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 Start by THOROUGHLY rinsing the vehicle with clean water. Use lots of water and a gentle stream to avoid scratches. Excessive water pressure will cause the dirt to grind at the surface. Some detailers even prefer to let the water flow freely out of the hose without the benefit of a nozzle.
Use a detergent designed specifically for car washing. Don't use common dish washing detergent, as it is too strong and will remove the wax you want to keep.
There really isn't a lot to washing a car; simply mix detergent according to the manufacturers' directions, dip your sponge or mit into the bucket and have at it. There are a few guidelines to follow however:
Use generous amounts of water/soap. On a Miata, which is a relatively small car, we'll use three or four buckets. On a medium sized car, such as a Honda Accord, five or six buckets will do the job. When the bucket gets down to about one-third fill, empty it, give it a quick rinse and refill with detergent/water.
When you wash a car, do it in sections. Start with the roof, which will make rinsing easier. Then do other sections, such as the front fender, door, rear fender and so on, rinsing thoroughly in between. Always rinse soon after applying so a soap film does not develop. Do not suds up the entire car and then rinse; some of the soap will dry and a film like substance will remain. 
After washing, rinse the entire car just to be sure all the soap is cleared away. Don't forget the nooks, crannies and crevices where soap can hide.
If the car is particularly dirty, wash it twice. The first washing will take care of the majority of the dirt and the second will complete the job. Some car enthusiasts will wash twice as part of their routine.
Avoid scratches by using two buckets; one will have your normal car wash detergent, the other will be just water. When you are finished sudsing up a particular area, rinse the wash mit/sponge in the plain water. This will keep scratch causing dirt particles from revisiting the surface of your car. Another approach is to rinse off with your hose the wash mit/sponge before dipping it into the car wash detergent.
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