Can a wash and wax type car shampoo replace waxing?
If you consider yourself a fastiduous car owner who spends hours grooming his car, then this isn’t even a question. The answer to you, would be an unequivocal “No!”
But for the majority of car owners who just want a more convenient way of keeping their car clean, it is definitely worth asking.
What is a “wash and wax” shampoo anyway?
A wash and wax shampoo is a two-in-one product. As its name indicates, it contains surfactants that help clean your car’s surface, while leaving behind a thin layer of wax to help protect your paintwork against contaminants.
Products like these save you from the extra step (steps, actually) of waxing your car.
So, can a wash and wax shampoo replace waxing then?
Technically, yes. If you always park under shelter and wash your car at least once a week and remove contaminants (such as bird poop) almost as soon as they hit your car, then a wash and wax shampoo could take the place of actual waxing.
But speaking as someone who enjoys grooming his car, a wash and wax shampoo will never be able to truly replace replace the actual waxing process and its advantages.
What does waxing do that a wash and wax shampoo cannot?
A proper wax can enhance and protect a car’s paintwork better than a 2-in-1 product.
Waxing your car also involves several steps, of which washing is one of them.
After washing and drying your car, the paintwork must be inspected for bonded contaminants, which must be removed using automotive clay. This is called surface prep.
Prepping the surface will then enable the wax to bond properly with your paint. When this happens, the the finish will become even glossier and the protection can last longer.
If you can spare the time, performing waxing as a separate step will yield results that are superior to what any 2-in-1 formula can deliver.
