Best Wax and Easiest Wax

Easy to apply = poor quality (in my opinion).

The more outdoor your car is, the "harder" the wax needs to be. I like Turtle Wax for serious protection, but it takes a good several hours to apply and completely buff out. You may also find "missed spots" you didn't completely buff out as it dries or sits out in the sun (you can catch it later if you use a clean cloth).

It might be worth it (to you) to find a reputable car detailing service and pay them to do the work for you.

 

Years ago on PriusChat we talked about Zaino as a superior product, hope it ages well like wine because I still have it.

In any case, the first step on a new car was clay bar which (i had never heard of) but I think removed all the the little iron rust particles from the shipping and handling process. I've become too lazy to keep up the waxing, but I think that first good job has left me a surface still quite smooth and shiney, except for skeeter splats and dings.

 

My choice is Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax 2.0
A good balance between easy to apply and lasting time

Edit - sorry i did not want the link, just pasted from google search, I'm not good at spelling
- Alex

 

Unless you have some specific fascination with a particular Carnuba's shine, 'best' and 'wax' no longer really go together. Get a good sealant. Prepare the car properly, and the sealing portion (where you apply and buff) will be the easiest part of the job.

I'm a bit outdated in that I use Klasse stuff on my cars, which is a bit harder to apply than some of the new stuff, but works really well and I have a lot of it left so I'm sticking with it. Once the initial application is applied it's amazing how much cleaner the car stays and how easy it is to keep clean for months and months afterwards.

More modern stuff ranges from the 'apply-it-once-forever' stuff like Opti-Coat to CarPro Hydr02 sealant which is just sprayed on once the car is properly cleaned and prepared.

I wouldn't bother with regular wax anymore unless you REALLY like the process of waxing your car.

 

I've been very happy with Zaino in the past as well.

 

I just put NU FINISH LIQUID CAR POLISH on mine. Easy on and easy off. Recommended by Consumers Reports. About $10.00. The easier the better for me. Supposed to last one year. Apply it once and reapply again in 30 days.

 

My best results have been with washing the vehicle with meguires car wash and then waxing with turtle wax ice paste. after putting on the paste I mist it with the turtle wax spray wax and then the paint looks glassy smooth.

 

Best = Original Simonize, but as for "easiest"? ...sorry, I've no idea!

 

It's always up to the individual and the desire and commitment they have or want to apply in regards to car finish maintenance.

I would say, that regardless of the miracle claims of most "easy to apply" wax products, they aren't as good long term, as the harder to apply products.

But wax technology has improved and the easy to apply liquids and sprays, I think ARE getting a lot better.

And as I age, and my energy and commitment to finish maintenance and protection wanes....my feeling is, a product is only good if you use it.

For me? And speaking only for me, at this point in my life, I'm MUCH more apt to spend 15-30 minutes using one of the many instant spray waxes or non-staining liquid waxes, then I am to spend hours and hours, and considerable elbow grease applying the show room "very best" products.

If I am actually USING a instant wax, once a month or more, I think that is more beneficial to my cars surface than if I have a difficult to apply and use wax or finish protector that sits in the closet because I never feel like using it.

This represents quite a change in my approach, as when I was younger I actually enjoyed the work. But now? I just don't have the time nor energy to do a lot of the work and apply the time that a real good quality wax or finish protection product demands.

This leaves me with armed with Meguiars Detail Spray, and Instant Wax.

The results might not be as long lasting, durable as many other hard core products. But the application is infinitely much easier. And I have found that while my results fall short of the "Show Room" look I was able to reach and obtain in my youth, The results ARE pretty damn good.

 

That's exactly it - these new products are often easier to apply, provide better protection, and last a lot longer than waxes.

Take for example the CarPro Hydr02 that I suggested above. It's expensive, but literally all you do is wash your car, spray this on while the car is still wet, and then rinse it off. For up to 3 months dirt will basically not stick to the car. You rinse the car lightly and it comes clean. When it comes to re-apply, you wash the car, spray it on, and you're good again. It's expensive stuff, but way cheaper than the time it takes to properly apply wax - and better yet it also works on your glass and wheels.



Opti-coat is a similar product that is permanently applied and yes, takes a lot of prep, so it's often best left to a pro with experience, but at that point you get the above kind of protection effectively forever.

 

Personally, using compatible products, do a solid wax job every now and then and use an easy to apply wax job in between.

Easy usually means shorter duration and less protection, but it's good enough when applied over a well-laid foundation.

 

One thing bugging me about spray-on-and-hose-off: this is gonna be running petroleum products into nearby streams. ;(

 

I hadn't thought of that however it would be absolutely tiny amounts. It's sold as a concentrate diluted 1part Hydro2 to 3 parts water, and the 100ml bottle is good for 2-3 cars.

Real wax realistically lasts for no more than a few weeks or so. Synthetics like these go on easier and last for months.

On one of my cars I have BBS RS wheels and run aggressive pads that dust a lot. If you know what those wheels look like they are a nightmare to keep clean. Fancy lattice pattern, 50+ chromed star nuts per wheel, and a polished very visible outer lip. With these synthetics the brake dust never even bonds to the wheel. I've been driving the car since April of this year and have never needed to do more than spray the wheels clean. And at that point, all that has accumulated is pollen and dust.

Amazing stuff.

 

Nu finish and zymol 2x per year since my car sits out in the sun all the time, I use a orbital buffer to apply and the water just beads off.

 

CarPro Hydr02 is definitely quick and excellent. 2-3 months of protection, 5 min application. Just be sure to avoid doing it in the sun (or any hot day), and be cognizant of any overspray when you rinse the product (i.e. rinse adjacent panels very well).

 

Thanks for posting these great ideas

 

I just applied HydrO2 to the PiP for the first time this week. Since this is my appliance car it has never seen more than a paid car wash since new. I scrubbed the car clean with my two-bucket system, but didn't have the time to do a deep clean or polish (plenty of rail dust visible in this white paint). I sprayed the diluted HydrO2 on, and sprayed off. The entire process including wash took about 30 minutes. This is what it looks like after a recent rain.



The amazing thing is that the entire car feels 'slick' and smooth as if I'd just spent all day claying/polishing/waxing/buffing and better yet - this stuff goes right on everything - glass, plastic, wheels, no waxy buildup in crevices, etc.

 

Opti-coat 2.0 $80 Detailers charge up to $500 for the service but just about anyone can do it. Here's how:

Hand wash car really, really well (like twice in a row).
Clay bar if paint needs it.
Polish car to a nice shine (No waxes! I use mequiars scratch-x polish).
Wipe down with wax/grease remover.
Wipe on opti-coat/buff off with hand towel.
Done.

Here's a pic at 21 months right before I traded it in. Never had a wax job before or after the opti-coat treatment. Notice the trim, which was also treated, even beads up.

After washing:


And after a squeegee/towel dry:





YMMV

 

Doug,
Opti-Coat 2.0 was discontinued as of 2 weeks ago. It has been replaced by Optimum Gloss-Coat.

Quite frankly, I think your paint needs some de-contamination or your process was application was inadequate. The water beads shown in your picture are not typical of properly applied Opti-Coat 2.0.

This is how Opti-Coat 2.0 should look: