How often do you was/polish or wax your car

[Jimbob]

(and I swear, I'm not trying to make you jealous) it's constantly in the sun and close to beach area? I want to protect the paint as much as possible, and I live in the hot caribbean weather...

Well - you have succeeded in making me jealous at least!

JB

[DickiJ]

Well technically speaking the more you wash your car the quicker it will get swirly! The best tactic in my opinion if you're starting fresh is to

Clean
Clay
Polish
and put a very long lasting wax on to lock in all that prep work

After that then I would be washing it once every 2 weeks. All that prep work before should ensure that most of the dirt comes off during the initial rinse stage so you minimise the chances of swirls when you get at it properly.

The initial prep work probably only needs to be done 2 - 3 times a year to be honest, if done properly. I tend to do the above before the bad winter weather kicks in and then again when spring starts... To be honest I've been trying to get half days this week to get home and make a start!

[CliveP]

After you've sealed in a full prep, (preferably with a machine polish after claying then waxing afterwards) as Dick has suggested, I would wash it as often as you can and want to - as it is likely to be sandy, then I would snow foam it first before each wash along with a good APC to remove as much muck as possible before a normal 2 bucket method wash. You want to remove as much as possible before touching the car with a wash mitt to ensure absolute minimal risk of introducing swirls.

Regards,
Clive.