Under normal conditions, Meguiar's waxes and paint protectants take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to dry. To determine whether the wax or paint protectant has cured enough to remove it, you can perform a "Swipe test".

To perform a Swipe Test, take your index finger and swipe it across the film of wax or paint protectant on your finish. If your finger wipes away the dried residue and the surface below is shiny, then the wax, or paint protectant, is ready to be removed.

If however, you swipe the finish and the product streaks or smears, you need to allow a little more time for it to fully cure.

One popular misconception that we would like to address is the false idea that the thicker the layer of wax or paint protectant you apply at one time, the more protection you will leave behind. This is not true. Only a small amount of wax actually bonds to the finish during each application, while the rest is simply removed when you wipe the excess off the surface.

Multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat. (See Layering)