Remember this one simple rule – ALWAYS polish BEFORE wax. Never apply a polish after a wax, doing so will remove the wax and undo all your hardwork and also leave the paintwork unprotected. Most waxes should be applied after you’ve washed the car and dried it with a chamois leather or microfiber cloth. Not all wax is the same and it’s worth knowing the different types so you can get the right results: Have you ever noticed an extremely faded and dull red car? It’s become dull and faded because it’s been exposed to harmful UV rays without any protection applied to the clearcoat for a prolonged period of time. A softer, cream style wax will offer good protection, but the longevity is compromised. You’ll typically find it lasts anything up to around the one month mark. Lastly, spray-on waxes are the least effective here, but are by far the easiest to apply. A spray-on wax will typically last a matter of weeks.

Pure carnauba wax is yellow in colour and expensive but will give a deep shine and excellent protection. White carnauba wax contains additives including beeswax and turpentine and is cheaper to buy but will still protect your paintwork. Both types are available in paste, spray and liquid form. A car wax simply protests your paintwork by creating a barrier between your paintwork and dirt and grime. Unlike car polish, a wax won’t correct paintwork. If you’ve got swirl marks and other paint defects, then you’ll need to use a polish before applying wax.I'm a fan of R222's Concours Wax but needed something cheaper for my dad to use which still gave good results and was hopefully as easy to apply. With that done, use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the wax away, just as you would if applying wax by hand. Job done.

Firstly, you have to really ensure you follow the correct detailing steps when washing the car to get the best performance out of this wax. My dad did the best he could but noticed the performance degrade in only a couple of weeks. Double Speed-Wax is not an abrasive polish, if your paintwork is faded, feels rough or has not been polished for a long period it will be necessary to use an abrasive polish and/or paint clay before application. Once prepared in this way regular application of Double Speed-Wax will maintain a high gloss finish without the need for further use of abrasive polishes. Occasionally under certain humid application conditions the applied film may bloom after initial application and buffing. The bloom will disappear once the film is fully cured, or it can be removed immediately by a wipe down with a slightly damp buffing cloth. Given our vehicles are the second biggest investment most of us will ever make, there are no excuses for mistreating your motor and, with some of the biggest brands including Karcher, Autoglym, & Meguiars, there's no better time to make that investment. Quality car cleaning supplies Thought I'd post a review of BH's Double Speed Wax as it's a fairly recent introduction to the shelf of my usual supplier. Perhaps others are also interested in how it performs.

Additional resale value– One of the biggest contributing factors to poor resale value’s for a car is it’s overall condition. It’s really important to ensure that your car’s paintwork is maintained and looked after properly and regularly, failure to do so often results in a drastic reduction in resale value. Regularly waxing your car and keeping the paintwork in good condition will result in your car being worth more when you decide to part company with it. Sadly no pics but probably an obvious point that the car must be thoroughly prepped and washed before applying to see the best results. Good value for money, not the easiest to work with but gives excellent beading results. Unsure of how long it lasts, will keep the post updated. R222 Concours Wax is better. I can’t really comment on longevity but I’ve heard it is decent. However imo the only good thing about Bilt Hamber DSW is the microfibre cloth that is supplied with it. Protection against UV rays– Arguably the biggest benefit of using wax is protection from harmful UV rays. UV rays can cause lots of damage to the clearcoat layer of paintwork on a car. When a car is painted at the factory, it has a base colour applied (the actual colour of the car) and then a clear, protective layer called clearcoat is applied on top of that. The clearcoat is what makes a car’s paintwork shiny and as the name suggests, it’s completely clear. It’s really important to keep the clearcoat protected, that’s exactly what a wax does.

Pastes generally provide the best finish, but often require buffing to bring out the shine after application. Sprays and liquids can be applied much faster, and some don’t require a second buff, but their finishes tend to be less impressive. Like the R222 CW, it doesn't particularly smell of anything so doesn't overpower the senses as you work your way around the car. A. Car wax should always be stored in a cool, dry place. Try to avoid storing the wax in direct sunlight and equally, try to avoid storing it in a location where it’s going to be exposed to extreme cold freezing temperatures. You can get yourself kitted out with a complete polishing kit, and for the enthusiasts, you can apply it with an oscillating polishing tool if you wish. Which car wax is best?The best car waxes offer a superb protection barrier between the paintwork and the dirt. It does this by bonding to the car’s body, given water molecules and dirt nothing to cling on to. Naturally, the higher the natural wax count, the better protection it will offer. However, don’t be fooled by manufacturers suggesting products feature 100% carnauba. Carnauba is hard, so you’d never be able to use the product if it was 100%. Instead, what they mean is that of the wax being used, it’s 100% natural carnauba wax. The rest of the product is made up of various oils and solvents.

Wax acts as a protectant to your paint. If you've ever been gifted some artisan waxed cheese you'll be familiar with the protective qualities of a wax casing; it'll protect the cheese from water, sun and other contaminants. Car wax works the same but on a much larger scale and the layer it forms is invisible. A good car was won't wear off easily and will protect your paint from heat, UV rays, water and other contaminants. Some of the more expensive waxes will also provide a nice deep shine. Spray wax is more of a top-up product and won't last anywhere near as long as the others but it's still useful if you're in a rush. Occasionally under certain humid application conditions, the applied film may bloom after initial application and buffing. Double Speed-Wax is not an abrasive polish, if your paintwork is faded, feels rough or has not been polished for a long period it will be necessary to use an abrasive polish and/or paint clay before application.

How We Tested & Rated

Natural car waxes tend to last for a good six to eight weeks, while synthetic waxes and sealants can last longer – often for over three months. Don’t expect them to look as good, though. Although you’ll want the outside of your car looking great, it’s just as important to keep your car interior clean. If you’re wondering about the best way to clean your car interior, at Halfords we’ve made it simple. We’ve got a variety of interior car cleaning products from leather cleaner to upholstery products, as well as dashboard and glass cleaning. Add a few drops of wax to a microfibre cloth or pad and apply it to your car by working your way over the body panels in small, overlapping circular motions. That way, you get an even and full coating on your car. A. Yes, you can apply a wax without polishing the car first. Bare in mind though that the wax may not bond to the paint as well as it would do if it were polished first and therefore the wax may not perform as well as it should. Eitherway, adding a layer of wax to your car either with or without polishing first is going to protect the paint and be beneficial.