Frequently asked Questions

Formulation becomes Art

The use of natural carnauba wax to“glossify” surfaces dates back to the 19th century. The disadvantage of those waxes was their very limited durability, as pure carnauba wax can effortlessly be wiped off by hand. The secret of Swissvax waxes’ exceptional durability lies in the perfected blending of carnauba wax with several other waxes, natural fruit oils and a few more secret ingredients. A delicate process that takes many hours.  

Handmade Jar by Jar

To this day, in our dedicated “wax kitchen”, all our carnauba waxes are carefully hand-blend and delicately hand-poured in their jar. The complexity of our formulations and their delicate production processes simply do not allow for industrial production.

Our waxes, which are made using natural raw materials, do not leave any white residues on rubber or edges.

A 200 ml jar will last for 15 applications or more.

For a perfect final result the paintwork should be pretreated with Cleaner Fluid Regular

• The term "car wax", which is still often used in the vernacular, actually refers to a "car polish". Car polishes are usually liquid, containing water, solvents, abrasives and small amounts of waxes and polymers. These products are applied and polished off after drying. By hand or with a polishing machine. Pure, genuine waxes, unlike car polishes, are completely free of abrasives.
• SWISSVAX paint care is carried out in 3 steps: WASH (with 'Car Bath' or 'Lavish Shampoo') / CLEAN PAINT (with 'Paint Rubber' and 'Cleaner Fluid') / SEAL PAINT (with SWISSVAX Carnauba Wax).

Polish

Our Swissvax car polishes "Cleaner Fluids" are not only effective means against paint scratches, but also create a perfect smooth paint base. Depending on the type of scratch removal - manually or with the help of a polishing machine - you can choose different intensities of the polish and thus create a like-new paint appearance. Holograms can be removed as well as clouds. Swissvax Cleaner Fluid polishes for hand polishing or for professional polishing with a machine.

Simply apply the polishes and rub with pressure, causing the admixed micro-granules to abrade each other, making the polish finer and finer. The proprietary formulation of Swissvax car polishes and polishing agents prevents too aggressive polishing.

Wax

Carnauba waxes don't just make your paint shine. For deeply reflective surfaces and a completely new definition of "shine". The paint surface receives a long-lasting natural wax seal. To this day, our car waxes are made exclusively by hand in our manufactory and filled can by can.

Yes.

A 2nd wax layer increases the protective layer of the sealant. This
has two advantages: The refraction of the light falling on the paint
surface is increased again and the protective layer gets a longer
stability.

Between the first and second layer of wax should wait 3 hours, so that the wax can perfectly combine with the paint.

Yes.

Lotos Speed can additionally be applied on top of the wax sealant. This has the advantage of making the protective layer even more water-repellent and giving it a longer life.

Wait 3 hours before applying Lotos Speed, so that the wax can bond perfectly with the paint.

The product is neither a polish nor a wax - it is a paint cleaner based on cedar resin without harsh abrasives. You better apply it by hand than with a polisher, it’s much faster.

And Cleaner Fluid Regular is a rather thin liquid  - with a polisher you may risk spatter.

SWISSVAX hand polishes (Cleaner Fluid) and machine polishes (Cleaner Fluid PROFESSIONAL) differ, among other things, in their viscosity. Hand polishes are more liquid, machine polishes more solid.

Cleaner Fluid Regular is not suitable for machine
polishing. The product is too liquid and would cause too much splashing. Anyone who wants to work with a polishing machine should use Cleaner Fluid Professional Regular.

In a scale of 0 to 100 is:

0 = zero cut
100 = full cut

Professional Regular 22 -> 1 step polishing possible

Professional Medium 30 -> 1 step polishing possible

Professional Strong 51  -> 2 steps polishing necessary,
as the cut starts at 55 and thus cannot reach the finish cut*.

*The longer you work with the polish and start cut, the finer and lower the cut will be afterwards.

