stated.
Exception!
There are a variety of waxes or “glazes” that may be used to fill tiny scratches or hide swirl marks. However, it is just temporary, and your swirls and scratches will reappearance once the wax has worn off completely with washing.
This is useful if you don’t have a machine polisher or don’t want to go to the trouble of fully polishing your car’s paintwork.
How often waxing is required?
Speaking of the difference between wax and polish, it is completely is dependent on the type of wax you are going to use, but external factors and your personal car washing routine.
- Most waxes will provide protection to the paintwork of your car for at least a few weeks, and you can increase this time by choosing a more expensive, high-quality, or tougher wax, this can even extend to months of protection.
- It also depends on how frequently you wash your car. If you wash your car frequently and that too with a non-wax safe or extremely harsh car shampoo, you may notice that the wax coat does not last very long.
If you wash your car frequently, we recommend using gentle vehicle specific shampoos or cleansers on any paint protection you may already have.
Waxing schedule
A new layer of wax should be applied every 4 weeks or so.
Although we would recommend keeping your vehicle as protected as possible especially during the winter months, there is no hard and fast rule to it.
Or
You can use wax as needed.
Conclusion | Difference Between Wax And Polish
It is not always about the product, but using the right product for the right purpose can save you from the hassle. While choosing the cleaning products for your car make sure you understand your personal preference. In simplest of words, use polishers for polishing and wax for adding an additional layer of protection, gloss and shine. Once the difference between wax and polish for cars is understood it won’t be hard to find the right product for the right task.
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