Understanding Wax

Traditional car waxes are usually made from carnauba, sourced from palm trees. It looks great but requires a couple of applications per year. More recently, synthetic waxes were the state of the art. Comprised mostly of man-made polymers they sacrifice some of the warm, rich look of carnauba in exchange for longevity and easier application. For the most part, you’re putting a barrier between the clearcoat and the outside elements to protect it from that nasty UV rays, bird droppings, sap, tar road salts, sand, brine, and contaminants, in the air. Water is of particular concern, especially rainwater and spray from the roads is full of all sorts of pollutants which can easily transfer onto your paint. The best way to protect against this, is to make sure the water quickly runs straight off your vehicle’s surface creating a hydrophobic state.