Meguiar's Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Waxing

Q. Which type of wax is better--a paste wax or a liquid wax?

The difference between paste and liquid wax is primarily one of convenience and personal preference. Originally, paste waxes lasted longer, and liquid waxes were easier to use.  While this is still a commonly held belief, there are now car waxes on the market that are available in both liquid and paste forms with equal ease of use and performance qualities. Two examples are Meguiar's NXT Generation" Tech Wax 2.0 Paste and Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 Liquid, which redefine quality and performance with their next generation of technology.

That said, there is something about spending a Saturday afternoon, leisurely applying a traditional paste wax that many people find both enjoyable and rewarding. This is especially true when the results create an eye-dazzling shine that makes people stop and look& and then look again.

Q. How long will a coat of wax last?

Every car, and every car owner, is different.  There is no way to guarantee how long a coat of wax will last.  Effectiveness and longevity depend on a variety of factors:

How well the surface was prepared

Local environmental conditions

Condition of the paint

Amount of time paint surface is exposed to the elements and contaminants

Quality of wax and the application process

Quality of car wash (should be ph-balanced; dish soap removes wax protection)

People who believe claims that one application of wax will last for 3 years are too often disappointed when they later discover that their finish has been damaged by the lack of regular maintenance.
 

Q. How can I tell when my car needs a coat of wax?

Clear coat paints make it more difficult to determine when a car needs waxing. It may need attention far sooner than its appearance would indicate.  Two simple tests can determine when it's time to re-apply a coat of wax:

After washing and drying your car, take a clean, dry 100% cotton terry cloth towel and fold it until you have a thickness that comfortably fits your hand without your fingers hanging over the edges.   Push down on it and twist it in a clockwise/counter clockwise manner. If you hear squeaking, that's a sure sign that your car needs a coat of wax.  Another sign is when maintenance products, such as Meguiar's Quik Detailer or NXT Generation Speed Detailer, become slow and difficult to remove.
 

Today's environmental conditions demand more frequent washing and waxing in order to prevent costly damage to the outer layers of paint. This is especially true if your car is a daily driver exposed to the elements and frequently parked outdoors.
 

Q. Are multiple coats of wax (layering) beneficial?

If you are looking for the maximum protection possible, then one or two thin coats of wax, maybe even up to three, have the potential to provide the most protection depending on the quality of the wax, the surface itself and whether or not sufficient time has passed between applications. You may not always create a significantly greater layer of protection with each application, but a second, and sometimes third, application will ensure uniform, thorough coverage over the majority of the surface, thus maximizing the protection.

Meguiar's waxes can be layered, but keep two things in mind when layering waxes:

1) A layerable wax must be used

2) At some point, "The Law of Diminishing Returns" takes effect

A layerable wax is one whose protective ingredients (natural and synthetic) are such that the protective layer left behind will not only adhere to the paint, but in subsequent applications, will adhere to itself.  These are primarily pure waxes, or protectants (as synthetic formulas are referred to) that do not contain chemical cleaners, or solvents, that will remove the previous layer. There is an exception to this rule and that is that it is possible to first apply a cleaner wax, and then apply a pure wax or synthetic wax over it.
 

Automotive paint surfaces can only accept a certain amount of product before the benefits are diminished. This is where the "law of diminishing returns" comes into play.  After the first, second and, in some cases, a third application, additional layers of product applied to the surface are merely removed when you wipe off the excess. At this point you've reached a plateau (or limit) since the wax can no longer adhere to the surface and layering is no longer possible.

Q. How long do I need to let a wax dry before removing it?

Under normal conditions, Meguiar's waxes take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to dry.  To determine whether wax has cured enough to remove it, perform the "swipe" test.

Take your index finger and swipe it across the film of wax on your finish. If your finger wipes away the dried residue and the surface below is shiny, then the wax is ready to be removed.  If, however, you swipe the finish and the wax streaks or smears, you need to allow a little more time for it to fully cure.

One popular misconception is that the thicker the layer of wax applied, the more protection will be left behind. This is not true. Only a small amount of wax actually bonds to the finish during each application, while the rest is simply removed when you wipe the excess off the surface.  Multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat.
 

Q. What type of cloth should be used to remove wax?

Meguiar's recommends its premium quality Supreme Shine" Microfiber or Ultra Plush Super Terry towels to safely and effectively remove wax.  Meguiar's Supreme Shine Microfiber towels are made using the highest quality microfiber technology available. Microfiber is a unique blend of two tiny synthetic fibers - polyester and polyamide.

Generally speaking, towels made with traditional polyester and/or nylon fibers should not be used on today's scratch-sensitive clear coat finishes because they tend to inflict swirls, which are essentially hundreds of tiny scratches. When these same fibers are miniaturized to 1/100 the diameter of a human hair and 300 times smaller than conventional terry cloth fibers, they take on new characteristics that do not exist in their larger size. This new characteristic is the ability to adsorb liquids

A high quality 100% cotton terry cloth towel can be used for both applying and removing just about any Meguiar's product. For this reason, 100% cotton towels are quite versatile. Some people prefer removing compounds, paint cleaners, and pure polishes with terry cloth towels because of the larger fiber loop size that makes up the nap. This larger loop size can be quite helpful when you're trying to break-up continuous layers of liquid, semi-liquid and dried product. Terry cloth towels absorb water really well and are an excellent material for removing water for applying and wiping off mist and wipe maintenance products.

The best long-term protection for your paint finish is to set up a regular car care maintenance schedule that includes the removal of contaminants with a mist and wipe product, like Meguiar's NXT Generation Speed Detailer or Quik Detailer, before they have time to bond to your paint finish. By doing so, you will greatly extend the protective qualities of Meguiar's high-quality waxes and maintain the show-car shine that you proudly achieved.