Looking after your car's bodywork is something that's easily done and can make it much easier to sell your car or trade it in when the time comes.

Simple regular maintenance can keep a car looking young no matter how old it is and who doesn't want a car that looks good on the road? When it comes to buffing the bodywork there are two basic choices, wax or sealant. Both will protect your paintwork against the Irish weather and sunlight if we ever get any. Sealers are usually petroleum based and contain silicones. They last much longer than ordinary car wax and can be good for more than a year. The main difference between sealants and wax is reducing however because these days many waxes also contain silicone and other ingredients which can extend their protective life.

A wax or sealer that is applied by rubbing it directly onto the bodywork. Applied in this way the wax or sealant will always give much better and long-lasting protection than one that is sprayed on as in most drive through car washers.

The right choice of product really depends on the vehicle you are going to use it on. The key thing here is what type of finish your paintwork is. Most cars will have a base coat with a clear coat finish which is basically a layer of clear paint over the colour to provide extra shine and protection.

The newer the car the less vital it is to regularly wax but it certainly doesn't hurt to do so even with a brand new car. It's critical with this kind of finish that any product you use doesn't contain any abrasives or polish. They are fine on dull older cars or on paintwork that has a solid finish but on a clear coat finish they can damage or remove the clear protective layer.

When applying your wax always follow the manufacturer's instructions and always wash and dry your car before you wax it. Never wax in direct sunlight or on a very hot day.

Use a clean, soft, damp rag or sponge to apply the wax or sealer and avoid getting it on the glass or on plastic mouldings like wing mirrors or bumpers.

Start by applying the wax to a small area first such as a door or boot lid and then leave it dry before buffing it up. Then move on to the next area and repeat the process until the whole car is done. If you try to do the whole car or too large an area, the wax or sealer may have too much drying time and be difficult to wipe off.

Your own elbow grease is the best way to get the best shine although power buffers are faster, but require experience to really do a good job. IN the case of products containing abrasives be very careful using a power buffer as it could remove the paint completely, the same goes for elbow grease, go gently at first to ascertain how much force you need to apply. The easiest way to know when the car needs waxing again is when water no longer forms in beads on the paintwork but simply runs off.

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