I try do it like Pros whenever possible!
I've got friends in the detailing business some who work only on Mercedes Benz and they are ADAMANT about proper washing procedures. German paints are very delicate and aren't used by U.S. body shops. Over the years I've learned that most of the damage and dulling of new car paint comes as a consequence of the owner not washing properly.
this car below was
never garage kept or repainted in 10 years and at the time the pic was taken had never seen a PC. And boy was it washed OFTEN