It is Spring. This is the time we like to get out and really detail our vehicles. We’ve already been busy, trying a few new, wax-replacement products. As you would expect, the big push is to find a product that is easier to use and provides the ultimate shine. I spent a few sunny days testing the likes of Meguiar’s, Chemical Guys, Top Coat F11, and many other detailing brands. Everyone will have their favorite polish and sealer, but here are the seven best, professional sealant products I’ve found.
Outstanding product! TopCoat F11 is hands down the best I have used, I'm hooked! It is easy to use, and provides a deep, beautiful shine. Its ease of use saves time and when I’m done, my car continues to shine great! I'll be back for more TopCoat F11.
I am amazed how shiny my car has remained, even through three rainstorms and a three-week gap between washings. This product is easy to apply and requires much less time than waxing. I feel it is well worth the money. If you can show me another product that compares, I will switch.
I purchased this product in an attempt to find something less labor-intensive than a standard wax for my vehicles. I've been using TopCoat F11 because it is quite a bit easier to apply than all of the other waxes I’ve used in the past. With that comes the need to apply it a little more frequently than other waxes, but I've always felt that this was a reasonable trade-off.
I did a fair amount of research and found several decently-reviewed, spray-on style products but this product was consistently reviewed the best for ease of application and overall shine. It is a little more expensive than some of the others, but I decided to give it a try based on all of the great reviews.
The ease of application is far better than any wax. Start-to-finish on my black daily-driver, which has quite a few body-line surfaces, was less than 30 minutes. Immediately, it looked as though I had been polishing it with a buffer for hours. But I knew I simply sprayed the product on, rubbed it with a towel, and then followed that up by a quick rub with a clean towel. Very impressive results for sure.
I did break out the orbital buffer afterward, to do a quick once-over of the entire vehicle, which took about another 15 minutes. The vehicle looks like it just rolled off the assembly line now. Not sure how long it will last before another application is required, but based on the ease of application, even if it only lasts a few months it is still much better than standard waxing to me.
With over 8,000 reviews on Amazon, I had to try it. The truth is, I am a car wax junky. In full transparency, I used this on 2018 black BMW with a premium factory paint. The paint is in impeccable condition, so if you’re using this on an older car, you may have more noticeable results (whether good or disappointing, depending on your paint quality). Overall, I think this is an above-average quick detailer spray, albeit a slightly pricy one. I do think the shine quality is a notch above something like Griot’s, but just barely.
The product applied and wiped off easily with absolutely no hazing or streaking. It also receives bonus points since you can use this to treat your wheels, windows, and trim as well. It added a slightly deeper depth to the paint, but no more than a full-on clay bar and coat of quality wax would do (though this is less work).
The results are decent, but not as awe-inspiring as viral marketing may lead you to believe. Take that at face value. My car’s paint is nearly brand new and well maintained, so your mileage may vary.
Turtle Wax is been around for years for the budget-minded individual. I’ve tried it in the past, but it is not my go-to wax. I'm a fan of TopCoat products and I started hearing about this product from Turtle Wax and I watched a few reviews on YouTube. Since you can never have too many options for a clean car, I decided to give it a try.
The results are amazing, but you need to learn all the previous steps to get a good result. Also you’ll notice product doesn't say it, but leave it 24 hours to cure. Beyond that, here are the steps for success.
1) Treat your car to a complete compounding and polish. (skip this step if your paint is in good condition).
2) Thoroughly wash your car.
3) Use a clay bar to remove all contaminants (use either the Meguiars clay bar or a heavy-duty clay bar from Chemical guys, recommended).
4) Use a soft microfiber towel to apply the Turtle Wax' Seal and Shine product as per the bottle directions.
5) Use a clean microfiber towel to remove the excess.
6) Do a second pass for better results
I bought a bottle from Amazon, along with a pack of microfiber cloths. What a combination! It takes just a few minutes to wash the car with the spray hose at the coin-op car wash and the microfiber drying cloths are the best things I’ve ever used to dry a car. Literally, I can dry the entire car off in less than five minutes. Then, I go around the car with this amazing stuff.
I spray a section, wipe it on, spray another section, wipe it on, then wipe off the first section. I spray another section, rub off the second section and so on. All of this is going on while I am moving around the car — there is no "wait three minutes" — not even "wait 30 seconds.” Once you wipe this stuff on, it is ready to wipe off in five to ten seconds, no kidding. There is also virtually no resistance, it is easy on, SUPER easy off. No hard buffing or hand scrubbing with the towel. Quick and easy is not marketing exaggeration.
Once we get back onto the show fields, that little extra time taken in our garages now will reap huge dividends. I was not compensated in any way for any of these products and I hope you will find this list of my personal, favorite products and my experience with them helpful. When your Mustang rests under the trained eyes of the judges, I think you’ll also find them quite beneficial to bringing home the win.
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