What is the swipe-test
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
When you apply a protective product, that product will start to cure. At a certain point, it is ready to be buffed off. But how do you know it is ready? By doing the swipe-test.
Why do the swipe test
The right time to buff a product depends on several different factors. Humidity, temperature, oiliness of product and such can play a big role in this. With most products, it is impossible to see visually when a product is ready to be buffed off. The swipe test is a very simple but effective way of seeing when a product is at the point that is can be buffed off.
The swipe test
When a protective product is almost ready to be buffed off, you can do the swipe test.
- Wrap a piece of microfibre towel over the end of your finger.
- Swipe the area with the towel-covered finger in a similar way you would do with a touchscreen
- If the protective product is ready to be buffed off, you will see a smear-free clear swipe.
- If the product is NOT ready to be buffed, you will see an oily smear over the protected surface.
- If the product isn’t ready yet, wait a little longer and repeat the swipe test.

There are exceptions to the rule. There are a few product on the market that don’t haze at all. They don’t need to cure. You apply them, wait a certain amount of time and then just wipe them off. These are often show waxes: more gloss, less durability. Another example are some QD’s and/or spray sealants. These are applied to the surface and immediately wiped off again with another MF towel.
Hazing and curing
Hazing is the process of the film of wax turning matte, due to it drying out and loosing it’s liquid content. This takes only minutes.
Curing is the process of the wax fully hardening. This can take up to 24 hours.
- Hikari is a Japanese manufacturer of vehicle coatings. Although they focus most on automobile, they also offer products aimed at boats, houses and solar panels. The company has roughly 20 countries where their products are exported to....
- Ardex Laboratories is an Philadelphia, America based manufacturer of several different detailing and carwash products. The company was founded in 1950 bij Arron Goldman en Dexter. The current range offers a wide variety of products for several different stages in the detailing process....
- Waxaddict is an English brand of detailing products that started out in 1997. The brand started out creating wax for their sister company: Waxybox....
- It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best pressure washer". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
- Dried up polish can be very unattractive. It is also a hardened substance that can cause surface damage when rubbed over the paintwork. Although the detailer should have removed this, it can be encountered on some jobs. Dried up wax residue can generally be approached in the same way....
- It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best TFR, Fallout Remover or Engine Bay Cleaner". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
[…] 30 minutes of application, you should perform a swipe test which entails dragging your finger on where the wax has been […]