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Learning To Wax And Buff Your Car Properly

Has your car lost that shiny look? How do you get that ugly tiny scratch off your posh car? These are questions that plague car owners. You must have heard of waxing or buffing your car but thought it was one hell of a complicated job and expensive too.  Regular car waxing will not only improve the look of your but will also save you a lot of money. You see learning to wax and buff your car properly is not complicated. All you need is the right information on how to wax and buff your car properly, when to wax and buff your car and what to use for this job.

Enjoying the benefits of waxing and buffing your car can only be done by learning the right way to wax and buff your car. Here are some materials you’ll need;

Materials For Waxing And Buffing Your Car

  • Rotary buffer: this is a polishing machine; it has one spin around its axle.
  • Buffing compound: the polishing agent used to polish paints, it serves in filling scratches and blemishes.
  • Wax: is simply harden hydrocarbon at room temperature. Car wax is used after washing and polishing to add a layer of shine to your car.
  • Wool pad and foam pad:  wool pad is abrasive-like, it is usually used at the beginning of a polishing job to remove sealant or wax while the foam pad is used during polishing.
  • Clean microfiber towels; used to wipe car surfaces because of its soft, absorbent properties. It can lock in the dust, excess wax, and even dust. You should have extras, they will come in handy.
  • Synthetic chamois: a drying cloth somewhat leather-like cloth that absorbs water. Used in wiping cars dry.
  • Masking tape: used in marking and sealing off areas when waxing and buffing a car.

Read more: Car Care Kits

Step 1. Wash Your Car

Begin by washing your car to a dazzling sparkle, starting from the top of the car, gradually work your way down to the bottom, it is best you wash one section at a time, then rinse. After washing the whole car, rinse the whole car again before you dry properly with synthetic chamois.

Step 2. Mask Your Car

Use masking tape to mask areas you don’t want to burn because of the heat generated by the buffer polishing machine. You don’t want the heat from the buffing pad damaging the nice painted pin stripes or badges in your car, do you?

Step 3. Buff Your Car

Using a wool pad apply the buffing compound in small areas where you have minor scratches. Begin buffing by keeping the pad flat on the paint surface. Do this by alternating between up and down movement and side to side movement. Do not move in circles. Be careful not to tilt the buffer pad in one direction, you don’t want the heat on one spot.  You can stop buffing once you get a hazy appearance, then wipe with a clean microfiber towel.

Step 4. Polish Your Car

Proceed to polish your car with a foam pad by spreading the buffing compound on the surface of your car. It is important to point out the outer edge of the car moves faster, thereby generating a bit more friction than the inner part and carrying more polish than the inner part, so we advise you take extra care around intricate areas such as the contours of the car. Apply a little pressure as you buff then reduce the pressure gradually until you have that smooth and sleek finishing, then wipe clean with a microfiber towel

Step 5.  Wax Your Car

Wondering why you need to still wax your car even after polishing?  Waxing your car will fill and eliminate those tiny scratches that buffing could not and of course it will give your car that mirror effect that is peculiar to new cars. So get yourself a good quality wax and a good shady spot before you begin waxing, this is because wax tends to dry out quickly if the weather is hot. We recommend a spray wax for beginners.  Apply a small amount of wax at a time and in small sections of the car, buff till you feel that smooth and slick touch that is free of streaks and smudges.

 Step 6. Done

After a fantastic job waxing and buffing your car, an after look will reveal the mess you’ve made over the windows and vinyl surfaces. Spray some rubber compound on one of your microfiber towels and clean the plastic strips, door handles and other areas affected by your buffering and waxing. Spray some glass cleaner on your microfiber towel and clean up the windows.

You can check out this video on how to wax and buff your car;  to get a first-hand view of how to wax and buff your car.

You are done! You should applaud yourself for a job well done.

You can decide to do it by hand or use an electric polisher. An electric polisher will make the job easier for you especially if you are a newbie. You will still get the same beautiful effect afterward.

Conclusion

Regular waxing of your car is necessary for maintaining the exteriors of your car. We recommend you wax your car every three months, it is not necessary to buff every time you wax your car. We recommend you buff once in a year. You can include it in your car maintenance schedule to avoid procrastination or forgetting. Some experts say you can tell it is time to wax your car if beads of water settle on the surface when it is wet.

Learning how to wax and buff your car properly is a skill every car owner should have because your car will always look good and you will save some money too, other benefits of learning how to wax and buff your car include its protective and safeguarding properties.

Did you find this piece interesting? We will like to hear what you think of our easy steps to wax and buff of your car. Kindly drop your comments in the box below.