Any exterior paint pros out there?

Essentially I'd like to protect the paint as the weather gets cold here (hopefully some snow at one point, so I can hit the slopes unlike last year).

Through the summer I would wash my car at my squad house. But I don't know the basics about "winterizing" the paint (I keep hearing "clay bar").
Also the other day I started noticing "spider webs" in the black paint on the roof and pillars. I got Chelsea (MCS) used, and it looks as though the last owner didn't take care of all the paint chips at the front (least of my worries). I just want to protect the paint, but don't know the basics. HELP! And naturally thanks far in advance.

 

This is obviously tailored to their line of products, but it provides everything you would want to know about detailing/cleaning your vehicle. A lot fo good information in there...

Griot's Detailer's Handbook

 

Lots of info in that link Marine provided and in the detailing forum. But in short...

Yes, get a good coat of protection on the paint before winter hits and keep it there at all times. You need it in the summer just as much, or more, as you do in the winter. Any decent wax contains protection against UV rays and will reduce/prevent paint fading.

Clay bar is used to remove surface contaminants and prepare your paint for polish and/or wax. Sure won't help you with the spider webbing, stone chips, or issues with the paint itself.

If you want to get rid of the spider webbing and minor scratches in the surface of the paint, you need to polish it. You can do it by hand if you're a glutton for punishment. Or you can invest in a random orbital buffer, some pads, and a line of polishes.

That's the Reader's Digest version of maintaining your paint.

 

theres a whole section in this forum for detailing... I have learned some great stuff there.