Best way to maintain a paintjob?

[DM616]

I got my hood and front bumper painted, and it's like the shiniest thing I've ever seen lol.

I want to maintain this shinyness, is it just regular wash and wax or is there more to maintain it?

[MothersPolish]

Wait 90 days, or however long your shop recommended, then wax it along with the rest of the vehicle with a wax you like. I would suggest our FX SynWax paste if the rest of the vehicle is in pretty good condition.

Wash thoroughly, use Clay Bar, then wax.

After subsequent washes, use a product like our FX Spray Wax during the drying step to quickly and easily add gloss and protection.

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[DM616]

The shop never told me how long to wait, should I ask, or just wait 2-3 months? I was going to wait about 60 days.

[MothersPolish]

It certainly does not hurt to ask. Our friends at BASF paints, which Chip Foose uses, say to wait 90 days. But it can vary greatly depending on the type paint and the process they used. While factory paints are cured at the factory, it's a much different process at body shops.

The important thing is to not wax too soon -- you do not want to disrupt the curing process.

If you do want to protect the shine in the meantime while still allowing the paint to breathe, our California Gold Sealer & Glaze is an ideal product. It's not a sealer in the sense that it seals the paint, but it adds gloss and will allow you to keep the shine that you have. You could use it as often as you like, even weekly for that matter. There are not very many products like this on the market, and it is really meant to be topped with our Pure Carnauba Wax for longevity, but it gives a great depth and gloss and is ideal for uncured paint.




You can also use an instant detailer like our California Gold Showtime or any quality detailer.



Just stay away from anything that indicates it is a "wax" or "polish."

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[MothersPolish]

Now, I will add that if the rest of your vehicle needs some TLC to make it look like the newly painted panels, you can try our Ultimate Wax System -- California Gold Pre-Wax Cleaner, Sealer & Glaze, and Pure Carnauba Wax Paste (you can use the liquid, but I recommend the paste)... you would perform all three steps maybe twice a year, and alternate with steps 3 and steps 2 & 3 to maintain it...

It's an excellent system for dark colored vehicles and you can use it by hand, with the PowerBall 4Paint, or your consumer-grade random-orbital if you have one.

Don't forget to wash & clay first, of course.