If you own a car, and care about it, you should also own car wax. The best car wax is specifically formulated to bring out the best in your car’s paint, adding shine and luster to the car to maintain that like-new appearance. But waxing your car isn’t just for aesthetics. Car wax also provides protection to your vehicle, especially in harsher environments. Read on to find out more.
What Are the Benefits of Waxing Your Car?
There are three major benefits to waxing your car: protection, washing and beauty.
For protection, the best car wax contains protective elements that coat your car to put a barrier between your car’s paint and potential harm. Handily, in addition to the paint, a lot of car waxes can offer this protective barrier to other parts of your car, including the rims, lights, mirrors, windshields and windows.
Furthermore, a layer of car wax on your vehicle may protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, which can cause the dulling or even premature eroding of your paint. This step is especially important and effective if you live in a hot climate and don’t keep your car in a carport or garage. Conversely, for drivers who live in cold climates and drive on roads that are salted during winter months, high-quality wax can protect against the salt’s corrosive qualities and help prevent erosion and premature rusting, elongating the life of your car, too.
As well as your car, the average car wax can also shine up and protect a number of other vehicles you may own. Such as:
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- Boats
- RVs
- Motorbikes
- Airplanes
The second major benefit of waxing your car is to make washing it easier. A good layer of wax on your car protects against water stains, which can be difficult to get out of paint, as well as bird droppings, tree sap and pollen. These are all examples of things that can stick to paint and require a lot of elbow grease to get rid of when washing your car.
Finally, car wax makes your car look great. This is perhaps the most apparent and appealing quality for many car owners. The best car wax application gives your car a showroom-worthy shine.
Many car waxes last for a long time, with some even staying on the car for up to 12 months. The conclusion? Car wax requires very little input for an impressive amount of payout.
What is the Best Car Wax?
When deciding on which wax is best for you, it’s important to note that not all waxes are created equal. Carnauba wax is often used by car enthusiasts because it brings out the best shine in the car, but it has a shorter lifespan than other synthetic wax options.
In terms of user-friendliness, carnauba wax is the most popular option because of its ability to be applied on dry or wet cars, in direct sunlight, and even to wet paint. However, the shiny, glossy finish doesn’t have the lifespan of a more durable wax. If being environmentally friendly is at the top of your must-have list for waxes, a product like Aero Cosmetics’ Wash Wax-All is not only safe for the outside of your car, it can also be used to clean the interior, too.
If you’re a car owner, then waxing your car with the best car wax is arguably as important as regular oil changes and tune-ups, as it protects and prolongs the life of a car’s paint. Plus, nothing looks cooler than a newly waxed car. Check out our top car wax picks below.
1. Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
BEST OVERALL
Using a new and improved formula that provides a long-lasting finish, the Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax provides a wet and shiny look to newly waxed cars. Using 100% carnauba-based wax, which melts into the paint, the versatile wax can also be used on non-painted surfaces, including rims, bumpers, and lights. The new formula offers a natural protective layer that fights against the potential fading caused by UVA and UVB rays as well as water spots and animal droppings. Customers like that a small amount of wax can go a long way, and they love how easy it is to apply the wax to cars.
2. Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat
BEST BUDGET
At under $20 and with over 35,000 five-star ratings, the Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat is a popular and budget-friendly car wax choice. The three-in-one, hydrophobic spray uses an advanced formula that delivers a waterless wash, coat and shine without leaving streaks, smears or scratches. This is a great choice for cars, RVs, motorbikes as well as other solid surfaces around the house. Plus, it’s biodegradable, VOC compliant and water-saving.
3. Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax
BEST GEL WAX
This Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax is a heavy duty option which is made up of multiple waxes, including carnauba and synthetic wax. It has received positive ratings from over 95% of Amazon users and comes supplied with a colored applicator. It only requires a single coating to deliver lasting protection and a brilliant shine to your car, boat, RV or other vehicle. Furthermore, each coating of this clear-coat safe wax can last up to five months, even on non-garaged vehicles.
4. CAR GUYS Hybrid Wax
BEST HYBRID
By infusing a spray sealant with carnauba wax, the CAR GUYS Hybrid Wax delivers a head-turning shine to car paint of any color. Backed by over 8,500 five-star ratings from happy users, this mirror-like shine can be applied impressively quickly, too. A standard-sized car can be covered in as little as 15 minutes. Additionally, as this hybrid wax was formulated with professional detailers, you can trust the product is the best it can be, and the durable UV protection and super slick, hydrophobic protection are well worth the budget-friendly price point.
5. Collinite Super Double Coat Auto Wax
LONGEST LASTING
Offering up to one whole year of protection from a single coat, the Collinite Super Double Coat Auto Wax certainly deserves its ‘longest lasting’ title. The wax is suitable for all kinds of automobiles as well as both detergent-proof and all-kinds-of-weather-proof. It eliminates the need for any rebuffing, hard rubbing and regular re-waxing, and the company claims to outshine and outlast other protective coatings and waxes. Plus, this well-loved product can act as a base coat underneath another pure wax.
