Nothing wrong with cleaning your car! Its just as important as all the other maintenance.
Avoid using those yellow sponges, they are 1 of the main causes of swirl marks, use a lambs wool mitt for everything above the the door mouldings anda microfibre mitt for everything bellow. Have 1 bucket of soapy water and 1 of just water, dip the mitt in the soapy water and wipe over the paint, then rinse it it the bucket of just water. This serves 2 purposes:
1. It stops you putting dirt back on the car
2. It removes particles of grit from the mitt that could scratch the paint and cause swirl marks.
Don't use a leather to dry it, they're hard work and if any grit that is still on the paint has nowhere to go as they are quite hard. Use a waffle weave towel (also known as a water magnet™).
Don't use cheap products as a lot of them remove wax from the paint leaving it unprotected.
Paintbrushes are great for applying dressing to plastics/tyres, but let it dry naturaly on plastics then gently wipe over it with a soft LINT FREE cloth for a perfect finish.
When cleaning windows go up and down 1 side then side to side on the other, this way you will know which side smears are if there are any.
Invest in plenty of microfibre cloths (also known as terry towels, don't ask me why), they are a godsend. Always put them in the washing machine after use.
Lesson over for now, lol!!!
