Do you think an applicator (foam, microfiber covered foam, terry covered foam) is necessary for hand waxing? Why?
Below is my LIMITED personal experience.
The towel I used to apply liquid wax: 100% cotton terry towel purchased at Meguiar’s web a few years ago, before Meguiars started selling Meguiar’s branded towels.
[towel does not seem bad because . . . . ]
When folded enough, the towel seems to provide enough cushion to prevent excessive pressure on the paint.
(The multiple folded plush cotton towel is thicker than any applicator I have seen. So, when work with it on tight areas such as under the door handle, I fold the towel only once and pay more attention to the application pressure. So I am slow when working on tight areas, but I am slow on those areas with applicator too, because excessive pressure on foam or foam covered applicator near door handle etc. puts a lot of liquid wax on crevices and nooks.)
[towel seems better because . . . ]
It has larger area than any applicator I have seen so that I can finish large area (hood, roof, etc.) in less time than I could with an applicator.
The 100% cotton terry towel seems to remove road grime better than Meguiars Even-Coat Applicator (rectangular foam covered with microfiber). The microfiber on the Even-Coat Applicator seemed to be too soft to remove the road grime I had on my car.
Towel has more sides to change. I do not wax very often. The car is outside always, and is a daily driver. So, when I wax that car with applicators, the applicator becomes dirty very quickly. So I need plenty of applicators. But I can get 8 sides from one towel. So towel is more economical.
[applicator seems better because . . . ]
I find that foam applicator or microfiber covered foam applicator puts more even layer than terry towel.
(However, if the wax I use is not one that is very difficult to remove, I feel that terry towel is OK too.)
Below is my LIMITED personal experience.
The towel I used to apply liquid wax: 100% cotton terry towel purchased at Meguiar’s web a few years ago, before Meguiars started selling Meguiar’s branded towels.
[towel does not seem bad because . . . . ]
When folded enough, the towel seems to provide enough cushion to prevent excessive pressure on the paint.
(The multiple folded plush cotton towel is thicker than any applicator I have seen. So, when work with it on tight areas such as under the door handle, I fold the towel only once and pay more attention to the application pressure. So I am slow when working on tight areas, but I am slow on those areas with applicator too, because excessive pressure on foam or foam covered applicator near door handle etc. puts a lot of liquid wax on crevices and nooks.)
[towel seems better because . . . ]
It has larger area than any applicator I have seen so that I can finish large area (hood, roof, etc.) in less time than I could with an applicator.
The 100% cotton terry towel seems to remove road grime better than Meguiars Even-Coat Applicator (rectangular foam covered with microfiber). The microfiber on the Even-Coat Applicator seemed to be too soft to remove the road grime I had on my car.
Towel has more sides to change. I do not wax very often. The car is outside always, and is a daily driver. So, when I wax that car with applicators, the applicator becomes dirty very quickly. So I need plenty of applicators. But I can get 8 sides from one towel. So towel is more economical.
[applicator seems better because . . . ]
I find that foam applicator or microfiber covered foam applicator puts more even layer than terry towel.
(However, if the wax I use is not one that is very difficult to remove, I feel that terry towel is OK too.)