The Professional version of Regular (instead of hand polish) is an entirely different product for machine polishers:

It’s a nano polish and the softest of 3 Professional polishes (Regular, Medium, Strong). 

PTFE resin (polytetrafluoroethylene) belongs to the class of paraffinic polymers in which hydrogen is, partly or completely, replaced by fluorides.

The original PTFE resin was invented in 1938 by DuPont and baptized by the name Teflon. PTFE has an extraordinary resistance against chemicals and has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of all materials known to us today.

Conventional polishes, waxes and insect removers should not be used on matt paintwork and will most likely cause damage. Please only use products which were specifically developed for matt paintwork like the Swissvax "Opaque" product line which will not damage nor ater the matt finish.

Swissvax Opaque wax is a premium wax for all satin/matt paintwork types (including foils). Thanks to its unique formulation with 40 Vol. % of pure Brazilian Grade One Carnauba wax it offers your automobile's satin/matt paintwork effective long term protection against all kinds of contaminations, such as bug residues, tar, tree resins and even fingerprints.

For a perfect wax result, the satin/matt paintwork must be pre-treated with our Pre-Cleaner Opaque .

For a perfect final result the paintwork should be pretreated with Cleaner Fluid Regular.

Matte finishes cannot be polished, otherwise they will become glossy. Therefore, no polish exists for matte finishes.

Before sealing them, however, it is still necessary to clean the
paint, including preparation to accept the wax: with Swissvax
Pre-Cleaner Opaque

You can find here all information for the care of matt paints:

Matt definition paints and films

For a vehicle with a matte finish, the following procedure and products are recommended for use:

• Wash and dry the vehicle
• Spray one area with Pre-Cleaner Opaque and wipe off within 10-15 sec., work on next area
• Apply Opaque wax on a small area, wait a short time (also approx. 15 sec. and polish off again), next surface

For matt rims, the following procedure and products are recommended for application:

• Wash and dry the rims
• Spray one surface with Pre-Cleaner Opaque and wipe off within 10-15 sec., work on next surface
• Apply the Autobahn wax on a small surface, wait a short time (also approx. 15 sec. and polish off again), next surface

Under this link you will find important information about the care of a matt paint and the appropriate products:

Matt definition paints and films

A ceramic sealant has an enormous advantage: the increased hydrophobicity (beading of liquids).

A carnauba wax does not achieve this strong hydrophobicity, but has a significant advantage in terms of gloss level and application.

In addition to the advantages of a long holding time and beading behavior of the ceramic sealant, there are also some disadvantages:

• Paint surface permanently coated, with an additional layer
• long-lasting, but slowly decreasing maintenance level
• time-consuming application, with risks retained
• not scratch resistant, but more resistant than waxes
• scratches cannot be simply polished
• in case of a repainting, the coating has to be applied again and
  therefore there is a difference (also in the color) of the already
  existing ceramic sealant

The advantages of a SWISSVAX Carnauba wax include

• Different gloss levels possible according to the volume of the carnauba content
• Easy application, always succeeds, even without previous knowledge
• The wax can be applied again and again, even on repainted areas, where the highest wear occurs (the strongest mechanical influences of the road)
• Constant level, which can be kept at the same level, as after-treatment of stressed areas is possible

In other words, ceramic or wax sealants are two different worlds.

If one chooses a ceramic sealant, the last layer should also be ceramic to ensure hydrophobicity and hardness.

If one decides to use our carnauba waxes, the top layer should also
be carnauba, otherwise the proverbial "licking stick" shine (wet look) and imperviousness to water drops (rain) will be lost.

Wax on ceramic: Possible, but on the ceramic the wax will last only shorter, about 2 months maximum.

Ceramic on wax: "Works" but the aggressive chemistry of the ceramic dissolves the wax.



Our recommendation: Carnauba wax with our KERAMIQ9 for the combination of highest gloss level and high hydrophobicity.

