For your first wash you probably want to use dishsoap then a claybar, then car washing soap. No sense putting it off and waxing over grime - just means more work later. :wink:
-Prewash
1. Fill bucket 1 with dishsoap and water.
2. Fill bucket 2 with water.
3. Pour half of the dishsoap bucket on the roof then hood, covering as much of the car with runoff as possible.
4. Use microfiber sponge 1 and wipe down the roof, hood, and boot. Dunk microfiber sponge 1 in bucket 2 repeatedly while doing this.
5. Use microfiber sponge 2 and wipe down the side panels, rear bumper, and front bumper. Dunk microfiber sponge 1 in bucket 2 repeatedly while doing this.
6. Spray wheels with hose under high pressure until visible brake dust stops running off. This may take a while.
7. Spray the car down with the hose starting at the top. Use low pressure and let the water sheet off. (How well the water sheets and beads gives you a good idea of when you need to do your next polish/sealant and/or wax job.)
8. Clean both buckets and sponges (or use fresh sponges if you have them).
-Claybar
9. Mix a small amount car cleaner (z7) with water in a spritzer bottle.
10. Use a claybar, starting from the top and working your way down. Pay attention to the front bumper, hood, and areas behind wheels. Use the spritzer to lube areas where you are claybaring and keep folding the claybar.
11. Spray the car down with the hose starting at the top. Use low pressure and let the water sheet off.
-Wash
12. Fill bucket 1 with car cleaner (z7) and water.
13. Fill bucket 2 with water.
14. Dunk microfiber sponge 1 in bucket 1 and wipe down the roof, hood, and boot. Dunk microfiber sponge 1 in bucket 2, squeeze it out, then dunk in bucket 1 repeatedly while doing this.
15. Dunk microfiber sponge 2 and wipe down the side panels, rear bumper, and front bumper. Dunk microfiber sponge 2 in bucket 2, squeeze it out, then dunk in bucket 1 repeatedly while doing this.
16. Use soft cotton rags and thoroughly wipe down wheels. Don't forget to get behind the spokes. Dunk a rag in bucket 1 and use it until it is nasty. Then get a new rag, don't bother trying to clean it in bucket 2.
17. Spray the car down with the hose starting at the top. Use low pressure and let the water sheet off.
-Drying (perhaps the most important part)
1. Put the car in a sunny spot where there is no breeze if possible.
2. Use lots of high quality microfiber. Have 5 clean and dry microfiber cloths at least.
3. Start at the top, and wipe down. No need to apply a lot of pressure.
4. If you see something you missed, do not rub it out with a drying cloth. Grab the spritzer and a clean sponge to do any followup cleaning.
5. Once a cloth becomes wet to the touch, swap out for a dry one. I use 1 cloth for the roof and boot, 1 for the trunk, 1 for the passenger side panels, 1 for the drivers side panels, 1 for the bumpers, 1 for the windows, and 4 clean cotton towels for the wheels.
6. Pop the hood and boot to wipe down corners, open the doors to wipe down the sills.
7. Use a CO2 can (available at any office/computer store) to blow off any other nook where water pools up.
Then go about applying protection. Groits and wax, if that's your style. Personally, I find zaino polish and sealants to be a far superior product and recommend the following: zAIO, z6, z5, z6, z2, zGF, z2, zCS. Add a coat of zGF every few days and the car will constantly look like it rolled off center stage at a car show.
Remember to wash microfiber on delicate setting without any bleach or fabric softener. Dry on perm press.
http://zainostore.com
^- best products in the biz
http://www.detailedimage.com/Microfiber-C24/
^- good selection of microfiber