Car polishes do expire. Even if the expiry date isn’t listed on the can, one day it will expire. Therefore, you need to be very keen before opening a bottle of polish and applying it to your car.
The results you will get from an old bottle of car polish, won’t be the same as popping a new one.
Due to the exposure to air as well as temperature changes, even the best-stored polish will lose some of its properties. And this is why it isn’t as effective.
Understandably, you may want to get the most out of a can of car polish and keep your car looking fresh. But a word of advice, once your polish passes the two-year mark, get yourself a new bottle.
After all, you will have made several applications and you will have received value for your money. And it’s not just us who think it’s wise to use a can of polish for two years. This is an opinion shared by many professional detailers. Feel free to confirm with yours.
You also need to know that the two-year shelf life is for quality polishes. If you buy the cheap stuff, expect it to last for not as long as those from quality brands.
How to Tell if the Car Polish Has Expired
To rule out whether a polish in your garage has expired, you just have to perform a spot test.
If the results are unsightly, wash the area and buy a new one. If you were lucky enough to find that the polish gives your car a deep and glossy shine, then use it on the entire car.
What is the Shelf Life for Car Polishes?
The truth is, that most of the polishes on the market do not have an expiration date. Yes, this is the case even for some of the most popular polishes you have heard of. Some car polishes are known to last for years.
Because of this, most car owners and detailers are left to guess how long they can use a certain polish.
Despite polishes expiring faster when exposed to extreme temperatures and not stored properly, you can expect them to have a shelf life of two years.
The polymers found in polishes last for three to five years when stored in their original containers and the temperature levels remain optimum.
Failure to adhere to any of the above measures will result in your polish expiring sooner than you thought.
Some people have stored car polishes for up to 5 years when using the above steps.
Also on different forums, we did come across car owners that have had certain polishes lasting for even a decade and still being effective when used. You too can do the same provided you are very careful with the storage.
As a car owner, you need to know which polishes have a longer shelf life and those that don’t. This is very important as it will help you make a cost-effective purchase when shopping for car polishes.
Factors Affecting Car Polish Storage
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Air Exposure
How you store the car polish contributes significantly to how long it will last. Provided there is minimal air exposure, the polish shouldn’t expire sooner than the manufacturer had indicated.
But if the exact opposite happens, there is a huge chance that it will dry up faster and the polish won’t be of any use. If you find the cap is open, don’t waste your time performing a spot test. Instead, get a new bottle of polish and use it on your car.
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Temperature
Another thing that you need to be very careful about when storing car polishes is the temperature. Extreme temperatures have a way of making polishes expire sooner than they should have.
It is advisable to store your car polish in a cool and dry place for it to retain its properties. You also have to keep in mind that these polishes contain distillates from petroleum, polymers, and solvents.
All these ingredients have a certain shelf-life and if one of them goes bad, you can expect the entire polish to be ineffective.
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Expiry Date
A smart consumer should always look at the expiration date of the polish before buying it. If the date seems to be very close, opt for another product or buy another brand.
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Shelf Life
The shelf life of a car polish is a key factor to consider when buying one. Car polishes aren’t an everyday use kind of product. Therefore, the longer they can serve you the more economical the product is.
Something else you need to know about ‘old’ car polishes is that even if they have not expired. Don’t expect them to work as great as they would when they are fresh.
What is the Right Way to Store Car Polish?
The polish won’t last for two years if you store it recklessly. Storing your wax properly ensures it is always there whenever you need to improve your car’s finish.
Before we dive deeper into how to store car polishes, the first thing you need to know is that the garage isn’t an ideal place for you to keep your wax. The garage is often exposed to hot temperatures and this is a recipe for disaster.
A cool area is perfect for your car polish. Some car owners store their car wax in refrigerators. So, if you have a wine cooler or fridge, you can store your wax there and save it for future use.
Even if you store it in a refrigerator, you have to seal the container properly. Air and moisture can also make your polish expire.
If the idea of putting car polish in the refrigerator comes off as too extreme, you can always find a cooler environment. A closet will do the trick.
As long as you don’t overstuff it. For those who will prefer to refrigerate their car polish, don’t forget to let the wax heat up before using it.
By heating up, we don’t mean popping it into the microwave. But, you should remove it from the fridge a day before using it and let it heat up at room temperature.
How Often Should I Polish My Car?
Knowing the answer to this question helps you figure out how long you should stick to a can of polish. Most people confuse waxing with polishing.
Waxing helps with protecting the car paint whereas polishing gives your vehicle that appealing glossy shine. Polishing helps get rid of scratches and gives your vehicle that showroom look.
As beneficial as polishing is, the abrasives found in it can have adverse effects on the car paint if it is overdone. Over-polishing can erode the car paint and counter the effects of wax.
To avoid that, car owners are advised to polish their cars at most, twice a year. The recommended frequency is once a year. But for the detailing enthusiasts who want their cars to always look sleek, you can do it every 6 months.
Because you may only polish a car twice a year, this is a clear indication that the bottle of car polish may not be fully used up during these two applications.
For the purchase to be cost-effective, you may want to use the same polish for two years straight. Following the above tips can help you out with that.
Even though some people store polish for up to five years, you will have to use your best judgment after the first use. That is, you will have to determine whether the polish is usable or it has expired.
Should I Not Buy a New Can of Polish Every Year?
If you have been buying a fresh can of polish during every application or wasting cans of polish by not storing it properly, hopefully, this article has taught you something new.
Polish manufacturers need to step up their game and add expiration dates to their products. In the meantime, as a car owner, you need to be very cautious when using an old can of polish.
It’s always a good idea to perform a spot test. And when buying your next polish, store it as per the instructions provided above. You will be able to use it for two years and get total value for your money.