After giving your car a good scrub down with the appropriate hardware, you’ll want to keep it as close to godliness for as long as possible with a decent polish and a wax coating.
While polish removes dirt from the surface of a car’s paint – leaving an appealing shine in its wake – a layer of wax will protect it from the elements and maintain that sparkling sheen for longer. You can check out our list of great waxes here, but the result of wax or polish is only as good as the tools and techniques used to apply it. Poorly done, and you may end up in more trouble than you started with.
> The Ultimate Guide to Car Care
Can’t I just use a normal sponge?
For a clean, consistent layer across the whole car, a good quality applicator sponge pad is key. These sponges will not deform as quickly nor as easily as regular sponges, allowing for uniform application across wide surface areas with room for greater attention to detail on the job.
Although lighter in comparison to regular sponges, they are still robust and malleable enough to be used across the whole bodywork, including wheel dressings and even upholstery polishing should you fancy.
How to apply dressings with an applicator sponge
• Before applying your wax or polish, thoroughly scrub the intended areas of your car down, removing all contaminants from the surface.
• To apply polish or wax using an applicator sponge, first prime the sponge by adding a small amount of liquid to it.
• Then, gently rub the liquid onto the paintwork in small Miyagi swirls, making sure to apply with even and consistent pressure across the applicator sponge during this process. Take your time with it – consistency is the key to best results.
• Once the area has been evenly covered, wipe it down immediately using a clean microfibre cloth.
• If starting with polish, repeat the same movement again with another clean applicator sponge to apply wax to the surface.
There are several different types of applicator sponges with different benefits, so we’ve collated a list of our favourites.
These pads can also be used on the car’s interior for dust removal and upholstery/furniture polishing all within their capabilities, guaranteeing a revitalised look without risk of damage or scratching each time. To reuse, simply wash these applicators in water then apply again.
Whether it be for polishing leather upholstery, applying tyre dressings or on the bodywork itself, these pads would make a great addition to your car detailing kit. At just under £5 for a pack of two, they’re also a bargain.
Don’t fancy getting your hands dirty? These sponges feature an ergonomic plastic handle to keep your fingertips away from the grease and to secure a firm grip. Decontaminate with detergent or wash under the tap for reuse – just make sure the sponge is completely dry first.
They can be used on either the exterior of the vehicle or for interior polishing too. Once the job is done, throw these pads into the washing machine, after which they’ll be ready to use again.
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