In the past I've just washed and waxed. Recently, I've used Zymol cleaner wax. The cleaner wax works well to remove contaminants and gives a reasonable shine. Works OK, but the beading doesn't last. This is in part due to the Zymol wax I've been using isn't designed to have a hard shell. The wax too easily comes off, using a chamois to dry probably strips the wax. Does using a natural chamois have any advantages over the new synthetic chammys?
So, I was researching for a better regime, a longer lasting one. After some research I learned some new things about paint care.
I've used clay bars before but many consider it the first step as it removes contaminants from the paint. Otherwise, Polishing is the first step after a good washing. Polishing will remove contaminants and remove small scratches and swirl marks. The next step is optional, Glaze. This adds a deep luster. The final step is Waxing. A good quality Carnuba wax made of natural ingredients nourishes the paint. This type of wax is good for the paint but doesn't last very long. Synthetic waxes last a lot longer, but I'm not sure it they're good for the paint. Any thoughts about the natural vs synthetic waxes?