How often should a car be polished and waxed?
2 Answers
There is no fixed cycle for car body polishing. The purpose of polishing is to better protect the car paint. Below is some relevant information about car polishing: 1. Car detailing: Car polishing is part of the car detailing process. Before waxing, sealing, or coating, the car should be polished first. This is because sealing and coating require prior polishing, and only a finely polished car can achieve a mirror-like finish. This is a necessary step for sealing. 2. Advantages: Polishing itself does not harm the car paint; on the contrary, it helps to better protect the paint. It can remove oxidized paint and various foreign substances on the car body, eliminate fine scratches on the paint surface, and treat minor damages and stains on the car paint.
After driving for over a decade, I believe the frequency of polishing and waxing should be determined by individual car usage. My older sedan is often parked in open-air parking lots, exposed to sun, rain, and wind, which makes the paint prone to oxidation and dullness. Therefore, I'm accustomed to waxing every four to six months, opting for solid wax for longer-lasting effects—spray liquid wax is convenient but offers shorter protection. As for polishing, I don't do it frequently since each session removes a thin layer of paint. I only consider it when there are noticeable scratches, oxidation spots, or significant loss of gloss, typically every two years or so. Once, I over-polished out of impulse, thinning the paint and causing water marks—now I'm much more cautious. Waxing at home isn’t hard; just apply it evenly after washing. Polishing is best left to professionals, as they use thickness gauges to avoid damage. The key is to monitor the paint’s condition regularly, avoid rigid schedules, and maintain protection to keep the car shiny and preserve its value.
