How to Remove Wax From a Motorcar

Car wax is useful, but sometimes information technology needs to exist removed. Learn how to remove car wax before polishing, coating or applying fresh wax.

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Introduction

Motorcar wax is great for improving the shine and resilience of vehicle pigment, but in that location are some situations where removing it makes sense. Vehicle polishing, ceramic coating or fifty-fifty switching to a different type of wax all crave a clean, blank pigment surface. That's why, if you've waxed your vehicle, knowing how to properly remove that wax is of import. Car wax can be tricky to remove, considering it'south hard to come across and doesn't look hugely different than new, untreated paint. If you lot know at that place's wax on your auto and you know yous demand to go rid of it, here's what to do.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Dish soap
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Water
  • Wax remover (optional)

Project step-past-pace (3)

Step one

Test Your Vehicle for Wax

  • Wet your vehicle'southward surface thoroughly before beginning wax removal.
  • Await closely at the water as it flows over your car's pigment. If there's a substantial wax coating, the water will flow quickly off the paint, or bead up rather than flatly coat the surface.
    • If you lot don't observe these things, there could nonetheless be some residual wax, simply you'll need less elbow grease to clean information technology off.

Water beads on waxed car Robert Maxwell for Family Handyman

Footstep ii

Wash Vehicle Thoroughly

  • While the auto is still wet, add a dollop of patently dish lather to your saucepan.
  • Add some water to class a dainty bed of foamy suds.
  • Dip your car sponge in the saucepan, then scrub the vehicle vigorously in two- or three-human foot sections.
  • Let the soap sit on each section for a couple of minutes, and so rinse and scrub it off with your hose-attached machine washing brush.
  • Continue over the entire vehicle this mode, washing and rinsing i section at a fourth dimension.

Wiping car Robert Maxwell for Family Handyman

Footstep 3

Do a Final Wax Test and Clean More if Needed

  • Spray each section of your car with water when you think everything's clean.
  • Look closely at the water as it flows over the paint. It should behave differently than during the pre-washing test. If all the wax is gone, the water won't dewdrop up or flow off the paint as easily.
  • If you observe h2o beading and think there might still exist wax on the paint, launder that spot over again, or rub it down with some isopropyl alcohol diluted downwardly to 70 percent concentration. Then give it a terminal rinse.
  • If you've followed all the steps, your car should at present exist make clean and completely gratis of wax.

Water flowing on car Robert Maxwell for Family Handyman

Originally Published: May 28, 2020