Polish vs. Wax: Which One is Better?

Keeping your vehicle's paint job looking neat and new takes quite some work. It often entails waxing and polishing the cars. But, while the two keep your vehicle looking fantastic, they are not the same. It is vital to understand what sets these two apart to ensure you know what your car needs.

How to Use

Both polishing and waxing vehicle surfaces are pretty straightforward. However, for the best outcomes, there are some essential steps you need to follow.

1. Polish

Step 1: Prepare and Clean the Surface

Polish application should always start with a thorough cleanup on the vehicle surface. Cleaning removes road grime and dirt, which can make polishing harder and less effective.

Also, as you prepare the surface, you might need to eliminate other imperfections like deeper scratches that the polish cannot remove.

Step 2: Dry the Surface

Once the surface is ready and clean, the next step is to dry it well with a soft microfiber cloth because the polish will not adhere well to wet car paint.

Step 3: Apply Polish

The third step is the actual polish application, and this step is where you need to be extra careful to ensure you get things right.

Here you should apply a small amount of polish to your foam pad or microfiber cloth, depending on whether you are working by hand or with an orbital polisher.

You can then work in the polish onto the vehicle. Some people will use circular motions, while others prefer to start with an up and down action and then transition to a left to right movement.

Step 4: Buff the Vehicle

Some polish types will require you to give them a few minutes to cure while others cure immediately. Once cured, you should finish by giving the vehicle a nice buff using a microfiber cloth for a clean, shiny finish.

2. Wax

Step 1: Clean and Dry Vehicle

Like polish, car wax adheres well to a clean and dry surface. Therefore, the first step when using wax is to clean the vehicle and dry it with a soft cloth.

Step 2: Apply Wax

The next step is the actual application, and here you can apply the wax directly to the vehicle surface or on a microfiber cloth. Afterwards, rub in the wax using a microfiber cloth or an orbital buffer. However, make sure you use a circular motion for a neat and uniform finish.

Step 3: Buff the Vehicle

Buffing is often an optional step when applying wax. If you use the wax correctly, it should leave the vehicle's surface with a good enough shine. But, if you have an orbital buffer, you can still do it for an even better finish.

What is Polish?

Car polish is a paste or liquid compound made from various ingredients like silicone, wax, solvents and emulsifiers, depending on the type. Polish removes oxidation, swirls, scratches and other surface imperfections.

The primary purpose of polish is to restore an automotive paint that has lost its luster because of oxidation. Hence, you should always use car polish before the application of other things like wax.

Car polish can be abrasive or non-abrasive, but it generally works by removing a thin layer of the paint to ensure the scratches and other imperfections are less visible.

What is Wax?

Wax is a natural or sometimes synthetic product formulated to provide an extra layer of protection to a vehicle's paint job.

Most car waxes in the market today are made from natural wax types like beeswax and carnauba and include other ingredients such as petroleum distillates and mineral oils.

Unlike polish, wax does not remove any paint from the vehicle and instead smooths things out and gives the surface an extra shine.