Flush the entire vehicle. Start at the top and work your way down, washing one section at a time, flushing the entire vehicle between each section.
The Best Rotary Polisher rotates at 1000 RPM, which generates a lot of heat on the surface being polished. Use masking tape to protect anything you don't want to burn or wear: headlights, taillights, badges, trim, etc. If it's plastic, cover it up. Many cars have vinyl or painted pinstripes, so cover them up as well to prevent the polishing pad from damaging them.
Polishing removes oxidation and minor scratches to vehicle paint from years of exposure to harsh environments, leaving a brighter, glossier finish. Start with a wool pad and polish. These are more abrasive, which is what removes those minor scratches from the clear coat. Apply the compound directly to the car and use the pad to spread it around a small area. Begin polishing by laying the pad flat on the painted surface and alternating between up/down and left/right movements in 2'x2' sections. Do not tilt the mat as this will concentrate too much heat in one place and will ruin your clear coat.
Once the compound is evenly distributed and has a hazy appearance, wipe it off with a microfiber towel.
Now that we've eliminated the scratches, it's time to give it a mirror-smooth finish. Switch to the yellow foam pad and repeat the polishing process with the polish. For best results, apply moderate pressure to the surface, then gradually reduce the pressure until the compound forms a thin layer, then wipe away with a clean microfiber towel.
The wax will fill in any tiny scratches that polishing didn't remove. It will also make your paint look smooth and wet like a mirror. Most liquid carnauba waxes available at auto parts stores come with their own foam applicator pads. Apply the wax to the pad and spread evenly in a circular motion. Wait a few minutes until it's slightly dry and cloudy, then wipe off with another clean microfiber towel.
If you're like me, you've probably smeared the entire window and vinyl surface on a spinning polishing pad. That's okay because you should clean them anyway. I like to use microfiber towels to dress up all the black plastic trim, door frames and weather strips. Products containing silicates can dry out the plastic and damage the paint over time. Clean the windows with some glass cleaner sprayed on a microfiber cloth.
Finally, pull up a chair, open a beer, and admire your work. If you want to keep it that way for as long as possible, stay away from mechanical car washes. Only use a touchless car wash or spray yourself. A mechanical car wash will remove the wax from the paint in just 2 or 3 passes.