| Ever roll into your local auto parts store to get some | | | | well, we have all had the experience when these |
| car care supplies, for example - dressings for tires, | | | | dressings really never dry to the touch and become |
| trim or your interior? With the vast array of products | | | | a big dust magnet. Well, you figure, so much for |
| available, it is confusing to say the very least! | | | | dressing and protecting your interior, right? Not so! |
| Considering your choices, combined with all slick | | | | Water Based Dressings that the professionals use |
| packaging, hard to see sizes, and pretty pictures - all | | | | actually dry to the touch AND are designed to be |
| these products are competing for your hard earned | | | | mixed with water to give you the exact finish you |
| dollars. The result is confusion of what product to | | | | desire. But the best part is they don't usually cost |
| buy for what application. Do you use the same | | | | any more than their retail counterparts! |
| product to dress and protect tires as you do for | | | | - A little more about Solvent Based Dressings |
| your leather seats? | | | | Solvent Based Dressings tend to do a better job at |
| Let's keep it simple, folks! This isn't rocket science - | | | | restoring faded trim and plastic, offer excellent UV |
| we're talking about dressings here. Hopefully this | | | | protection and are easy to apply. To get the finish |
| article will give you some insight into the choosing the | | | | you want, instead of diluting these products like |
| right product for the right job. | | | | Water Based Dressings, simply wipe the dressing on |
| Basically, there are two kinds of dressings - Water | | | | with an applicator to get your desired finish. More |
| Based Dressings and Solvent Based Dressings. So | | | | equals a higher gloss, less a lower gloss. For those |
| look at what we've done here - grouped all of the | | | | who want a high-gloss finish on their tires, simply |
| dressings into two options. I don't know about you, | | | | spray the dressing on and let it dry. For those who |
| but I can get my arms around 2 choices pretty easy. | | | | prefer a lower gloss, wipe the dressing while wet to |
| We all like keeping things simple. | | | | get their desired finish. |
| Both Water Based and Solvent Based dressings have | | | | In addition to tires, a good Solvent Based Dressing |
| their rightful place and use, and have different | | | | can also be used to dress and protect all of the |
| properties, pros and cons. In keeping with our | | | | rubber, plastic and vinyl trim on the outside of your |
| "simple" theme and as a general rule of thumb, here's | | | | ride. |
| the skinny: Use Water Based dressings on the inside | | | | - Lastly, one more Specialty Dressing - a cleaner and |
| of your ride and Solvent Based dressings on the | | | | conditioner in one |
| outside. Pretty simple, isn't it? | | | | There is one more category of dressings that should |
| Why the inside / outside choice, you ask? Simple! | | | | be mentioned here - a cleaner and conditioner |
| When water hits a Water Based Dressing - it tends | | | | combined. For example, one of the most delicate |
| to fall down, fall apart, poof - gone. Water Based | | | | interior surfaces of your ride is leather. The key to |
| Dressings generally don't stand up to the elements as | | | | keeping leather nice is delicate cleaning and proper |
| well as Solvent Based Dressings do. | | | | conditioning to keep it supple and protected. Check |
| Solvent Based Dressings tend to repel water, much | | | | this out for simple - wipe the product on and then |
| like water beading from a waxed finish on your car. | | | | wipe it off. In most cases, these specialty products |
| In my opinion, Solvent Based Dressings also give a | | | | are also scented like leather. |
| more rich, luster-like finish and do an excellent job of | | | | Summary |
| bringing back the fading of vinyl and rubber typically | | | | Don't let all the choices and hype about dressings |
| seen on the outside of your vehicle. The bottom line | | | | confuse you. Use Solvent Based dressings for the |
| is that Solvent Based Dressings are longer lasting and | | | | outside, Water Based Dressings for treating and |
| more durable when constantly exposed to the | | | | protecting the inside and consider Specialty Dressings |
| elements. | | | | for cleaning and conditioning delicate surfaces such as |
| - A little more detail about Water Based Dressings | | | | leather. |
| Most of the dressings available at retail stores come | | | | Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and |
| in a ready to use formula. The downside of this is, if | | | | is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care |
| you don't like the particular finish of these products, | | | | Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care |
| you are stuck with it. For example, you might want a | | | | Products are widely used in commercial businesses |
| more of a matte finish instead of an out-of-bottle | | | | such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. |
| glossy finish a product might provide. You figure, | | | | Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller |
| since it's water based, you should dull it down with | | | | quantities for the consumer market. You can get |
| water, right? Not so. | | | | fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail |
| Most of these dressings aren't designed to be mixed | | | | work yourself. For more information, go to or call |
| with water, and now you have worthless bottle. As | | | | 877-7JAXWAX. |