Paste wax has a reputation for being an antiquated way to keep a car protected in a world of advanced paint sealants and easy-to-apply spray waxes. The mention of paste wax probably produces images of your grandparents desperately trying to keep rust at bay on their Rover with a dented tin of Turtle Wax (applied with an oily rag more often than not).
The fact is that paste wax still has a place in this modern world. Nothing (other than a ceramic coating) comes close to the level of protection offered by a properly applied paste wax, and the deep glossy shine offered is unmatched. Paste waxes have also been fettled by science in recent years and now come with all the bells and whistles you'd ever want, including graphene and ceramic-infused options.
The best paste car wax
The best paste car wax
Bilt Hamber is an industry innovator when it comes to exceptional results at reasonable prices. Inside this understated metal tin is a blend of T1 carnauba wax and advanced hydrophobic polymers, designed to both offer hydrophobic protection and a deep glossy shine to the paintwork.
It's rather old-fashioned in that it can only be applied to cool, shaded panels and requires up to 10 minutes to cure before buffing. Still, it's suitable for both solid and metallics paints of any colour and gets our top pick for offering such good performance for such a reasonable price. The fact it comes with a foam applicator and microfibre buffing towel only sweetens the deal.
The best paste car wax for protection
www.halfords.com
Turtle Wax is trying to shake off the rather fusty reputation it has for middle-of-the-road performance with its really impressive Hybrid range of products. At the forefront of this is its new graphene and ceramic-infused paste wax designed to offer a minimum of 12 months of protection. Graphene-infused car care products are touted as the next big thing in automotive care thanks to easy application and next-level protection.
Made of over 10 different types of waxes, this wax was introduced to celebrate 75 years of Turtle Wax and offers almost unparalleled levels of hydrophobic protection. This kit also contains a foam applicator and soft buffing towel to give you the best results possible.
The best paste car wax for glossy paintwork
A classic of car care, Autoglym is always a safe pair of hands and its Ultra High Definition (UHD) wax is precisely that. Made of a blend of ingredients including premium carnauba wax, this wax will produce a mirror-like shine in paintwork while also offering excellent hydrophobic protection.
Sporting the fanciest packaging of any wax here, UHD feels like an occasion to apply to the car - helped in part by the premium foam applicator and excellent buffing towel included. It requires 10-15 minutes curing time before buffing but that shine is worth the wait. Just be careful not to apply it to unpainted plastic or rubber as it'll leave greasy marks.
The best paste car wax on a budget
www.eurocarparts.com
Looking for something a little more affordable? EZ Car Care offers a load of excellent paste waxes and the cheapest example is this 50ml example. Made from Brazillian T1 carnauba wax and enhanced with wetting efforts, this wax will offer up to four months of protection when applied with two coats and is our top budget pick for paste car wax.
The best paste car wax for black cars
Black cars are notoriously hard to keep shiny and scratch-free which means there are specialised waxes designed specifically for black cars. This example from Soft99 is one such example and is designed to hide small surface scratches and ensure that black and dark paintwork looks as good as possible while also offering hydrophobic protection.
Why would you choose paste wax?
Protection - Out of the different car wax types, paste wax will last the longest and offer the best, most conclusive protection. The application may be a tad laborious but all that buffing and curing will give a better shine and help ensure that the wax is probably applied. It's also arguably the most cost-effective in terms of wasted product too, a thin layer is all that's needed and it's easier to regulate wax usage when the product is solid.
Storage - Solids are denser than liquids so a paste wax doesn't require a large bottle to store it in like a liquid or spray wax does. The paste also makes spillages next to impossible, something you'll need to bear in mind with liquid and spray waxes.
Satisfaction - A personal point here, but there's something deeply satisfying about applying paste wax with an applicator and buffing it to perfection. It makes even the most basic car look as though it's received a Concours level of care.