[creeper]

If you want a store bought soap, I usually use Meguiars. I sort of get the feeling detailing products get extremely gimicky sometimes so I stick with a simple soap. One you can order online that is awesome though is Optimum No Rinse (ONR), which is supposed to be for washing when you don't have the option of rinsing. I got a bottle for Christmas, and it's so lubey and slippery I use it pretty much every wash now. It's not cheap but it only takes a capful or two so the bottle really lasts.

For a claybar I use Meguiars, only thing I've ever used so I can't comment on anything else

For wax and polishes I also use Meguiars. The professional line stuff in the yellowish bottles works great. The #26 wax is awesome on dark colors. If you want to do some polishing the "105/205" combo is extremely popular among detailers if you ever get into machine polishing. It's the heavy cut to remove deep scratches/swirls followed by the fine cut to remove any remnants left by the heavy cut. All of the products in purple bottles are decent too from my experience.

For tire shine I got a free bottle of Wolfgang that's great, but too pricey for me to buy so I have to find something new. I'm not really happy with armor all's durability. I like a black that's not too glossy and lasts.

For wheel cleaners, you guessed it, Meguiars. They're the only people I've found who make an "aluminum safe" wheel cleaner designed for bare polished aluminum that actually doesn't stain the crap out of it. If you have painted wheels you have tons more options from the store.

make sure you use decent applicators/microfibers too, and washing with one rinse and one soap bucket really helps keep swirls away


...I hope no one sees my car any time soon after posting this, I own more products than I know what to do with, but two years after buying my PC I've never really given it a real detail. It's been years since I clayed it also. Maybe this summer...