Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax - Review

Spring is a time for rites of renewal and car care is no exception. Unseasonably cool late spring weather has delayed vehicle prepping for most upper Midwesterners this year. Though few embrace such chores, Roadblazing.com editors chomped at the bit to sample some newest detailing products on the market.

Spray on ceramic waxes are touted as the next generation in automotive surface care. Their application is less laborious than the time-honored "Wax On," wait for haze, "Wax Off" martial arts preparation routine Mister Miyagi imposed on apt pupil, Daniel LaRusso. Compared to conventional wax products, ceramic waxes form a more resilient bond with the painted surface for greater endurance against UV rays, moisture and dirt.

Mothers, got its 1970's start with a storied Mag[nesium] and Aluminum wheel polish developed by a Southern California tire retailer, sold in a tin jar bearing the silhouette of an eminently trustworthy mother. Today, Mothers Polishes Waxes Cleaners, Inc. manufactures a broad range of exterior and interior automotive care products.

Once the perfect 70 degrees Fahrenheit early June Sunday arrived, a family member supplied the car, a Polymetal Grey 2023 Mazda CX-5, the folks at Mothers supplied the detailing products, and Roadblazing.com supplied the muscle.

THE DETAILING PROTOCOL AND PRODUCT USE:

1. Wear Latex gloves for protection.
2. Recommended to detail vehicle in partly shaded area to avoid dry spotting
3. Hand wash vehicle adding two cap-fulls (one healthy squirt) of Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wash and Wax to a two gallon bucket of water.
4. Towel dry the vehicle.
5. Apply Mothers Ceramic Paint Correction to remove scratches
6. One small section at a time, spray Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax onto a clean cloth towel, working product in circular motion onto painted surface, into a light haze finish.
7. Within a minute of applying Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax, NOT ALLOWING PRODUCT TO FULLY DRY, buff dry surface of treated section clean with clean cloth towel, periodically changing to a new drying towel.
8. Apply REVISION by Mothers glass cleaner by clean cloth to all glass areas of the vehicle. Since REVISION is ammonia-free, it is also safe to use on painted surfaces such as wheels.
9. Total time to wash vehicle and apply products: 75 minutes

THE RESULTS:

The Good:

• Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax leaves a glassy deep shine and is at least as hydrophobic as carnauba wax products
• The Mothers products applied emit pleasant scents and are less skin irritating.
• Pricing is competitive
  • $17.99 for one (1) 16 fluid ounce (473 ml) California Gold Spray Ceramic Wax bottle, sufficient to detail two vehicles.
• Small amount of California Gold Ceramic Wash and Wax suds into a thick lather and will preserve waxed finish.
• In contrast to carnauba waxes, Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax applies more thinly, hence with less effort
• In contrast to carnauba waxes, Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax buffs out without generating messy, grimy residue

The Could Be Better:

• Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax in spray bottle, doesn't easily dispense product without bottle being level
• Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax smears more than conventional liquid carnauba waxes, requiring more light wiping
• Mothers California Gold Ceramic Wax does not clean surface grime as well as conventional carnauba wax. A clay bar surface cleaning prior to wax application would be beneficial.

Where to Purchase:

Mothers Care Care Products are available for sale directly on the Mothers company website,* as well as many major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Autozone and NAPA.

****The manufacturer provided a courtesy sample of the product used in this review. Roadblazing.com makes no warranty representations other than those by the manufacturer.****