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Can You Wax Your Car’s Windshield and Windows?

Waxing your car is just a standard part of maintenance, but there are plenty of other uses for automotive wax. While you obviously can’t put wax on materials like your tires, there are some surfaces you may not be aware are good to wax, like your car’s windows, mirrors, and windshield. In fact, there are …

Waxing your car is just a standard part of maintenance, but there are plenty of other uses for automotive wax. While you obviously can’t put wax on materials like your tires, there are some surfaces you may not be aware are good to wax, like your car’s windows, mirrors, and windshield. In fact, there are different reasons to wax these surfaces, but it can still be beneficial.

What wax does

We recognize that wax makes our car’s shine a little bit brighter and look a little bit better, but it does much more than that. Waxing your car adds a protective layer of wax that lays over the car’s clear coat, helping to protect it from the sun’s harmful UV rays. While it is becoming less popular as the use of vinyl wraps and ceramic coatings increases, waxing is still a much easier and more affordable method of protecting your car’s paint.

Windshield Wiper
19th September 1953: A second windscreen wiper blade is an extra in a standard four door saloon but is easy to fit. | John Chillingworth/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Windows and windshields

The windshield and windows on your car aren’t chemically affected by the sun’s UV rays, but there are plenty of other reasons why waxing these surfaces can be beneficial. For one, the wax is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. Like other chemicals that can be applied to the windshield, that means it can help you see clearly during a stormy drive.

An American flag flies from the window of a 2019 Ford Ranger pickup truck
An American flag flies from the window of a 2019 Ford Ranger pickup truck | Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Keeping it clean

The wax coating also helps prevent dirt and grime from settling onto the glass surface, making it easier to brush off. This can help maximize your visibility without having to constantly wipe and wash your windshield. While you don’t necessarily have to wax your windshield, if you live in an area where dirt and dust are prevalent, this can help keep your line of sight as clear as possible, which means minimizing strain on your eyes.

The windshield wipers and wiper blades of a snow-covered car
The windshield wipers and wiper blades of a snow-covered car | Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Related

Is Using OEM Parts on Your Car Worth the Extra Cost?

Unlike a ceramic coating, waxing doesn’t last very long and has to be regularly maintained, but you can use the same wax on your windshield and mirrors that you use on the rest of your car. It doesn’t damage your car’s glass surfaces at all, and while you don’t have to add it to your to-do list, there are a few benefits that might make it worth a few extra minutes.