Waxing your car was an important step in the car washing process where I grew up out West. Car wax is not something people have in their garages at home here in New York where I now live. Here cars are not the big deal they are to people in California. Car owners accessorize their cars much more there than they do here. They put on shiny rims and lighted license plate holders. It is a way to express yourself. It is who you are. A car is a way to get around on the East Coast. The sun also does a lot more damage to your car out West, so even if your car is simply a car to you, car wax is a regular part of the upkeep. As my dad would say, waxing your car will help it depreciate less because it keeps the exterior looking fantastic.
So how often do you need to wax your car? The guys at the auto detailing shop will tell you it is dependent upon how perfect you want your car to look and what type of car wax you use (some of the synthetic waxes supposedly last for a year, for example.) I suppose with those guidelines, you might be destined to wax your car once a week. If you read the directions on the tub of car wax, it will tell you that when water does not bead on your car, it is time to wax.
You can get your car waxed one of two ways. You can have a professional do it, or do it yourself. It seems to me that when I have professionals wax my car, it lasts a lot longer than when I do it. I am guessing that I just do not have the same skill as them, regardless of the kind of car wax I would use. If you do it yourself, here is how. Start with a freshly washed car. Do not wax in the direct sunlight or if it is too cold. Make sure you do not feel any grit when you run your hand over the paint. Use a non abrasive car safe surface cleaner to remove bits of grit from the paint if there is still some present even after washing the car. Use a damp sponge and douse it in the car wax. Rub it on your car in small circles. Cover all the paint in a pattern, remembering the path you followed. Remove the wax (in the order in which it was applied) with a cloth or cloth diaper. To avoid streaking and build up, shake out your towel every so often. The last step is to assure there are no bits of wax left by polishing the entire surface with a different clean cloth such as a cheesecloth.