Left Column

[ScottRiqui]

If you've got a bunch of swirl marks and don't have an orbital polisher, I would seriously suggest getting one, or paying to have the paint worked on professionally once, just so that you're starting off with a swirl-free finish.

I'd get at least two of the waffle-weave towels. I usually can't dry the car completely with only one.

If you put a coat of Epic or similar synthetic sealant on the paint, you'll be amazed at how long you can maintain it by using Hydro when you dry the car. Hydro also hides the faint swirl marks that inevitably creep up over time. You can reduce the onset of swirls by using two wash buckets when you wash the car (one for soap, and one with clear water to rinse the mitt in before you go back to the soap bucket. Putting "Grit Guards" or similar devices in the bottom of the buckets can also help keep dirt in the water off of your mitt.

For the tires, I'd find a different vinyl/rubber dressing. Hydro isn't meant for tires, and I haven't found Nero to be particularly effective on tires either. I like Griot's Garage's "Vinyl and Rubber Dressing".

Slick is a quick-detailing spray, whereas Hydro is a "wax-as-you-dry" product. Both are *great*. I use Slick when there's just a light coating of dust/grime on the car. It just takes a few minutes, and using it daily or every other day means that you can put off washing the car almost indefinitely, unless you get a heavy rain or large amount of dirt on the car.

I would also recommend using a "clay bar" to remove the bonded contaminants from the paint before you start doing anything else. Wash and dry your car, and run your fingertips over the surface. That rough "speckly" feeling you'll feel is from all the little bits of tree sap, pollution, dirt, etcetera that have become bonded with the paint. Removing those with the claybar will help anything you apply on the paint to stick longer, and will enhance the gloss.

I'll let everyone else chime in, and I'll post more if anything else comes to mind.