Wax on, wax off: Keep your car shiny

A well polished car saves you money by making it unnecessary to buy mirrrors for combing hair.

Car paint, especially modern clear coat types, are so tough they last indefinitely. But they do need the occasional tender loving care to shine. All you need to keep your paintjob shiny and sharp is the right kind of wax protection.

What to do?
Considering this is rainy season here in Bangladesh, and the rain is sometimes slightly acidic like a bad super-villain's plan, car paintjobs require all the help they can get. Get wax polishes with carnauba wax. It's a very hard wax compound that resists regular everyday washes for a long, long time. Price for a pot is anywhere from 200-1500tk.

How to apply?
First step is to clean the car thoroughly. Use a soap/shampoo designed for car paint. That will clean dirt and grime without harming paint. Regular soap, hair shampoo and dish washing liquid is okay if you've had a squad of angry birds poop all over your car and you have no quick option. But it isn't always the best choice. Note: Dishwashing liquid is great for leaving squeaky clean glass but it can strip paint off its protection. It's also great for preparing a car BEFORE painting as it can remove almost all oils.
How to apply?
After the car is dried, apply the wax in light coats. Do the sides first as those are more tiring to work on. Buff lightly and leave a very thin layer. When that layer dries to a haze, wipe off with a clean cloth. And never wax in direct sunlight; that just leaves swirl marks on the paint.
More is better?
Actually, no. One coat of wax polish is enough. If you do it a second time, you're wiping off the first coat as you buff. That's a lot of work for nothing.
When to apply again?
Once the paint is waxed, the rain will bead off the paint like the way insults roll off the great AnantaJalil's back. It's a pretty cool sight to see water refusing to stick to a car. Just wipe off the water to dry and you're good to go. Apply wax again when the rain droplets refuse to roll off.
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