Keeping your car in tip-top condition doesn’t have to be a chore. While regular washing helps to maintain your duco, adding wax to the equation is important to avoid fading and staining which can be caused by exposure to the elements and things like bird droppings and acid rain.
Wax provides a protective barrier over the surface of the paintwork, which can help to repel environmental grime and dirt in between washes. Water will bead and roll off a freshly waxed surface, meaning it’s more difficult for dirt and dust to hold on. A high quality wax can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months if you maintain it well with pH neutral washing in between, depending on the weather and parking conditions. If you live near the sea or regularly park under a tree that drops sap or houses birds, more regular waxing will be the best friend of your duco and help to give it a long and lustre-filled life. If your vehicle spends most of its time in your garage or undercover then you may find you need a wax around every three months. You should ensure wax is applied at least 2 times a year for bare minimum maintenance.
There are plenty of wax products on the market, but you should look for a wax that is applied and left to dry before being polished off by hand for the ultimate shine. A well applied, good quality wax will add a lustre to your paint that washing alone struggles to deliver, particularly as paintwork ages. It will also help to maintain the value of your vehicle as time goes by.