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11. Clay bar

Clay bar

Grit, salt and damp make the next few months a tough time for your car.

Particularly vulnerable is the paintwork. Before applying a generous protective coat of wax, give the body a thorough clean with a clay bar.

This will remove all those tiny impurities that stick to paint, and leave a super-smooth finish for the wax to bond to.

Our clay bar test winner was Bilt-Hamber’s Auto-clay Soft (£10.95).

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New & used car deals

Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,275Avg. savings £2,923 off RRP*Used from £7,195
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,713 off RRP*Used from £9,995
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,514 off RRP*Used from £8,995
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,045Avg. savings £3,528 off RRP*Used from £8,970
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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