If you’ve ever cruised the car wash and wax aisle of your favorite stores, or if you love to surf Amazon, you might have wondered how something as simple as car wax can cost so darn much? You can actually save money by making homemade wax for your car.
The chemical additives, as well, what the heck are those and why does the paint on my car need them?
Perhaps one of the ultimate DIY projects is to make your own car wax at home. Yes! You can really do this, and it isn’t as hard as you might think!
Let’s talks about what you need and how to create your car’s own personalized protecting wax.
Why Wax Your Car at All?
First, let’s talk for just a minute about why you are bothering to wax your ride, to begin with.
Car wax is like insurance for your paint. This is a good investment that will protect the painted surfaces of your vehicle from water, salt, the UV rays of the sun, dirt, environmental fallout, mud, insects, and the like.
Wax creates a protective barrier between the paint on your car and the elements that paint is exposed to every single day.
Like most products, car wax is only as good as the ingredients that you put into it. Making your own wax product isn’t difficult, but you need to bring together the right ingredients to make a quality wax that won’t look like you rubbed a candle over your car.
The Best Ingredients for a DIY Car Wax
You don’t need any special skills or tools to make this, just get ready to find the following ingredients. You may need to search online for some of these.
- ½ Cup of Carnauba wax
- 2-3 Tablespoons of pure bees’ wax
- 2 Cups of turpentine (paint thinner)
- 1 Tablespoon of pure pine oil
You should have a double boiler (most kitchens have one), a wooden mixing spoon that you won’t use again on food, a plastic container with a lid to put your finished product in (glass is OK as well), and a stove.
You might find all the above items at Walmart or a home improvement store like Lowe’s, but if you can’t find them, Amazon should have all these items online.
Homemade Car Wax Instructions:
Put on some gloves and wear eye protection in case the wax splatters. You might also want to wear old clothing.
Pro-Tip: Don’t reuse the double boiler for food. Some of the ingredients may stick to the pot.
- Get Out the Double Boiler
Fill the bottom portion of the double boiler about half-way full of water. Put it on the stove and turn the flame to medium-low.
- Get Your Waxes Ready
Add about ½ a cup (4 ounces) of the carnauba wax and 2 Tablespoons of beeswax inside the top portion of the boiler. Put the top portion of the boiler over the bottom portion and allow the waxes to melt together. Use the wooden spoon to gently stir the waxes until they are a smooth consistency with no lumps and appear to be well-blended.
- Turn the Flame Off
Turn off the burner on the stove and carefully remove the top portion. Set it aside to cool. You should wear gloves and place the top portion of the boiler on a trivet or wooden cutting board to prevent burns.
- Get the Other Ingredients Ready
Stir the wax gently once or twice. Once you can feel that the wax is about to harden, add 2 cups of paint thinner and 1 Tablespoon of pine oil to the wax. Stir gently with the wooden spoon until all ingredients are well combined.
- Have Your Container Ready
Transfer the wax to a plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the wax to completely cool and harden before using it.
Store the wax in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight, and keep the lid on tight when not in use.
Don’t allow the wax to freeze as your wax might become unstable and unusable.
Pro-Tip for Cleaning:
Don’t use hot water to melt the wax and pour it down the drain or the toilet as it can harden and clog your pipes.
Heat water on the stove or in the microwave and wash the boiler outside. Soap and hot water should remove most of the wax, although you might find that the smell of paint thinner lingers.
You can use your new wax product as soon as the wax is completely cool and hard. Use it as you would any other car wax product, rubbing it on one panel at a time, allowing it to dry, then rubbing it off with a clean microfiber towel.
Have you ever made your own car wax before? How did it turn out? Were you happy with the results?
We would love to hear your experiences and what recipe you used for your home-made car wax.
