Always polish a clean, dry car. First make sure the polish is suitable for your car's paintwork as some aren't compatible with metallic paint. Your polish should be gentle – abrasive polishes can harm the clear resin that protects the base colour coat. It's best to polish on a dull or overcast day as strong sunlight can dry the polish too quickly.

1. Take two soft cotton cloths, one to apply and one to buff.
2. Work on one panel at a time so the polish doesn't dry out.
3. Don't apply too much polish, a light, even layer should do – let it dry a little then buff it off with your clean cloth.
4. Any polish on glass should be rubbed off at once. Most polishes aren't suitable for glass. Try not to get it on your plastic trim either as it can discolour it. If you do, use a grease or wax remover and follow the instructions carefully.