Maintaining the sleekness and gloss of a car is not as easy as it looks. And maintaining it is not just about caring for the aesthetics but the preservation of the values. However, the market of car care is flooded with not one but many products. Due to this, it becomes very obvious for the car owner to get confused when it comes to contrasting car wax and polish. Or you might even question, aren’t these two the same things?
Well, they are not. To simply make it more understandable, you can note that car wax is like applying a dab of sunscreen while car polish is akin to makeup. However, the lack of knowledge might make this even more confusing for one to compare further.
But don’t worry, we have got your back! Just like any other car accessories, both the car wax and polish serve different purposes. Moreover, both the products are further divided into types which creates more ruckus. Some wax is synthetic or is made out of natural ingredients. Some car polish are abrasive, while some are non-abrasive. Not every polish is ideal for the car frame so what wax? Even technique which is used for car polishing or car wax affects the car’s look.
Within the scope of this article, we will understand what sets car wax apart from the polish, the purpose they are used for, and how it can be used. So, let’s dive deeper to draw a clear line of distinction.
A Comprehensive Guide to Car Wax and Polish
- Car Polish
Car Polish is a compound that is liquid in form. It is usually made of various abrasive materials including micro-abrasive and oxide materials. This sleek and smooth liquid is formed to enhance the look of the car. Car shine polish is utilized when it comes to concealing scratches and discoloration to make the car look more attractive.
Generally, car polish works as a rejuvenator which is about rectifying imperfections of all sorts. Below are the types of car wax which are generally available in the market:
- Abrasive Car Polish: This type of car polish contains abrasive materials that are ideal for correcting heavily used paintwork. Deep scratches, swirl marks, or oxidation are concealed well with this.
- Non-Abrasive Car Polish: Being gentle, this car polish is good for new cars that need to deal with minor scratches.
- All-in-One Car Polish: As the name suggests, this car polish not only gives a glossy finish but also shields the car frame. This means it provides benefits of both waxing and polishing.
- Spray Car Polish: These types of car polish are very easy and convenient to use. It dries up easily and is ideal for giving touch-ups.
- Finishing Car Polish: This kind of polish is used to give an extra layer of gleam after using heavy abrasive polish which gives it a swirl-free finish.
Purposes of Car Polish: Now that we have understood what is car polish and its various kinds, we will be diving deeper to know what purposes it serves:
- Car Polish works well to restore the car’s shine. Moreover, it enhances its look if applied properly and maintains the luster.
- It corrects all the layers of imperfections, be it scratches, swirls, decontamination, or more.
- It prepares the surface by working as a coating. This helps while waxing as the painted surface acts as a base layer.
- Car Wax
Waxing is a process where a coating works as a shield to safeguard the car from external factors like harsh weather or dusting. It works as an additional layer of protection. It is a kind of protective product that comes in the form of natural or synthetic compounds. Being a vital product for the maintenance of the car, it works as a protective layer by acting as a shield to save the car from rain, UV rays, etc.
The best car wax polish isn’t one but many. And being a car owner, recognizing the kinds of car wax is even more vital for car care. Below are a few of the car wax types:
- Carnauba Wax: It is a form of natural wax. Derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree, this is well known for its bright and warm. This makes it the best choice for those who want to provide long-lasting protection while also giving a glossy look.
- Synthetic Wax: As the name suggests, this kind of wax is made out of synthetic materials. Usually, it is made of materials like polymers and silicones. It also has special properties like water repellency and resilience to environmental problems.
- Paste Wax: This type of wax is durable and comes in a thicker composition. Having such consistency, it often comes with a great proportion of carnauba wax as well which provides luster while forming a good thick layer of protection.
- Spray Car Wax: Being convenient to use, car wax spray is easy to use as it dries quickly. It’s good to cover up the minor issues. It also forms a thin layer of protection which is good in cases of avoiding detailed waxing sessions.
- Liquid Wax: Liquid wax works best when it comes to looking after extensive detailing quickly. It comes in the form of synthetic as well as natural. Thus, it becomes an easy medium for one to coat the car frame with wax.
Purpose of Car Wax: Now before concluding what wax to buy next, here is a glimpse of the purposes that car wax serves for a better understanding of car care:
- The purpose of car wax is to add an extra layer of protection.
- It is usually hydrophobic which avoids the water formation in spots causing decontamination.
- It leads to avoidance of paint degradation which doesn’t lead to discoloration.
Understanding the difference
Discovering the role of car wax and polish is not enough. No matter how related they look, the fact is they are still different. Within the piece ahead, we will be contrasting between both the applications to know what differentiates between them:
- Car Polish is used for the correction of paint whereas car wax is used for protection of it.
- The function of car polish is to conceal the scratches whereas car wax further protects the car.
- Car Polish is the primary step taken which acts as a preparatory base for waxing whereas car wax is applied to the pain directly.
- Car Polish focuses more on improving appearance rather than protecting whereas it is vice versa with car wax.
Summing up,
In conclusion, understanding the difference between both products makes it easy to maintain the car to ensure its longevity. While both share similar purposes at point, it needs to be understood that they are still different and function differently. Both the products are co-related with each other which goes well to elevate the car’s appearance. So understanding this difference makes it vital for one to preserve the exterior of the car for a longer run.
