Here Are 6 Detailing Products for Your Vehicle You Should Know about

Here Are 6 Detailing Products for Your Vehicle You Should Know about

One of the key aspects of maintaining your vehicle’s resale value and preventing rust is to keep the exterior in great condition. If you want to keep your car looking like new, you can turn to a wide array of different products. Importantly, these products all help you achieve different goals, and they are not interchangeable, which is why you must familiarize yourself with the different products.

With this knowledge, you can keep your vehicle looking like it was freshly painted even after years of wear and tear. Read on to learn about some of the products that you may want to use to keep your vehicle’s paint looking fresh.

1. Waxes

Wax may be the first to come to mind when it comes to protecting the exterior of your vehicle. With wax, you can achieve a smooth and shiny finish that looks like new. In addition, it can remove some water spots and even fill in small scratches to protect the paint.

Car waxes are typically derived from palm trees such as carnauba and are either liquefied or formed into a paste. Waxes create a protective layer for the paint while also improving the overall appearance. However, applying wax takes a significant amount of time and also requires a degree of skill. Despite this, waxes are great to use after washing to help protect the finish. Make sure you purchase a high-quality wax or you may notice a streaky or hazy finish.

2. Compounds

If you need to remove a scratch from a car, then compound is the product you want. While compound will not fix major scratches, it can make smaller ones disappear.

Compound has an abrasive agent that will destroy the clear coat on the car, which is what you need to fix a scratch that has gone that deep. Basically, using a compound allows you to sand down the clear coat until you reach a smooth portion that will diminish the appearance of a scratch.

If you are removing a scratch, you will start with a rubbing compound, which is highly abrasive. You can apply the compound, which resembles toothpaste, with a buffer or by hand. With compound, you always need to be careful about removing too much clear coat and hitting the paint, which will result in even more cosmetic problems.

3. Clays

Clays, which often come in bar form, are used to remove surface contaminants from your vehicle. These contaminants stick to the finish and make it look old or weathered. Some of these contaminants include bugs, asphalt, tar, industrial fallout, and brake dust particles. If left on the surface of your vehicle, these contaminants will cause damage; also, they can be very difficult to remove by washing alone.

If left for too long, the contaminants can eat into paint and cause your vehicle to rust. You should not need to clay your vehicle often, plus you can damage the finish if you do it incorrectly. Used on occasion, however, it will help keep the surface shining. Make sure you use enough lubricant with the clay or you can leave a hazy or streaky film behind.

4. Sealants

Sealant is very similar to wax except that it is a synthetic formula that is more liquid and can be sprayed. For that reason, it is much faster to apply than wax. Typically, sealants are hydrophobic and will help keep water off your vehicle if that is a concern. You do not need to use both wax and sealant (though some people do).

Sealants tend to give your vehicle more of a mirror finish, which is the primary appeal, not to mention protection from the elements. At the same time, the gloss can look a little unnatural in comparison to that of wax, so many people prefer the latter. Try both to see which you prefer.

5. Polishes

People often confuse polish with wax. In reality, polish is a type of compound that is less abrasive. You will typically use polish after a rubbing compound to smooth the surface of the clear coat. In that way, polish works like fine-grit sandpaper. If your vehicle has faint scratches, you may be able to use polish instead of compound. At the store, you will also see chemical polish, which is meant to remove water spots and surface contaminants rather than scratches.

6. Coatings

Coatings are some of the newest products on the market. In general, amateurs should avoid applying them or they may end up causing damage. Basically, these specialized coatings act as a clear coat, so they provide a very high level of protection. Coatings can include anything from glass to silicate, but the most common materials are ceramic or nanoparticles. If you want this level of protection, you should consider going to a professional body shop unless you have detailing experience. Consumer do-it-yourself kits are available, but they can still be quite difficult to use. Getting coatings applied professionally is not a bad idea since they last up to a couple of years, which is much longer than sealants.

About the Author

A native of the tri-state area, Patrick James Smith has cultivated a lifelong love for travel during trips for work and leisure alike. In planning for his travels, he has become well-versed in the art of travel hacking and utilizing credit card rewards points to book free vacations around the globe.