Look , I ’m a small chip half-baked : I live and breathe cars , I like to drive , andI like lustrous matter . I ’m also a normal(ish ) person with a normal house and a normal need to keep it clean . unremarkably .
A while back , a thought dawned on me . Many household dry cleaners are just wax- or oil - base polishes , amalgamate in with some fake citrus tree or pine scent . So what if , instead , I used the railroad car wax sitting out in my garage to clean various target around the sign ? Who knows what form of shiny potential it might unlock ? I reckon online , naturally , and found I ’m not the only one with this crazy impression : evenThis Old Househad some interesting ideas on the subject . So I put them to the test .
Test 1: The kitchen counter
lead : Truly outstandingI start with my kitchen counter , because I figured it would be easy . I pulled out myrandom orbitalpolisher and start work off just like I would with my car . I used a polishing compound first ( if you ’re unfamiliar , imagine of it like very fine fluid sandpaper ) , and followed it up with the same wax I use on my car .
I sternly underrate the time it would take . With a car ’s pigment , you ’ve bring forth to be speedy or hazard damaging the coat . With granite it ’s most unacceptable to damage the stone , so the slower you go , the better the shine .
Is it worth it ? Indubitably ! The death result isamazing . It ’s perfectly tricksy , and now I can see the reflection of my face when I make a sandwich . Two thumbs up . ( One caveat I do have : some people prepare food directly on their comeback , rather than on dental plate and cutting boards . If you ’re one of these people , note that most railcar - care products are n’t exactly tested by the FDA . )
Aaron Miller/Thrillist
Test 2: A leather chair
Result : Meh , not so muchSeriously emboldened by the countertop achiever , I compress onward , and decided to do a leather chair next . Waxing leather is a picayune controversial . Some people fence that leather needs to breathe , and can dry out and crack if you wax it . Others go the paired direction , that most leather products are actually seal off before you buy them and waxing wo n’t harm them . I used an old leather death chair that ’s , frankly , seen better days , and grab some good older - fashioned carnauba wax for this one ( easier to get off if something pass afoul ) .
I ’m glad I did that . The wax did n’t performpoorly , but neither did it really wow me . Twenty bit of work netted the same result as about 30 seconds with a computer storage - buy leather wipe . Pass .
Test 3: Stainless steel
ensue : Beautiful , but pointlessNext up , all thing untarnished steel . As the possibility goes , if you mount your kitchen appliances you ’ll have a long - hold up shine , and more importantly , fingerprint resistance . I make clean the oven , microwave , dishwashing machine , and refrigerator thoroughly , and put a dainty , semblance - a - riffic pelage on them . As you could see , the result is beautiful . What you ca n’t see in this photo is how sleeveless the endeavor was . Either my hands are exceptionally prostrate to fingerprints ( completely possible ! ) or this did absolutely nothing by way of fingerprint prevention .
Test 4: Basically the entire bathroom
ensue : MixedI read in the aforementionedThis Old Housearticle that mirror wo n’t fog if you rise them . Let me set the record directly right now : that ’s completely and utterly untrue . reckon at the photo above . The left side ( awfully fogged ) was waxed with the same carnauba I used on the chair . The correct side ( just as dreadfully obnubilate , butcleaner ) features the sealant I used on the counter . That stripes in the middle with much , much less steam ? That ’s the section I did n’t touch .
It was n’t a pure waste , though . While you do n’t want your bath or shower down floor to beslick , wax really has the opposite effect when besotted . If you mount your tub , you ’ll have much more bobby pin than before because the waterreallydoesn’t want to stick to to the surface . I tested it in a spot and confirmed : much less slick ! It was , however , slick when juiceless , which is n’t great . For tubs , there ’s really a exceptional eccentric of waxmade for wood floorsthat has – stipulate by law – friction qualifier so you do n’t slip and kill yourself . I ’d recommend picking some up .
Test 5: Wooden furniture
lead : KillerI readily admit the adolescent side of me keep on laughing at the thought that I was brush up my Grant Wood . Allthat ’s what she saidjokes away , seriously , Copernicia prunifera wax on Natalie Wood is a brilliant combination . It ’s pretty old - school – chances are your great - grandparent did it too – but as you may see on this old trunk , it works . I also used it on my desk , bottom set , and literally every piece of substantial wood I could incur except the floor , which ( like your bathtub ) needs a peculiarly give voice wax so you do n’t slip and die .
net word : You’ve got ta try this . I have significantly up my granite game . Next time I ’ll attempt waxing my exterior windows to aid keep them blank and protected against the component , and will definitely listen to thatR.E.M. song " Shiny Happy People"in the process . Did I mention how expert my granite looks ?
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Aaron Miller/Thrillist
Aaron Miller/Thrillist
Aaron Miller/Thrillist
Aaron Miller/Thrillist
Aaron Miller/Thrillist