What is Polyglaze Wash & Wax, and where should you use it?
Polyglaze Wash & Wax is a combination of a strong detergent designed to remove dirt and road grime from vehicles, and a wax emulsion that simultaneously forms a protective layer. It cleans and shines in one step, so a wash and a wax stop being two separate jobs.
It is supplied as a concentrate in 1 litre bottles, which will provide up to 33 washes per bottle. That concentration is the reason for the product's two firmest rules: do not use the detergent without diluting it first, and do not allow the detergent solution to dry on the vehicle surface.
Technical specification
| Property | Typical result |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear blue liquid |
| Viscosity @ 25°C | 1200 – 2500 cps |
| pH | 7.0 – 8.5 |
| Pack size | 1 litre bottle |
| Dilution | Approximately 30mL per 10 litre bucket |
| Yield | Up to 33 washes per bottle |
| Shipping / dangerous goods | Not restricted |
These figures are indicative data from the product's technical data sheet and are not intended for the preparation of specifications.
What the numbers mean in practice
30mL in a 10 litre bucket, 33 washes from a 1 litre bottle. Those two figures are the same fact stated twice, and they are worth doing the arithmetic on: one litre divided into 30mL doses is roughly 33 buckets. If you are getting noticeably fewer washes than that, you are over-dosing the bucket.
Selleys does allow for adjustment — a more concentrated solution can be used as required — but the baseline is 30mL, and the reason to start there is that a stronger solution is harder to rinse off before it dries, which runs straight into the product's main limitation.
The data sheet also notes that high water pressure will increase foam. That is a useful piece of technique rather than a warning: filling the bucket with a strong jet rather than a trickle produces more foam from the same 30mL.
The pH of 7.0 to 8.5 is the specification behind the claim that the product is gentle on paintwork and hands — it sits at or just above neutral rather than being strongly alkaline. That is a meaningful difference from a heavy-duty degreaser, and it is why the product is safe across the whole vehicle rather than just the wheels.
It does not, however, make the concentrate harmless. The safety notes are specifically about the undiluted product, which is a different thing from the bucket solution.
Where to use it
The application list covers the entire vehicle:
- Paintwork
- Glass and polycarbonate
- Vinyl roof
- Plastic and rubber trims
- Bumpers
- Wheels
- Tyres
That breadth is the practical advantage of a mild-pH wash: one bucket does the whole car, including the polycarbonate light lenses and rubber trims that a harsher cleaner would be a risk on.
How to wash the car with it
- Hose excess dirt off the vehicle first, to avoid consuming a lot of detergent. It also gets loose grit off before a sponge goes anywhere near the paint.
- Add approximately 30mL of detergent to a 10 litre bucket and fill with water. High water pressure while filling will increase the foam.
- Apply onto the vehicle surface with a sponge.
- Wash one section of the vehicle at a time, from the top down, and hose each section off before the solution dries.
- Dry the vehicle by wiping over with a chamois for the best result.
Top down is worth doing deliberately. Dirty water runs downwards, so working from the roof to the sills means you are always washing onto a surface you have not cleaned yet, rather than running grime back over a finished panel. The lower sections of a car are also the dirtiest, and doing them last keeps that soil out of the bucket for as long as possible.
For the best result, wash the car in a shaded area. Sun on a panel dries the solution faster than you can rinse it, which is exactly what the product tells you not to let happen.
Limitations — the two things not to do
- Do not use the detergent without diluting it first. This is a concentrate. Neat product on paintwork is not a stronger version of the intended use — it is outside the intended use.
- Do not allow the detergent solution to dry on the vehicle surface. Hose each section off well before proceeding to the next.
Safety
- Users with sensitive skin are recommended to wear gloves, both when handling the concentrate and when applying it in diluted form.
- Selleys notes that it is safe practice for all users to wear gloves when handling strong detergents.
- Wash undiluted product off skin with plenty of water.
- If eye contact occurs, hold the eyes open and flood with water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Storage
Protect the product from freezing, store the container out of sunlight, and keep it tightly closed. It is classified as not restricted for shipping and dangerous goods purposes.
Consider the environment
Selleys' own advice on the data sheet is to wash the car on a grassed area and avoid run-off into storm water drains. Storm water in most Australian councils goes to waterways untreated, so the grass verge is not just a courtesy — it is where the wash water should end up.
Hazard classification
Polyglaze Wash & Wax is not classified as hazardous under the criteria of Safe Work Australia GHS 7. It meets no hazard class, so it carries no hazard statements and no signal word, and it is not classified as Dangerous Goods by the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail or the New Zealand NZS5433 — the safety data sheet's version of the "not restricted" shipping line in the specification above.
What is in it
| Chemical entity | CAS number | Proportion (w/w) |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients determined to be non-hazardous or below reporting limits | — | 100% |
The composition section of the safety data sheet has one line in it, covering the whole formulation. Nothing in the product is classified, and nothing is present above the concentration at which it would have to be named. It is worth being clear about which form that applies to: the safety data sheet describes the product as supplied, which is the undiluted concentrate in the bottle. Everything that goes in the bucket is around 30mL of it in 10 litres of water, so the bucket solution is a further three-hundred-fold dilution of something that was already unclassified.
