Dodo Juice Waxes

How do I know your waxes are any good?
Dodo Juice waxes have been tested by thousands of professional and amateur detailers, who provide invaluable feedback and assistance. But the best recommendations always come from our customers. We think word of mouth speaks far louder than celebrity endorsements or fancy advertising slogans.

Do Dodo Juice waxes contain any abrasives?
No, none of our paste waxes (the solid, non-liquid waxes) contain abrasives. They leave behind a protective coating that can appear shiny but do not physically 'cut' the surface to create the deep reflection. However, polishes like Lime Prime and Need for Speed contain mild abrasives (so mild, similar abrasives are used in toothpaste).

How long does Dodo Juice last?
It depends on the recipe and exposure of the wax to the elements, but generally a maximum of 2-3 months in Northern Europe, less in hotter places where the higher UV reduces the life of the wax. We have had reports of up to 5 months from Supernatural, but it's difficult to make a firm statement. The problem is, durability is very tricky to gauge. Normally, a wax will 'bead' less as it wears off. But a well-waxed car with a layer of dirt on it will also show poor beading. And some quick detailers and shampoos used after the wax can attack - or reinforce - the protection. The final issue is one of use. A wax layer could last a year on a garaged car that never sees the sun or rain, or just 6 weeks on one driven daily over the winter. How long is that piece of string?

Some waxes are soft and some are hard. What's the difference?
Dodo Juice waxes come in both soft and hard varieties, allowing you to choose the type of wax that suits you. Soft waxes can be applied by hand in a thicker layer, but hard waxes go on more thinly and evenly by applicator. Ultimately, the recipes are similar; it's the way they're made that's different.

Do I need to store Dodo Juice in a special way?
No, just keep the sealed jar in a cool, dry area, out of direct sunlight. Dodo Juice shouldn't go off for years - but it can dry out if the lid is left off. Some people insist on keeping wax in a fridge, but there is absolutely no need unless you are lucky enough to live in a country with a very hot climate. In high temperatures, waxes can become wetter or the ingredients can try to separate. Cooling them down gets them back to normal.

My wax is quite 'grainy', why is this?
Waxes with high carnauba contents can be very granular, because the carnauba wants to escape from its solvent carrier and recrystallise. Sometimes, simply by rubbing your fingers together, you can help the carnauba bond and form small grains. These grains aren't actually 100% carnauba so won't be a problem for your paint; they melt easily once in contact with more solvent, or from the friction of being applied to a painted surface. But it goes to show what a lively material carnauba is... its impatience to bond with itself explains why it forms such a good, strong layer.

I want to experiment with remelting my wax. Is this a good idea?
There should be no need to remelt a wax. If the consistency or texture is strange and you think something may be wrong, return it to us and let our customer care monkey bounce it off the bin (email theDodo at dodojuice dot com). You may even get a brand new replacement sent back. If, however, you are thinking of mixing your Juice with another wax to improve it, the chances are you won't. Recipes are carefully formulated and the melting, stirring and cooling processes are all critical. Heating it up and letting it cool can change its texture quite dramatically. Above all, stay clear of the microwave (see Health and Safety section).

What is colour-charging and why are some of your waxes different colours?
When we created the first Dodo Juice recipe, we realised that wax ingredients could be classed into 'light', 'warm' and 'dark'. For example, you can get white, yellow and dark beeswax. And coconut oil is light, whereas orange oil is, well, orange, and montan wax is jet black (they use it in shoe polish). We therefore made colour-charged versions of our main recipe, tweaking the ingredients to suit. To make them easy to tell apart, we threw in some colours and fragrances - and these coloured oils taint the wax layer very, very slightly. Some would claim they make no difference at all, but we took some shots of Blue Velvet on a red test panel here. You can see the difference - or lack of it - for yourself.

Can you use a colour-charged wax on any coloured car?
Absolutely. There are no hard and fast rules. We just made some light, warm and dark waxes and suggest they suit light, warm and dark cars. You may get a good result from Purple Haze on silver, and the light waxes will obviously work on any coloured car.

Your waxes and other products are good value, but some competitors sell their stuff even cheaper - what's the difference?
Of course, you can buy cheaper products. Our waxes, polishes and shampoos are handmade in the UK in relatively small batches, meaning we can't buy container loads of raw ingredients at the lowest prices. We don't have robots or machines pumping our stuff out; we just have our technicians and a small laboratory and workshop. None of them have Ferraris. If you find a cheaper product that works as well (in your opinion) then buy it with the Dodo's blessing. However, we think our products are a match for the best in the world, and they'll keep on getting better. We frequently revise and improve recipes. Please also remember that other companies fiddle with their recipes to make the products appear cheaper. For example, our shampoos are hyper concentrated - sometimes 10x more concentrated than competitive shampoos. So even though a cheap shampoo is a quarter of the price, you may need to buy 10 bottles instead of just one of ours.