Understanding When You Should Wax Your Car: Hot or Cold Temperature

January 27, 2012

Whenever you wax your car, there are a few things you will need to keep in mind. There are several ways you can go about doing this, so it is a good idea to learn a few methods and pick one that is right for you. However, there are a few things you should know right up front to make sure your car is going to fully benefit from the wax you apply to it.

Hot Temperatures

You have to be careful whenever you are using extremely hot temperatures whenever you are waxing your car. For starters, make sure your car has been turned off for a while. If you have just turned off your car then it will be too hot for the wax to properly do its job. It is also a good idea to try not to wax your car on a specifically hot day. While hot car wax is something that is used often for cars, the actual temperature of the car or the surroundings should not be as hot. It is best to wax your car in the shade on especially warm days. This will help the wax to do its job properly. If the sun is beating down onto your car as you wax, then it will bake the wax onto your car. This can make the wax very difficult to remove and it can actually do more harm than good to your coat of paint.

Cold Temperatures

Cold temperatures can be almost as unhelpful as hot. When the surroundings of the car are very cold, then you will find that it can be difficult to get any movement out of the wax. Cold car wax can be used on your car. But if it gets too cold, then it could cause issues. Cold wax can only be so cold before it becomes unusable. You will find the car and wax together can withstand different temperatures depending on the wax itself. Paste and liquid waxes tend to work best whenever you are working with colder temperatures. The best way to tell is to simply place a small amount of wax on the car and wipe it off with your finger. If the wax comes off without any issues, then you should be fine.

Correct Temperatures

Whether you are waxing your car in hot or cold temperatures there are ways around it. It is always recommended to wax your car in a comfortable temperature. If it is too hot or too cold you will find the wax could be difficult to remove or could do damage to the coat. You are not required to wax your car more than once a year unless it is a show car or if you live in an extreme environment. It is recommended if you do take place in waxing your car just once a year, you do so during the spring or the fall when the temperatures are not very hot or cold. 

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