Tag: Curing

Repainting your car is always exciting, whether you’re getting dents and scratches corrected or leveling up to a new color. The downside is that you have to wait for the paint to finish hardening before you can wax and polish it. But when can you wax a car after it’s painted?

Our professional technicians at Formula 1 Collision Center recommend waiting at least 30 days, but there’s more that goes into it. If you have questions about waxing newly-painted cars, come see the best car paint shop in Tucson, AZ, for answers.

When Can You Wax a Car After It’s Painted?

You typically need to wait 30 days to wax a car after getting it painted to ensure the sealing on it is fully hardened. Waxing too soon will result in scratched paint and you’ll have to start the entire process over again.

Aerosol Repairs

If you had your car repainted with aerosol paint, avoid waxing and commercial car washes altogether. The waxing process and stiff brushes are too harsh for the new paint. You also need to avoid gravel roads, extreme temperatures, and sunlight as much as possible.

After 30 days, you can begin waxing your vehicle every three or four months with a microfiber cloth. Do not use anything rougher than this to avoid scratching the paint.

Brush Repairs

For vehicles repainted with a brush, only wash by hand during the first 30 days, and avoid waxing and polishing. You should be able to wax and wash your vehicle in commercial car washes after 30 days.

Mistakes To Avoid When Waxing a Newly-Painted Car

There are many mistakes you can make after getting your car repainted. For the best results, avoid the following:

• Not waiting for curing and drying: Keep your vehicle out of the elements for the first 30 days to allow the vehicle to cure and dry fully. Attempting to wax the vehicle during this time will mess up the sealant and potentially the paint.
• Applying wax in sunlight: Sunlight will dry the wax too fast, and you’ll have to scrub extra hard. You shouldn’t wax within the first 30 days to start with, but doing it in the sunlight will surely damage the paint job.
• Not cleaning the car first: Always wash your vehicle before applying a new coat of wax. You could damage the vehicle if you attempt to wax while debris is on the car.
• Polishing with the wrong amount of wax: Too little wax won’t protect the car, while too much is hard to remove.

Trust Formula 1 Collision Center With Your Car

Formula 1 Collision Center can help with all your vehicle questions. If you’re wondering how to keep your paint job looking good or asking, “When can you wax a car after it’s painted?” we can help. We’ll explain everything you need to know for proper after care after we repaint your car, so you’ll never be left in the dark about when to wax your vehicle.

Next time you need your car repainted, call our shop at (520) 369-4291. Find out more.