Scuba Ghost

Will using a clay bar remove old dried on wax? If so which is a decent clay bar to use?

KBsToy

Not really it may take alittle off but a dedicated wax cleaner / polisher /cleaning enhancer will work.

http://www.autogeek.net/pinpainclean.html

http://www.autogeek.net/wg2000.html

cmonkey713

Do you mean dried wax on the paint or on black plastic trim?

Clay bar will not remove dried wax on black plastic trim.
There are products that will do the job from Autogeek. I have used peanut butter to remove dried wax on black trim with good results. It is the enzymes in the peanut butter that breaks down the wax for easy removal.

Scuba Ghost

Sorry for the confusion...dried on wax from paint.

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

Peanut Butter .... sometimes peanut oil. Most of the time dried wax is found on trim and these products work well and found around the home. Now wax in the cracks (white areas) often are a little more stubborn. I find a soft toothbrush or a paint brush (cut bristles down about 1/3 the way) can help as it often needs agitation.

Scuba Ghost

Maybe I need to explain further. I'm talking about wax I didn't completely remove from the body panels. Just some missed spots on the roof and several panels.
Still use peanut butter?

0Adam's Polish

I think you would want to remove all the dried wax before claying. Like mentioned use a soft tooth brush, and I would saturate it first off with Detail Spray or Waterless Wash and let it soak for a bit. Good luck!

Bellebuddy1

I would suggest washing the car with Dawn dishwashing liquid then clay the car then reapply a good wax or sealant. That is what I would do, your mileage may vary!! Good luck.

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

I would first start with a damp towel. It will likely depend on how long the wax was able to dry and sit in heat. This works when wax is fresh and usually a car stored in garage. I have used this with some success when a wax or sealant is hard to remove and car is outside of heat. (wax is still freshly applied)

If this doesn't work .. and it might not then I would try either a claybar, polish, or paint cleanser. In each of these cases you will need to reapply the protection afterwards. An abrasive polish is likely going to be the ultimate answer, but I always suggest using less abrasive methods first.

If you used a coating (not a wax or sealant), then polishing is the only choice. Once they cure they are quite hard and can only be removed by an abrasive product.

Scuba Ghost

Today with the temp near 60 here in Nashville I decided to detail my wife's CR-V (with the dried on wax).
I found some liquid polishing compound in the garage and thought "what the heck I'll try it on those spots". Sure enough the polishing compound removed all the dried on wax.
Now her CR-V is dried on wax free and from now on I am only going to use liquid spray wax.

yamabob

If thats the case- I highly recommend Prima's Hydro Max!

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

Great product ....several other great spray waxes are also available. Aquawax, Optimums Spray Wax, Reload, and Blackfire Spray Sealant.

Jim D.

Just try re-applying wax (the same wax or a different wax -- your choice) in the same area. Remove as directed. That should solve your problem.

Clay should also solve your problem, but you'll need to re-wax anyway, and that should solve your problem in one step.

Jim D.
Tech Support, Mothers Polishes-Waxes-Cleaners

Scuba Ghost

Thanks for the reply Jim but I tried that and it didn't work. A very thin coat of compound did the trick. For now on this spray wax only for me.