Trying to find the best spray wax that will provide lasting shine for your vehicle’s exterior can be frustrating. Spray wax can help keep your car looking fresh in between washes, while protecting it from the elements — like rain and dirt. But with so many options, how can you know which spray will be best for you and your car?
I’ve tested tons of different waxes so you can easily find one that works for your needs, and add some shine and a little protection to your car’s paint. The best spray car wax can save you time and cut the work in half, while giving your car the shiny and clean appearance you want. That said, it’s important to understand that even the best spray car wax can’t truly replace traditional car waxes, such as paste wax or liquid wax. Still, the best spray wax can make your auto’s paint job dazzle.
Read on for our top picks for best spray car wax, and stick around for tips to keep your paint job looking its best.
Shine Armor
This right here is our top pick: Shine Armor’s Liquid Spray Car Wax. It leaves such a buttery-smooth top coat of paint behind, it almost feels like cheating since it’s so easy to use. You don’t have to go overboard with applying a ton of this wax product, so just spray and wipe it with a clean microfiber cloth. It’s that simple, and you won’t be disappointed with the high gloss result on your car’s paintwork.
Adam’s
Adam’s keeps its car cleaning gear’s names short and sweet. This is just called “Spray Wax,” and it doesn’t need any fancy label or name on the spray bottle to do its job. The carnauba-infused wax works and covers a car’s paint with a sleek-feeling protective layer that’s super easy to apply. And that’s that with minimal elbow grease from working it in with a clean microfiber towel. Shine Armor seems to bring out more of a sparkle in a paint job, but you won’t go wrong with a car’s shine provided by Adam’s.
Meguiar’s
For $9, you can get a darn good carnauba spray wax sealant. And Meguiar’s knows its car detailing products. It’s a well-known brand for a reason: Meguiar’s chemicals do a wonderful job on your car’s painted surface without a lot of the fancy frill. Is it the best car wax product? No, not to us. Does it still do a good shine job on a car’s finish? Absolutely, especially for the price.
Turtle Wax
We listed this guy in our Best Car Waxes for 2022 roundup, but since we’re specifically talking about spray waxes here, Turtle Wax’s ICE Spray Wax needs another callout. It’s a mighty affordable synthetic wax and provides such a wonderful result for the price that it’s hard to pass up. This Turtle Wax spray is probably not on the same level as Meguiar’s product, but it’s another solid synthetic car wax spray option you should try to shine your car’s paint.
Chemical Guys
Don’t let the name put you off. Chemical Guys’ Blazin’ Banana Spray Wax does the job, and it does it very well. If you’re a carnauba wax traditionalist, this is a great product that features a natural carnauba wax formula for a super brilliant clear coat shine to your vehicle’s finish. Bonus: This finishing wax smells like bananas, if you happen to like the scent.
Griot’s Garage
Honestly, this one was a toss-up because Griot’s Garage and Chemical Guys’ carnauba spray waxes are both really great. We think CG’s does a slightly better job on a paint job, and it’s also the same price as the Griot’s Garage product. But, both of them stick with lots of carnauba for that butter-slick car surface feeling after you’re finished.
Comparison of the best spray waxes for 2022
|
Brand | Name | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Best spray car wax overall | Shine Armor | Liquid Spray Car Wax | $20 |
Best spray car wax overall runner-up | Adam’s | Spray Wax | $15 |
Best cheap spray car wax | Meguiar’s | Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Quik Wax | $9 |
Best cheap spray car wax runner-up | Turtle Wax | ICE Spray Wax | $12 |
Best carnauba spray car wax | Chemical Guys | Blazin’ Banana Spray Wax | $15 |
Best carnauba spray car wax runner-up | Griot’s Garage | Best of Show Spray Wax | $15 |
Tips for using spray wax
- Don’t confuse spray wax for a quick detailer: They’re two very different products. Spray waxes are (mostly) meant for after a car wash on a clean car, while quick detailers often work on dirty paint. They have different missions, so use them accordingly to shine cars.
- Keep out of the sun: Just like traditional liquid car wax and paste wax, using spray wax in the sun is a recipe for a bad time. The heat from direct sunlight can bake the product into paint before you get a chance to wipe it off just right.
- Clean microfiber towels are the way to go: Make sure you swap out microfiber towels if you pick up dirt in any place. You don’t want to rub dirt on your clear coat with a gunky microfiber cloth, do you? Of course not.
Save time and shine on with CNET-approved picks
Spray car waxes are a wonderful addition to your car detailing arsenal, and none of these products listed above are poor choices. Pick your favorite and we hope to save you time and keep your car paint looking great.
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