It all depends how serious you want to get. You could wash, claybar, wash again, remove swirls/glaze, polish and wax. Some more basic info follows:
Rinse to get rid of loose dirt, then WASH using a good quality car shampoo and lambswoll mitt, or if you have to a good clean sponge (dont use a sponge on paint if you drop it - itll have minute peices of grit in it thatll sratch your paint), rinse and dry using a quality clean chamois or clean terry towelling. After washing you could use a CLAYBAR to remove stubborn tar or insect deposits.
A true POLISH is more like a cleanser, removing oxidation, old wax, minor swirl marks and water spots. ONLY polish if your paint needs it, if after youve washed and dried your car the paint doesnt feel like glass it needs a polish. There are loads of different polishes available for different uses, read the packaging carefully to make sure you get the right type. After polishing you apply the WAX which is a protects the paint. You DO NOT always need to polish your car, evaluate the condition of the paint after youve washed it.
You can determine if your car has enough WAX by following a simple test. Rub a clean, dry towel over the bonnet or roof surfaces. If you hear squeaking, its because the paint is dry and needs polishing and protection. When a cars paint surface has good wax protection, a good buffing cloth should glide across the surface. After waxing, your cars paint should feel slick and smooth, and be free of streaks and smudges. The best natural waxes contain Carnauba wax. Some waxes are synthetic wax, its personal choice.
Have a look at
http://www.bettercarcare.comwww.bettercarcare.com which is where I got most of the info above. As for which stuff to use its personal choice. I currently use a Turltewax wash, 3M hand Glaze (if needed), AutoGlym polish (if needed), P21/S100 waxes, and various other wheel cleaners and trim detailers and glass polishes, mainly Autoglym stuff. If Im going to give my motor a good thorough clean (about once a month) itll take me 3 - 4 hours!