6. Griot’s Garage 11171 Best of Show Wax
BEST SHOW WAX
If you’re genuinely looking to win competitions with the shiniest car or just want a competition-worthy finish to your vehicle, the Griot’s Garage 11171 Best of Show Wax could be the right choice for you. It’s capable of generating impressive color, depth, and clarity, which are three factors an average concourse judge puts high on their list. The wax is made from a recently revised formula with a wax residue that can now be wiped off quickly in a single pass for a faster, more convenient application. It also includes a high carnauba content to maintain that still-wet paint appearance. Additionally, this car wax is available in either a 9.5 or 16-ounce bottle.
7. Meguiar’s G210516 Ultimate Liquid Wax
HONORABLE MENTION
Using Hydrophobic Polymer technology to protect paint, Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax is a long-lasting answer to giving your car a mirror-like finish. Some of the benefits of the wax include its thin-film technology, which makes application and removal easy, and the fact it’s safe for hand and dual-action, variable-speed polisher application. Another advantage is that the wax is forgiving and won’t stain white or black trim while still delivering an impressively long life span.
8. Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Pro-Flex Spray Wax
BEST SPRAY
The Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Pro-Flex Spray Wax is an impressively reviewed, easily applied answer to achieving a slick, glossy and showroom-worthy finish on your car. The graphene-infused product is patent pending and can be used on either wet or dry paint and bodywork, including glass, headlights, wheels and trim. The application, which is best applied on a fully prepped car, offers protection against water spots, chemical contaminants, harsh UV rays and environmental elements for up to 12 months per application.
9. CAR GUYS Liquid Wax
BEST GIFT SET
If you’re looking for a gift-worthy set for a partner who loves their motor vehicle as much as they love you, the CAR GUYS Liquid Wax should do the job. The three-piece set includes wax bottled in the USA, which is easily applied and has been infused with carnauba wax for a hard-to-beat finish. The super-slick, hydrophobic finish also protects from harsh UV light and requires no heavy buffing after its one-to-two times a year application. The versatile wax can also be used on a range of surfaces, including paint, rims and glass, as well as vehicle types, including cars, boats, RVs and even airplanes.
10. Ethos Ceramic Wax PRO Aerospace Coating Protection
ALSO CONSIDER
The Ethos Ceramic Wax PRO Aerospace Coating Protection is an all-in-one solution that polishes, shines and protects your car’s paint. It’s worth noting that the patented Teflon resins inside the wax were trusted by NASA for weathering protection on the space shuttle, meaning your ground-based car should be no problem. It’s supplied with a foam applicator and requires no additional special tools. One coat of this non-stick, hydrophobic coating can last up to 12 months and will make your weekly car wash a whole lot easier, too.
11. Carfidant Ceramic Coating Spray Car Wax
BEST WATERLESS CAR WASH
It isn’t easy to always have water on hand to clean your car, which is why the Carfidant Ceramic Coating Spray Car Wax is such a godsend. It can be applied to any moderately dirty or cleaner car to deliver that just-detailed look car owners crave. Simply apply the wax and wipe it off with a microfiber towel. It’s that simple. The specially formulated, USA-made, SIO2 wax delivers impressive hydrophobic properties which are also beneficial on other surfaces, including chrome, aluminum, glass and headlights.
12. Armor All Premier Car Care Kit
BEST KIT
If you’re still in the process of compiling your car-care kit, you may want to cut out the drawn-out process of buying each individual piece and opt for this Armor All Premier Car Care Kit. It, of course, includes Armor All’s Ultra Shine Wash & Wax for that appealing clean finish on your car. You’ll also find a range of other handy products, including glass cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, a wash pad and wheel and tire cleaner. Lastly, and to complete the car care package, you’ll have an on-the-go car air freshener pump to ensure your car always smells like it’s fresh off the forecourt.
13. Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All
MOST VERSATILE
Used by the military, Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All’s biggest advantage is its ability to work anywhere, using the product as a wash on wet cars or a wax on dry surfaces. The waterless wash simply goes on with a spray and wipes off with a towel, leaving a non-stick, UV-protective coating on any vehicle surface, including the rims and lights. Another benefit is the chemical makeup. The environmentally friendly wash is both alcohol and ammonia-free, plant-based and biodegradable, so you don’t have to worry about harsh chemical runoff. The kit is made up of the wash, a 16-ounce spray bottle, four microfiber towels, three guides and enough product to wash 36 cars or wax 57 cars. It can also be used on boats, planes, and RVs.
14. P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax
BEST SPLURGE
The P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax consists of a mix of beeswax and carnauba wax, which is free from additives, dyes and perfumes. It’s supplied in a handy, easy-to-store tub and can be easily applied and removed from the paintwork or your vehicle. Best done after washing and drying, this wax will leave your car with a long-lasting, dynamic shine that can be buffed up using a soft, microfiber towel for a high-gloss finish which justifies the product’s slightly heftier price tag.
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