Taking the wax off too soon is a major problem. I’ve made a research to help you understand: what is that perfect moment to slip the microfiber over and buff out your car?
Here comes a hold-true list of tips:
Want a detailed answer? Read on to see an in-depth table, tips to avoid common mistakes, and useful information about coating your car.
What Affects Wax Drying Time
The main contributors are ambient air temperature and humidity. The presence of wind, time of day, and air composition are also influential.
This is a table based on the results of other car lovers.
| Type of Wax | Temperature | Humidity | Drying Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste(Synthetic) | 92F | 60% | 15min |
| Paste(Synthetic) | 100F | 60% | 13min |
| Paste(Synthetic) | 85F | 81% | 22min |
| Paste(Synthetic) | 85F | 65% | 17min |
| Natural Paste(Carnauba) | 72F | 65% | 8min |
| Natural Paste(Carnauba) | 78F | 67% | 7min |
| Natural Paste(Carnauba) | 66F | 80% | 10min |
| Liquid (Synthetic) | 60F | 50% | 4min |
| Liquid (Synthetic) | 79F | 64% | 4min |
| Spray(Synthetic) | 67F | 74% | 10min |
| Spray(Synthetic) | 59F | 86% | 19min |
To understand when to remove the haze from the car, you can refer to the values in the table closest to your numbers (ask google about local weather)
Looking closely, one can conclude that the less humid the air, the faster the components dry out.
Wind and heat will also speed up the process. However, do not overdo it by putting the car in direct sunlight, it will only complicate the stage of cleaning the car.
Ideally, you should do it in a dry garage, at moderate temperatures.
If the outside index is below 55F and the humidity tends to 100%, it is better to postpone the activity.
The shape and composition of the product affect the final timer before polishing.
This is due to the chemical and physical properties of the substances. For example, natural carnauba pastes require up to 10 minutes on average.
While synthetics need up to twice as much, from 10 to 20 minutes. Liquid solutions usually contain petroleum and solvents which make it easier for them to spread over the surface.
Higher evaporation rate, meaning less drying out.
The thickness of the wax layer makes a difference. The thinner you spread the product on the surface, the faster it will be ready for removal.
You can easily check this by running a clean and dry finger over the treated surface after some time.
If your finger does not stick and there is some sort of dust on it, then you have done everything right. Otherwise, you may want to wait a little longer.
How Long Does Car Wax Take To Dry?
As shown in the table above, temperature and humidity have a big effect on the time it takes car war to dry.
As a general rule, car wax will take up to 25 minutes to fully dry.
Of course, some car waxes take less time, but after 25 minutes all car waxes should have dried off so you can start buffing the car.
But beware, there is a big difference between the drying time and the curing time of car wax.
Keep on reading to find out!
Сommon Mistakes Related to Drying of Wax
When I started researching the topic, I was most confused by two words: drying and curing.
I want you to understand the big difference to save tons of time. They are often used interchangeably, but the thing is they are not the same.
Drying:
The time it takes for sealant or wax product to form a residual (haze) on the surface after application.
It changes depending on the composition of the product and environment. Once you remove the haze, it’s curing.
Curing:
A process of “healing” of the product. Time to set around and bond with the paint layer of the car.
One reason for the confusion is that the drying time for carnauba coincides with curing, but for synthetics items timer can reach up to 72 hours.
Imagine you are painting a wall. If you keep smearing liquid paint on the wall, the thickness of the coat is unlikely to change.
You would just be transferring paint from the wall to the can and vice versa. Now imagine that you apply a coat and let it heal.
Then the new paint will have no problem laying on top of the old paint. It’s the same with the car.
| Type of product | Drying time | Curing time |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Carnauba | 10 min | 10min to 24 hours(optional, not required) |
| Synthetic Sealant | 10 to 20 min | 2 — 72 hours |
Rubbing Technique
The label refers to the optimum 15 minutes, you follow the advice and check the wax after a quarter of an hour. It’s not ready… what could it be and how do I know what to do?
The thing is that the dampened cloth or applicator pad has absorbent properties.
You are spreading the wax over the surface and at the same time, you are absorbing it back in.
This affects the overall drying time.
The problem can be avoided by moistening the cloth in advance with a little liquid. It is best to use a little of the same product that you rub in.
Surrounding
The manufacturer’s instructions (including approximate drying time and tips) imply that you avoid the following mistakes:
Related Questions
How long to leave wax on the car?
The usual values for liquid waxes are 5-10 minutes, while the typical range for pastes is 10-20 minutes. If you compare natural and in-lab products, the latter takes a little longer to dry, up to 30 minutes for optimal conditions (60 to 80 degrees F and humidity up to 80%)
Can I leave wax for a long time?
Nothing serious will happen. The only downside is that it will be harder for you to remove the wax when you need to do so. Especially if you have used a machine. Contaminants and dust from the air will stick to the residual layer, making the buffing off process more time-consuming.
How to speed up the drying of the wax?
If you provide a temperature of 60 to 80 degrees F and the lowest possible humidity, the drying process will go the fastest. The thickness of the layer to be applied also has an effect. You want a thin, barely noticeable coat.
Are liquid waxes better than pastes?
Those are two forms of the same thing. Pastes are better for handwork, while liquids are more suitable for applicator pad. A popular opinion among enthusiasts is that paste is more reliable in terms of protection, although it also has certain disadvantages. Liquids, on the other hand, have quicker and more practical application. Which is a goldmine for modern automobilists.
