Stripping wax / sealant

[Lawlmens]

What product(s) do you guys recommend for stripping off wax and sealant for a fresh slate.
I've heard dawn dish soap will do the trick? Is there any truth behind that?

[Nick Winn]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

Dish soap will strip a good amount if not all of a wax or sealant from the paint. Are you going to be doing any prep work like using a clay bar or any mild cleaner/polish? If so, don't worry about using a chemical to strip the wax off, and let the clay or mild cleaner/polish you use do it for you. Technically with our waxes & sealants, it is not even a required step to strip off the previous layer of wax.

[The Guz]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

What are you trying to accomplish?

Dish soap also contains surfactants which will give the impression that a wax or sealant has been stripped.

[Lawlmens]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

I was looking for a clean slate start. I was told a clay will only take off sealant / wax when it picks up containments under it. But I do not know the truth behind that. I'm also looking for a clean slate for once I use a DA to polish it with 70/30 alcohol to see how many swirls I can actually get out / micro scratches with just a polish and no fillers, or if I will need to move up to a light compound / cut.

[BillE]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

Two thoughts....If ya have a Walmart close by, check and see if they have Meguiar's "Deep Cleaning Soap," (G-1808). This product was a 'one time run' only for Wally World so they may not have any left. It's in a orange gallon jug and is said at a dilution rate of 2oz per gallon it will strip wax. No, I have not used it, just adding thought.

Second thought...When you do a polish job, that WILL remove whatever wax.

Bill

[Murr1525]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

Yeah, probably just overthinking it a bit. Clay and the polish will take cake of left over dirt and ax, as will your iso wipe.

Just remember the iso wipe will remove the polishing oils, so might have to do a re-polishing step if you anted them there.

[The Guz]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

I was looking for a clean slate start. I was told a clay will only take off sealant / wax when it picks up containments under it. But I do not know the truth behind that. I'm also looking for a clean slate for once I use a DA to polish it with 70/30 alcohol to see how many swirls I can actually get out / micro scratches with just a polish and no fillers, or if I will need to move up to a light compound / cut.

Depending on how old the wax or sealant it, the clay may or may not remove all of it. Clay is an abrasive.

Since you are going to polish then don't worry about using any strip soaps or dish soap. Most strip soaps don't work anyway and again dish soap does not do anything for you. So go ahead and proceed with a wash, clay and polish and you will have a clean slate.

I can't tell you if you need to compound or polish. The one common thing you will always hear is doing a test spot. The paint will dictate what it needs.

[Lawlmens]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

Thanks for all the input. I am taking my first step(s) into using a DA to correct minor swirl marks / micro marring scratches from every day driving, dirt, rain, from when I hand washed etc. nothing too crazy deep, after that if all goes well I plan on doing a ceramic coating on it, if I can achieve the results I am hoping for once I polish it, or if I need to use a very light compound then polish. I was going to try a cutting pad with a polish for very minimal abrasiveness, then move up from there if needed since the scratches / swirls are so thin I do not think I need much of a cutting ability at this moment. however, like you stated, I won't know until I use a test spot first.

[syswizard]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

Consider DEP's Orange Cleaner...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Heavy-Duty-Citrus-Degreaser-ZUCIT128/100676344

Very powerful....an excellent stripper....
It's actually a mild paint remover when mixed at ultimate strength....2:1.

[4 cruzen]

Re: Stripping wax / sealant

What product(s) do you guys recommend for stripping off wax and sealant for a fresh slate.
I've heard dawn dish soap will do the trick? Is there any truth behind that?

Let us know what you end up doing and how it works out. I have just done the clay baring and waxing over the past 15 years and wonderred if I should also be doing something different.