If you are a car owner you already know how important car wax is in order to protect your car from grease, stains, dirt, and also to protect from harsh weather.
But as waxing a car is essential every three months, knowing how long a can of car wax can provide effective results is very important.
Car wax doesn’t technically have any expiration date. You can keep on using the same can of car wax for years. Nevertheless, many experts suggest to use a can of car wax for no longer than two years, if it was stored correctly.
In this article, I will talk more on how long you can safely use car wax, how to store it properly to ensure they maintain their quality the longest and more.
Does Car Wax Expire?
The answer to this question is no. Car wax doesn’t really expire. Even the cans they come in most of the time don’t have any expiration date. As a result, some people may face confusion as to how long one should be using car wax and expecting good results.
And some people may think as they don’t have expiration dates, it’s fine to keep using them for years.
But the fact is, even though car wax doesn’t technically expire, it still loses its attributes over time. This may happen due to cold weather or exposure to heat. If it is not stored properly then the performance of the car wax won’t be as great as expected.
But it is also important to keep in mind that, even if you store your car wax perfectly, you shouldn’t be using it for more than 2 years.
Most of the experts claim that high-quality wax that’s correctly stored can give you the result you want for two years but after that, the outcome won’t be as expected.
It is also important to keep in mind that this deadline is only an estimation and an accurate deadline is not possible to provide as different car waxes have different ingredients and not everyone stores them the same way.
In the end, it is up to you to decide if you want to throw away the car wax after two years or if you want to keep on using it. Just apply a coat of wax on a body panel and see how it performs.
If you are happy with the performance, there is no reason why you should get rid of the car wax, even if it is older than two years.
How to Properly Store Car Wax?
It is essential to know the proper way of storing car wax because without following some specific steps of storing your car wax the product may be ruined prematurely.
So, make sure to follow the below-mentioned steps so that your can of car wax can provide optimum performance for the longest.
Here is a tip for you, if you want to use your car wax after having it stored in the refrigerator:
Make sure to let it warm up until it reaches room temperature.
This way the car wax will be much easier to apply and the performance will be more consistent. Letting the car wax warm up to room temperature can take a while, so it is best to remove it from the refrigerator the night before you want to apply it.
If you follow the above-mentioned steps you won’t be facing any problems regarding the quality and outcome of your car wax. Therefore, the importance of storing your car wax properly is high.
Do Ceramic Coatings Expire?
Most of the ceramic coatings come with expiration dates. But they can be used past that date if stored properly. Ceramic coating can last years in bottles with a properly working lid. Light and temperature can also affect the longevity of the coating stored in bottles.
Ceramic coatings come with expiration dates, but can be used past that date. The longevitiy of the product is influences by the storage and the quality. Some ceramic coatings expire after two years while some are know to last seven years or longer.
Ceramic coating is the most popular term for most car enthusiasts today. Some new car buyers plan to ceramic coat their car even before buying their cars. Ceramic coating is a clear coat that consists of a liquid polymer.
The ceramic coating enhances the protection of car paint and also the shine of the paint. It helps to keep the paint looking new for a longer period of time. It can also make your car easier to clean.
When the ceramic coating is applied, the polymer creates a bond with the factory paint. And after that abrasion is the only way to remove it. So, you can say that ceramic coating can last for a long time if it is applied properly.
If we talk about the lifespan and durability of the ceramic coating, a lot of factors have to be considered. There are ceramic coatings of different brands in the market each providing promising different lengths for their products shelf life.
Some manufacturers provide a 2 years warranty and some provide 7 years. Generally, the ones that offer a longer expiration date also seem to cost more as well.
It generally boils down to the quality of the product; the quality of the packaging and the care users take of the product after opening it.
Do Spray Sealants Expire?
Spray sealants do not have an expiration date. Nevertheless, spray sealants lose their effectiveness over time if they are not stored properly. If a spray sealant is stored properly, it can be used for years without worries.
Automotive spray sealants are generally produced by the manufacturers of car waxes and polishes. They are designed to create a thin layer of protection to the factory paint and clear coat. They can secure the clear coat by prohibiting contaminants and UV rays.
Most of the spray sealants can hold up to around four to six months. Some premium-grade sealants can last more than a year.
If the spray sealant cans are stored properly, you can increase their longevity. Just like other car care products, heat can affect the shelf life of spray sealants as well. So, the place of storage plays a vital role to maintain the quality of the product.
Most people use spray sealant for a quick detail and also to provide care to the car paint on a regular basis. It saves time and generally it gives more protection than wax.
They make the paint hydrophobic so that it’s easier to clean and you don’t have to worry about watermarks.
Proper application can also increase sealants’ longevity. Before application, you have to do some prep work. You have to clean the car properly. Make sure the surface is dust-free to let the sealant adhere to the surface. This way the sealant has a better chance of attaching to the car surface and provides protection to your car’s paint longer.
Basically, when it comes to the expiration of spray sealants the usage and storage have a much larger part to play.
If you do not store them properly then the sealant won’t last long and become less effective over time. If you do not apply them properly, you will not get the optimum result from it and the protection will wear off much faster.
How To Tell If Car Wax Has Gone Bad
Maybe you do not remember when you bought the car wax and you wonder if you can still use it. There are some easy ways to tell if the car wax has gone bad.
In general, old car wax that has gone bad will start to separate into an oily film and solid parts. Old car wax also tends to change color and texture. This wax can still be used but the protective properties are likely to have changed.