For more info, please visit: SWISSVAX KERAMIQ⁹

Yes, KERAMIQ⁹ - the infused water-based ceramic sealant for private and professional users from Swissvax.

Easy to apply, removable and highly water repellent.

Extends the life of paint surfaces treated and sealed with SWISSVAX polishes and waxes by several months again.

Further info: KERAMIQ⁹

KERAMIQ⁹ does not change the gloss level (which is why it can be used well on matt finishes).

Gloss is always based on reflection and saturation (color depth).
Both are achieved to a large extent by perfect paint preparation.

KERAMIQ9 does not change the gloss level (which is why it can be used well on matt finishes).

Gloss is always based on reflection and saturation (color depth).
Both are achieved to a large extent by perfect paint preparation.

In our Swissvax range we offer two rim cleaners, which have different advantages and disadvantages:

WHEEL is our traditional rim cleaner concentrate.

It is based, among other things, on peppermint oil and can be
concentrated to different degrees, depending on how dirty the rims are.

WHEEL has several advantages:

• It is more extensive in regular use than WHEEL SPRAY FORTE.
• Due to the individual concentration, it is only necessary to use the amount of rim cleaner that the rim contamination requires.
  As a result, the wax sealant on the rims usually lasts longer.
• When traveling, WHEEL is significantly more space-saving, as you can usually get water everywhere.
• WHEEL works on rims that have been thoroughly cleaned or newly soiled.

However, WHEEL also has disadvantages:

• On neglected rims with "baked-in" brake dust, it may be too weak and not clean completely.
• The WHEEL/water mixture is very thin - it must be re-sprayed several times during rim cleaning.

WHEEL SPRAY FORTE is a state-of-the-art rim cleaner based on sulfur capolate.

It is completely acid-free and even phosphate-free and can be used on all rim surfaces (including magnesium or painted rims). WHEEL SPRAY FORTE also has several advantages:

• As a modern rim cleaner, WHEEL SPRAY FORTE has a color indicator to tell when the cleaning phase is complete.
• WHEEL SPRAY FORTE is more cleaning active and works reliably even on neglected rims with "baked-in" brake dust.
• WHEEL SPRAY FORTE is more viscous and adheres well to the surfaces.
  
  As disadvantages we see:

• That WHEEL SPRAY FORTE has a slight smell of sulfur, which we cannot completely eliminate
• It is less abundant than WHEEL
• The concentration is always the same, even if it would not be necessary - therefore the wax sealing lasts less long than with WHEEL

WHEEL SPRAY FORTE is certainly ideal for long-distance trips on highways abroad over several days. In Switzerland, we don't drive long distances and usually slower than in Germany, for example. And there WHEEL in combination with a Mixing Bottle is ideal.

SWISSVAX offers 3 different detailing sprays, which are completely different from each other:

• QUICK FINISH is a quick clean for in between. It removes light dust in the showroom or garage, on the road for scratch-free removal of insect remains, bird droppings, fresh
  resin stains from trees, yellow droppings from bees and wasps, water stains after car washing, etc. It can be used on car paint, windows, chrome, rims, plastics (except textiles).
  
   
• NANO EXPRESS is a paint and plastic refinisher (freshener). It is especially suitable when there is simply no time for a full SWISSVAX paint preparation (quick care after car washes in car washes, used cars, rental cars or even auction vehicles). On used car paint Nano Express creates again a stronger color saturation, makes car wash marks and micro scratches disappear (temporarily, about 1 month). The application time per vehicle is about 30 minutes. For refreshing and maintaining plastics, acrylic windows, vinyl rear windows, door seams and entrance sills, Nano Express is excellent and has long been an insider tip.
  
   
• LOTOS SPEED is a fast sealer for cleaned paints and windows in the exterior and interior of automobiles (e.g. high-gloss varnished precious woods, but also high-gloss kitchens). The paint surface receives (temporarily, approx. 1 month) an extremely smooth and water-repellent surface - recommended directly after vehicle washing or drying (cannot be combined with Keramiq⁹).

