How To Wax a Car by Hand: A Quick Guide

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Waxing a car is a quick way to protect the car’s paint from various harmful factors such as UV rays, bird droppings, acid rain, and other contaminants. Many people are afraid to apply it because they think it’s too hard. In this post, I will show you how to wax a car by hand, and I’ll prove to you that it’s extremely simple and that anyone can do it with a bit of practice and, of course, elbow grease hehe. 

The best thing about waxing a car by hand is that you don’t need any expensive tools or equipment to do it, as opposed to waxing a car with a buffer. However, since the car’s paint should be prepared well, I’ll also show you the basic steps of prepping the car for the wax application, so you have a comprehensive guide on waxing a car by hand. 

Prepping The Car For Waxing

I’ll try to be as direct as possible here. There are a few prepping steps you should do prior to applying wax to the car. So, here they are:

1. Wash the car. By washing the car, you’ll remove any dirt and debris that’s sitting on the paint. If you don’t know how to properly wash your vehicle without causing scratches, check my guide on washing the car. 
2. Decontaminate the paint. Another important prep step is to remove any paint contaminants from your car that won’t go away with a typical washing. This is called claying, and here’s my guide on how to do it quickly. 
3. Polish the car. This isn’t essential, but if your car has swirl marks and scratches on the paint, you should get rid of them prior to waxing. Pick your favorite car polisher (here are my recommendations) and polishing paste, and do 1-step or 2-step paint correction. If you don’t know how to do it, check out my guide on paint correction. 
4. Work out of direct sunlight. The last preparation step is to keep the car out of direct sunlight when waxing a car. So, make sure to prepare some areas where you’ll work. If you can’t avoid sunlight, wax your car earlier in the morning or later in the evening while temperatures are still lower. Furthermore, before waxing your car, make sure that the car is completely dry. 

Step-By-Step Guide on How To Wax a Car By Hand

Okay, now that you know all the preparation steps you should do, let’s see which equipment you’ll need and how to wax your car properly. 

What You’ll Need

As I already told you, you don’t need a lot of tools and equipment to wax a car. All you need is the following:

• High-quality car wax (I suggest you use any of these car waxes)
• Applicator pad (I like using foam applicator pads, but you can use the ones made from microfiber as well. Just make sure you work with clean applicator pads.)
• A few soft microfiber cloths

And that’s all. The most basic tools you’ll need. With these tools and equipment, you’ll be able to get an extremely shiny and glossy car that’s protected from harmful elements.

Step 1: Apply The Wax on The Car

Before applying wax, read the instructions on the packaging. Even though general steps are always similar, there may be some differences between various companies. Also, avoid waxing headlights, taillights, and glass surfaces. 

Pour a few drops of wax on the pad (or dip the applicator pad into the wax if you’re using a paste wax) and apply it to the car paint in circular motions. Don’t apply a lot of pressure, and only apply a thin layer of car wax to the paint. 

Make sure to spread the wax over the car thoroughly. I also suggest that you work in sections. I like to wax the front of the car first, and then I do the rear of the vehicle. That way, you’ll prevent the wax from overdrying. 

Step 2: Let The Wax Dry

When the wax is applied to the paint, you should then wait for it to dry a little bit. That will allow the wax to bond to the clear coat on your car. 

Each car wax will have specific instructions on how long it should sit on the paint, but it’s usually only a few minutes. So, follow the instructions on the bottle. 

Step 3: Buff Out With a Microfiber Towel

After the wax is dried, it will look kind of hazy, and then you need to buff it out by using a clean and soft microfiber towel. Buffing it out will remove any excess wax from the paint and make the car look shiny and glossy. 

Just take a microfiber towel and buff the car in circular motions without applying too much pressure. You’ll probably need 2-3 towels to buff the whole vehicle because you should turn the towel to the clean side after buffing each panel. 

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Waxing Your Car

I just wanted to quickly mention some common mistakes that I was making in the past, and these should be avoided if you want to get the best results when waxing a car.

• Applying a wax in direct sunlight or on hot panels.
• Not properly cleaning and drying the car.
• Using too much wax, which can lead to buildup, and you won’t be able to buff it out.
• Not following the manufacturer’s recommended wait time.
• Using low-quality and dirty applicators, which will leave debris and may even damage the car finish.
• Applying wax to plastic or rubber surfaces. It can cause discoloration and even damage them.
• Not removing the old coat of wax before applying a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

Waxing a car is extremely simple when you follow the guidelines I have shown you above. With a bit of elbow grease, you’ll get a shiny car appearance that will get the looks from the street.

If you want the best results and longevity, make sure always to buy car waxes that are proven to work, and avoid buying some cheap waxes from dollar stores. 

If you’re interested in other types of paint protection, make sure to check my article, which talks about the best types of paint protection.