Article by Justin Pritchard
Spring has sprung, and car buffs everywhere are making the annual pilgrimage to the car-care isle in search of products that’ll honour, shine and glorify their rides with glimmering, lustrous paint and wheels and tires.
This sacred activity is one of great importance for enthusiasts, and very much a springtime ritual. It typically involves standing in front of an array of car cleaning stuff for up to an hour, reading labels, smelling the formulations, and devising an idea of which will leave your ride the most protected, shiny and coveted by your fellow man.
Thing is, there’s so much selection, the task of choosing the proper products can often be a tough one fraught with promises, alternatives, terminologies and flashy packaging.
So, I talked to Karen Fuoco, the Category Business Manager of Car Cleaning for Canadian Tire. Those products you see every spring on the shelves? Karen’s the lady who makes sure the best, hottest and most popular ones are available.
I asked some questions to help sort through the ever-evolving world of car-care products ahead of the hallowed springtime car cleaning pilgrimage. Some practical cleaning advice is provided, too.
JP: Can you help decipher the confusing terminologies. What’s a wax? A polish? Which will make my ride the sexiest?
KF: Polish is slightly abrasive and removes slight imperfections like swirl marks or water spots in a vehicle’s paint surface. A wax is non-abrasive and coats the paint finish to enhance and protect it. To fully enhance and protect your vehicle’s paint work, both of these products are needed. It’s a two-step process.
Note: A ‘glaze’ treatment is typically considered optional, and is applied between the polish and wax steps to perfect the paint surface ahead of the wax layer. It can enhance shine and eliminate haze, but a glaze isn’t a replacement for a polish or wax. Don’t attempt to use a polish or glaze with a high-speed buffer, or without reading the instructions fully. You could ruin your paint.
   Super Resin Polish, High Definition Wax, Cleaning Towels. Click image to enlarge |
JP: What is the best sort of car-wash soap to cleanse my ride of impurities? Can’t I just use some Palmolive from the kitchen sink?
KF: No! When washing your car, avoid using dish soap/detergent at all costs! It can strip layers of protective wax on your car as a result of their grease fighting chemicals. In terms of the best type of car wash soap – it’s really a matter of preference, but keep in mind that it’s not the amount of suds that is important, but rather how well the soap cleans your car. It needs to be strong enough to get rid of all the road grime, dirt and bugs, while not removing wax from the paint.
Notes: That protective layer of wax on your ride’s paint? Palmolive thinks it greasy thanksgiving turkey stuffing on a porcelain plate – so it strips it clean. One wash with dish soap will leave your vehicles paint dry and unprotected and fully exposed to the elements.
   Custom Wheel Cleaner, Rim Protectant, Endurance Tire Spray. Click image to enlarge |
JP: Wheels are the only moving part of the car. What can I do to make mine look great?
KF: Start with a rim cleaner like the Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner, which will help to dissolve brake dust, corrosion and traffic film – you may want to also use a tire brush to help loosen up the dirt and grime that have become stuck on the rims. After the rims have been cleaned, polish them using a wheel polishing kit that attaches to a regular drill and will safely polish delicate and tricky areas. Seal the rim with a Rim Protectant that will help to repel brake dust, road grime and dirt and keep your rims looking great for up to four weeks. The finishing touch is a tire shine – try the new Meguiar’s Endurance Tire Spray. It gives tires a high-gloss shine that lasts for weeks and helps to prevent tires from browning.
Notes: Brake dust is nasty stuff – so be sure to use a different rag or brush to clean your wheels than the one you’re using on your paint. Wash your paint with a brake-dust soaked rag, and you’ll scratch and damage it. Use a newspaper or other ‘shield’ to keep tire-shine from spraying on your freshly waxed paint, where it will smudge and smear. A light coating should keep it from ‘flinging’ off of your wheels.
JP: My neighbour sees me wax my car every Sunday. She says I’m going to wax the paint right off of it. Is she right? Is it possible to wash or wax my car too often?
KF: Depending on the environmental elements that your car is exposed to (eg. constant sun), your car may need to be waxed more often. Think of your car as your skin and wax as your suntan lotion – the longer you are in the sun, the more often you have to reapply. In theory, you should only need to wax your car 4-6 times each year. Try using a spray detailer to extend the life of your wax. It will help to eliminate streaks, spots and create an instant gloss.
Notes: Turns out, spray detailer is great stuff. You can give your car a freshly waxed look in mere minutes before heading to the car show on Sunday afternoon. Many a professional detail shop recommend infrequent waxing and more frequent touch-ups with the spray detailer.
JP: Synthetic wax? Carnauba wax? Which is best?
KF: This is a matter of preference – carnauba wax is all natural and will provide a deep shine, but must be reapplied more frequently than synthetic waxes. Synthetic waxes are often thought of as being more affordable than their counterparts and easier to apply, but do not provide the same showroom shine that is achieved using carnauba wax. Personally, I prefer carnauba wax.
Notes: Carnauba wax can have a ‘stickier’ compound than the synthetic stuff, making it more difficult to ‘buff’ off. If you’re going with Carnauba wax this season, be sure to consider an electric polisher to make the process easier. Your biceps and forearms will thank you.
   Convertible Top Protector, DA Power System, Perfect Palm Applicator. Click image to enlarge |
JP: Do those magic-looking scratch fillers that wipe on and wipe off actually work?
KF: The effectiveness of these types of products depends on the depth of your scratch. Lightly run your fingernail across the scratch – if it gets caught, the scratch may be too deep to repair on your own and may need to be fixed by a professional.
JP: I’ve got a buddy with an old Mustang. It’s pink and faded, but used to be red and glossy. The paint looks dried up and rough. Can anything bring the colour back?
KF: Absolutely! Start off with a good wash, and then apply Autoglym’s Super Resin Polish with the “Perfect Palm Applicator”. Spread the polish over the vehicle in a circular motion, finishing in straight lines before treating the next section. Allow the polish to dry before lightly buffing with a microfibre towel. For extra protection and shine, follow up with the High Definition Wax.
Notes: A multi-step process, possibly including a clay-bar, polish and sealer/wax can bring depth and colour back to faded and ‘dry’ looking paint, too. Expect to spend an afternoon doing some elbow work, but the results will speak for themselves. I’ve had great luck with the Mothers Three-Step kit on my Toyota MR2, which had paint that was rough to the touch and faded after 20 years of sun exposure.
JP: What car cleaning products or product lines are you most excited about this year?
KF: There are a number of new products I’m excited about this spring. For instance, the Dyson Car & Boat Vac makes it easy to keep your car looking great. It’s got constant suction and a car charger, too. We’ve also got the Autoglym Convertible Top Maintenance System, which is our first product designed specifically for convertible models. It comes with a cleaner, protector and sponge to keep your summer ride looking great.