SWISSVAX waxes have a shelf life of approx. seven to ten years, if stored correctly and closed.

The storage temperature influences the shelf life of our assortment:

You can store our products ideally in the cellar at about 10-14 degrees.

Also protect the products from possible frost or temperatures above 40 degrees.

For liquid products, we recommend shaking well before use in each case.

Since 1930, the Anwander family has been dedicated to the production and care of paints, underwater antifoulings and wood varnishes. The care products for automobiles and boats were initially produced only for the personal use of the company founder Hans Anwander.



Although in the 1930s terms such as ecological, biodegradable,
sustainable were not yet an issue, "his" care products were to be safe for him and the environment. Thanks to this philosophy, SWISSVAXproducts can now be offered internationally in more than 30 countries and even according to strict GHS standards (Global Harmonizing System) are neither classified as hazardous goods nor harmful to health.



Our "Wheel" rim cleaner concentrate contains e.g. peppermint oil as active ingredient, our waxes consist to a large extent of carnauba (the hardest and most transparent natural wax in the world), beeswax as well as fruit oils. We use only "grade one" carnauba wax, which meets the requirements for cosmetic products. It is scraped by hand from the carnauba palm leaves and not boiled in kerosene (as is common in the Far East).



Hair shampoos, detergents, dishwashers but also our car wash products - they all use soaps, surfactants and phosphates (extracted from bird droppings). Although these products are ecologically and biodegradable, phosphates in excessive amounts lead to the over-fertilization of the underwater fauna of our waters, which can cause poorer water quality in our lakes and ponds. This is an example of how the amount of active ingredients used also has an impact on the sustainability of products.
SWISSVAX products achieve top performance with little quantity (recognizable by our small bottles and cans).



That's why we call our top SWISSVAX products "best-natural", meaning "as natural as possible". And that is more than most other manufacturers can claim.

Our microfibre cloths and textiles, as well as the white Cleaner Pad, Wax Pad and Polishing Pads/Hand Pucks can be washed at 40 degrees (without using fabric softener).

We recommend washing textiles with wax residues separately from other textiles (especially Micro-Dry drying cloth and Micro-Glass Duo Set).

For the polishing pads, if available, select the machine programme: "Extra/Additional water".

So here are a few tips on how you can differentiate between prime-quality towels and cheaper mass products:

a) The microfiber quality

Cheap microfiber towels do not have "split fibers" as the equipment required to actually "split" the fibers is very expensive. Quality microfiber towels can absorb 7 to 8 times of their own weight (as split fibers offer a far superior larger absorption rate/surface).

b) The microfiber size

Cheap microfiber towels always have larger fibers (up to 0.5 Denier or more what is in fact about the diameter of a normal polyester thread). Top-quality towels, however, are made of "real" microfibers measuring 0.01 to 0.02 Denier. The more fibers a microfiber tissue can offer per sq.-inch or m2, the better the results.

c) The microfiber material

As polyamide is far more costly than polyester, consequently, cheap towels often consist of 100% polyester or only contain a very small percentage of polyamide. This has obviously a significant impact on their absorbtion rate. A mix of 80% polyester and 20% polyamide is today's "quality standard". A 70%/30% prime-quality mix however, will absorb fluids even better AND much faster. As mostly, quality comes at a price.

d) The seams

For usage on automotive paintwork finishes, only seamless microfiber towels or prime towels with a silk seam are recommendable as microfiber towels with stitched seams have a big chance to scratch or streak paintwork.

SEAL FEED is an intensive care for rubber seals and plastics. For new seals and plastic parts, care with Protecton is suitable. For older or already weathered seals and plastic parts Seal Feed is the right choice.

In Central and Northern Europe, application 1 - 2 times a year is
sufficient. In Texas, Arizona etc. in the USA or in the Middle East Seal Feed will be applied monthly. In other words, it depends a lot on the climate