TAKING A SHINE; Expert tips on getting a professional wax job at home.(Revs)

Byline: JACOB LINGEMAN

With summer winding down, this is an ideal time to put a shine on your car, whether it's your daily driver getting ready for winter or your only-drive-in-the-summer classic that's headed for storage.

First, let's dispel a couple of myths: "The clear coat on today's cars is enough to protect the paint.'' Wrong. Acid rain, road grime, UV rays, even exhaust from the car in front of you can wear down the clear coat and eventually damage your car's paint.

"Washing your car with dish soap is fine.'' Wrong again. Detergents in dish soap can thin your clear coat and wax while removing the dirt. Experts suggest a car-wash solution formulated for use on clear coats and delicate finishes.

Today's waxes and polishes can react to dirt, chemicals and old wax and may give a cloudy finish if your car is not cleaned properly. Professional detailers like a lamb's-wool mitt or soft sponge in a solution of soap meant for cleaning cars. An expert tip from Charles Bennett of Zymol is to add a spoonful of salad oil to your soap bucket. This softens the water and helps the dirt slide off your car.

Wash the car in a cool, shady spot to avoid the soap drying or water spots forming from drying too quickly. The car should be soaped and washed in sections and thoroughly rinsed before moving on.

Use a clean terry towel for drying. The best way is to use one towel for the bulk of the moisture and a new, dry one for the remainder.