That is the reassuring part. The part worth keeping is the page's own safety note above, which is not about classification at all. A strong detergent concentrate does not need a GHS classification to strip the oils out of skin over a long wash, which is exactly why Selleys recommends gloves for the concentrate and why users with sensitive skin are told to wear them for the diluted solution too. Absence of a hazard class is a statement about thresholds, not a prediction about your hands after an hour.
Two other things follow from the safety data sheet. Keep it away from foodstuffs — a clear blue liquid decanted into an unlabelled bottle is the classic way a harmless product becomes a problem in a household. And protect it from freezing, which is a stability instruction rather than a safety one: a wax emulsion that has frozen and separated will not redisperse, and you lose the wax half of the product's job.
Protection and storage
- Gloves — nitrile rubber is suitable for intermittent contact. Glove construction and conditions vary, so make your own final assessment. This sits alongside the page's own recommendation above to glove up for the concentrate.
- Eye protection — safety glasses when handling or pouring the concentrate.
- Ventilation — natural ventilation is adequate under normal conditions of use.
- Wash hands before smoking, eating, drinking or using the toilet, and wash contaminated clothing before reusing it.
- Storage — cool, dry and well ventilated, out of direct sunlight, away from foodstuffs, incompatible materials and sources of heat or ignition. Keep the container upright and closed when not in use, check it regularly for leaks, and protect it from freezing.
The first aid directions already given above are the ones to follow. If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.
Common questions about Polyglaze Wash & Wax
How much do I use per bucket?
Approximately 30mL to a 10 litre bucket, then fill with water. A more concentrated solution can be used if required.
How many washes will one bottle give me?
Up to 33 washes from the 1 litre bottle, which is what the 30mL dose works out to.
Can I use it neat on a stubborn mark?
No. The data sheet says explicitly not to use the detergent without diluting it first.
Can I wash the whole car and then rinse it all at the end?
No. Wash one section at a time and hose it off before the solution dries. Letting the solution dry on the surface is a stated limitation.
Can I use it on the wheels and tyres too?
Yes. Wheels and tyres are both on the application list, along with paintwork, glass and polycarbonate, vinyl roof, plastic and rubber trims, and bumpers.
Is it safe on paint?
The product has a mild pH of 7.0 to 8.5 and is described as gentle on paintwork and hands.
Do I need gloves?
Users with sensitive skin are recommended to wear gloves for both the concentrate and the diluted solution, and Selleys notes it is safe practice for all users to wear gloves when handling strong detergents.
Do I need to wax the car separately afterwards?
The product contains a wax emulsion that forms a protective layer as you wash, so it cleans and shines in one step. For a dedicated polishing job, see Polyglaze Liquid Polish.
Why is there less foam than I expected?
Foam depends partly on how the bucket is filled — high water pressure will increase foam.
Should I wash in the sun?
No. For best results wash the car in a shaded area, so the solution does not dry on the panels before you rinse.
How should I dry it?
Wipe over with a chamois after hosing the detergent off. The Polyglaze Drying Towel is the drying product in the same range.
How should I store the bottle?
Protect it from freezing, keep it out of sunlight and keep it tightly closed.
Where should I wash the car?
On a grassed area, avoiding run-off into storm water drains.
Is there a version for trucks, caravans and boats?
Yes — Polyglaze Heavy Duty Wash & Wax Hose On is a separate product with its own pack size and directions.
What is Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax?
Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax is a car care product that cuts through dirt and road grime while cleaning and shining a vehicle in one step, giving a noticeable shine and a spotless, streak-free finish.
What size does Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax come in?
Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax comes in a 1L bottle.
What is the appearance and pH of Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax?
Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax is a clear blue liquid with a pH of 7.0–8.5.
What is the viscosity of Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax?
Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax has a viscosity of 1200–2500 cps at 25°C.
How do you use Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax?
First hose excess dirt off the vehicle. Then dilute approximately 30ml of the product in 10L of water. Apply the solution with a sponge one section at a time, hose off before the solution dries, and dry the vehicle with a chamois for best results.
Are there any limitations or precautions for using Selleys Polyglaze Wash & Wax?
Do not allow the detergent solution to dry on the surface, protect the product from freezing, and do not use it undiluted.
How many washes does one bottle of Polyglaze Wash & Wax provide?
According to the knowledge base, a 1-litre bottle of Polyglaze Wash & Wax is a concentrate that provides up to 33 washes.
What surfaces on a vehicle can Polyglaze Wash & Wax be used on?
Polyglaze Wash & Wax is suitable for use over the entire vehicle, including paintwork, glass & polycarbonate, vinyl roof, plastic & rubber trims, bumpers, wheels, and tyres.
What are some tips for best results when washing a car with Polyglaze Wash & Wax?
For best results, wash the car in a shaded area, dry the vehicle with a chamois after hosing off the detergent, and consider washing on a grassed area to avoid detergent run-off into storm water drains.