Now that spring is here in full bloom, take some time and give your vehicle a little TLC (i.e., some vehicle maintenance). Good car maintenance means not only taking care of the inside working components of your vehicle, but also making sure the outside looks fresh and clean. The question is: "Do I polish or wax—it's the same thing, right?" The answer is, "No, it is not the same thing." You actually need both! Polishing and waxing are two completely different processes for different reasons.
First, it's time to polish: This is a process that uses abrasives to actually take a thin (VERY thin) layer of your paint away. This is how the shine is restored before applying wax. Otherwise, as the wax wears off, any fine scratches will reappear. If you're not sure about the type of product to use, ask your vehicle maintenance technician for a recommendation. Remember, the paint layer and clearcoat is not very thick, especially on factory paint. So, it's better to choose a mild abrasive, rather than one that's too harsh.
Finally, look along the "sight lines": Your final polish and wax job should be applied in the direction along in the lines that people will use to see the car--basically along the long axis of the car.
Follow these tips and your car should now have all the shine you could want and stay looking that way for weeks.
Want to restore the shine of your car? For quality vehicle maintenance, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at https://www.clausenautomotive.com for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
Now that spring is here in full bloom, take some time and give your vehicle a little TLC (i.e., some vehicle maintenance). Good car maintenance means not only taking care of the inside working components of your vehicle, but also making sure the outside looks fresh and clean. The question is: "Do I polish or wax—it's the same thing, right?" The answer is, "No, it is not the same thing." You actually need both! Polishing and waxing are two completely different processes for different reasons.
First, it's time to polish: This is a process that uses abrasives to actually take a thin (VERY thin) layer of your paint away. This is how the shine is restored before applying wax. Otherwise, as the wax wears off, any fine scratches will reappear. If you're not sure about the type of product to use, ask your vehicle maintenance technician for a recommendation. Remember, the paint layer and clearcoat is not very thick, especially on factory paint. So, it's better to choose a mild abrasive, rather than one that's too harsh.
Finally, look along the "sight lines": Your final polish and wax job should be applied in the direction along in the lines that people will use to see the car--basically along the long axis of the car.
Follow these tips and your car should now have all the shine you could want and stay looking that way for weeks.
Want to restore the shine of your car? For quality vehicle maintenance, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at https://www.clausenautomotive.com for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
