Through a lot of trial and error here are my weapons of choice:
 From Left to right:
- Tire Shine by Stoner Products. This product gives the tires a deep black semi-gloss finish. After it dries I buff it off with a plain rag to reduce the gloss. I personally don't care for the wet hair gel look on tires, to messy. - Professional Strength De-Solv-it Citrus Cleaner. I use this stuff to clean the stone guard paint on the lower portion of the vehicle. With a little persuasion it can remove all that crusty grimy crap that gets in the valleys on the bumpy paint finish. - Wizards Mist & Shine. Absolutely the best detail mist I have ever used. I used to be religious on using The Meguire's Detail Mist & shine stuff. The Wizard product gives you a very silky smooth finish, and puts more depth appearance to the paint. I also use this on my glass. After you clean the glass with the clear vision spray a little of the mist on and all I MEAN ALL streaks will disappear even when inspected in direct sunlight. On some occasions I smacked my hands on the side glass window thinking it was all the way down :) - Clear Vision II Glass Cleaner ([ www.properautocare.com ]). Good at removing bug guts and other contaminates that accumulate on your glass. Sine the product has no alcohols or ammonia solvents it is safe for tinted windows. - Parts Master Purple Cleaner. Powerful stuff, be careful with it. I only use it on the tire sidewalls and exhaust tips when washing. This is the only stuff that can literally remove all the black soot deposits that accumulate on the exhaust tips with a few wipes. It also can remove all the brown residue that get on the tires from using tire shine products. Just spray it on the rubber dry, scrub with a moist (almost dry) brush with soapy water. You will actually see the brown crap physically come off the tires when you rinse. Tires are back to black. Note, don't use simple green, it makes your tires very brown and discolored if you use it often. - Meguiar's Machine Glaze #3. Use this in conjunction with the 6" porter cable random orbital buffer. Again you need to be careful if you are not familiar with using the buffer, you can damage the paint if you don't pay attention. This product works really well on dark colored paint including the high maintenance black colors. I used it on a 1990 Black NSX with spectacular results, Night and day difference. My silver color is a little more forgiving than most paint colors. When you look for buffing pads it is easier to have a few different ones that very in aggressiveness rather than changing the compound. You eliminate all possibilities of cross contamination between buffing compounds. - Meguiar's Show Car Glaze #7. If I have time I will use this after using the #3. Again I will use the buffer to do the work. Make sure you segregate your pads so you don't cross contaminate compounds. I use the least aggressive foam pad you can find. - Turtle Wax Bug&Tar Remover. Usually use this on the inside of my wheels to remove the stubborn black globs that can't be removed by washing or the citrus cleaner. - Meguiar's NXT Car Wash. Nice silky smooth texture. My bonnet stays cleaner so as a result I get fewer paint scratches using this soap.
- Sponge Applicator for the Tire Shine. ALWAYS spray the tire shine on the applicator AND THEN apply. Overspray is evil and this stuff will contaminate your rags if you use your microfiber towels. - Pinnacle Souveran Wax. Gives my metallic paint more depth than the other waxes I have used in the past. Lasts a lot long longer than any Zymol wax including the really expensive stuff. The more coats you apply the better the paint looks. Three light coats seem to give best results. Just make sure you remove the wax before it dries. depending on temperature and humidity on average you have about 60-90 seconds before it starts to dry so don't apply more than you can take off in that period of time. - Waffle weave Micro Fiber Towels. Nothing touches the car except these towels. I use these for everything accept tire shine. The waffle pattern has good absorbing abilities and if you apply a little extra pressure you can get pretty very stubborn to remove items off your paint without any damage. - Detail Brush. I use it mainly to get dust out of cracks when vacuuming the interior. Make sure you use a natural or hog or horse hair brush, any plastic bristle brush will scratch the clear plastic gauge cluster or other plastic interior pieces. If you can find a horse or hog hair brush for your shop vac then the brush will not be necessary. - California Car Duster. No explanation needed, Just make sure you break them in properly. Pic of tire shine after I buffed it off with a shop rag:
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Some of My Detailing Supplies and Techniques - 
