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First, to wash the exterior, I use Turtle Wax Zip Wax car wash and a "spun wool" wash mitt. For bugs I use a "bug sponge" with a slightly rough textured face. Drying is done with either clean, 100% cotton towels, or a synthetic chamois called "The Absorber." I sometimes use an electric blower to get the water out of all the cracks and crevices. Once a month I either use Meguiars Deep Crystal Paste Cleaner Wax or Zymol liquid Cleaner Wax; the Meguiars seems to last longer while the Zymol makes water sheet off better, instead of always beading up.
I usually use a dual action orbital buffer with a foam pad for application and follow up with hand removal and a final buff with a wool bonnet on the buffer.
Wheels and tires:
As I have polished aluminum wheels, I use Eagle One Aluminum Wash and Cleaner along with some cheap car wash soap and a soft bristle brush and another wash mitt. I use just soap and water and a stiff-bristle scrub brush for my blackwall tires; Westley's Bleche-White does wonders on whitewalls but it will damage uncoated aluminum wheels (like mine) so be forewarned. For polishing my wheels I have found Eagle One Aluminum Polish and Mothers' Mag and Aluminum Polish both work well, although the Eagle One is harder to remove. I use Black Magic Tire Wet aerosol for the tires, and I follow up by wiping over it with a "tire swipe" sponge to eliminate drips and runs.
Wheelwells and undercarriage:
To clean my wheelwells I use a diluted mix of water and Castrol Super Clean Cleaner/Degreaser. (Purple Power also works well.) Bleche-White will work on plastic fender liners. I spray underneath my entire body to ensure all mud and grimes is removed, then I scrub it with car wash soap and rinse again. I like using Armor All Tire Wet to spray down my wheelwells and frame rails, as it makes them look black again.
Engine:
I use a diluted mix of Super Clean/water and scrub with soap and water to remove loose dirt. Then I hand scrub individual parts with the same spray solution. After letting it dry, I wipe all the painted surfaces (firewall, hood, inner fenders, etc.) with Eagle One Wet instant detailer spray and buff off the excess. I then polish all the metal lines, parts, etc. with Eagle One Nevr Dull Wadding Polish. Next I spray the entire engine compartment with Son-of-a-Gun Tire Dressing aerosol, let it sit, and wipe off the excess. Finally, I wipe down individual parts with the Armor All Tire Wet.
Exterior trim & chrome:
I use the Armor All Tire Wet on all exterior trim and plastic, and I use the Nevr Dull wadding polish on everything chrome-plated, including wheels. Nu-Finish Car Polish also works well on chrome.
Interior:
First is the vacuum; don't forget the headliner and the undersides of the sun visors, as well as under the seats. Next I spot clean any stains on the upholstery with either Resolve or Prestone Interior CLeaner aerosol. Next I clean all vinyl and plastic surfaces with either a rag and a solution of GM Vinyl Top Cleaner and water, or using Armor All Cleaning Wipes. (The Turtle Wax Leather Cleaner/Conditioner Wipes also work well.) While letting the cleaner dry, I use Q-tips and cleaning solution to get in all the cracks, crevices, and vent louvers. A detail brush and a cut-off 2" paintbrush also help here. For vinyl dressing I like Meguiars Natural Shine and Black Magic Interior Semi-Gloss Protectant; neither leaves the greasy film to collect dust and neither has too much gloss. For the glass I use either Next Dimension Glass Cleaner or Stoner Invisible Glass and paper towels. Both also work well for touching up chrome, too. Then I use the Eagle One instant detailer to clean the door jambs and finally I wipe the weatherstripping down with a light coat of Prestone Silicone spray.
Additional advice:
1. Never use dish soap on paint--it strips all your wax and will eventually dull your finish.
2. Never get any type of cleaner or degreaser on your paint--it will also QUICKLY oxidize it.
3. Be EXTREMELY careful when using any abrasive product on paint, as it may scratch and may rub through the paint.
4. Make sure you use the proper wheel cleaning product for your specific type of wheels.
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