Hot wax car wash: what it does
Our Gold wash finishes with Simoniz hot wax and shine and Rain-X on the glass. Here is what that does for your paint, and when a hand wax is the better call.
What hot wax does
Hot wax is a warm liquid wax applied in the tunnel after the wash. It adds gloss, helps water bead and roll off, and leaves a thin protective layer between the paint and the sun, dust and road film. Rain-X on the glass does the same job for the windshield, so rain sheds instead of smearing.
Hot wax vs a hand wax
| Hot wax in the tunnel | Hand wax detail | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Applied in the wash, then hand dried | Meguiar's wax applied and buffed by hand |
| Time | About five minutes | About an hour |
| Price | $21 single Gold wash, or the Gold plan | $125 for a car |
| Best for | Keeping a clean car protected week to week | Bringing back deep gloss and lifting light oxidation |
How often
Hot wax is light protection, so it works best on repeat. That is why it is in the Gold plan: wash weekly and the paint stays topped up. Add a hand wax every two to three months for a car that lives outside.
Questions
For a car you wash often, yes. It adds shine and helps water and dust come off at the next wash. For deep gloss, book a hand wax.
The Gold wash, $21 single or $39.99 a month on sale with the Gold plan. Uncle Sam and Stars & Stripes washes include the Gold wash too.
Simoniz hot wax and shine in the tunnel, and Meguiar's wax for hand wax details.