Here is my experience with my local carwash:
1. Pull car out of garage.
2. Fill three buckets with water (third bucket is for wheels only). Also add Meguairs Gold Class or CG Citrus Wash to wash bucket and a drop of ONR do wash and rinse buckets.
3. Use good quality wash mitt (I use CG's wash mitt)
4. Rinse car first (I am not in Cali - we still have a bit of water left up here - not much but I can still rinse -for now).
5. Wash (I actually do wheels first because I use a separate bucket and separate wash tools, plus I hate washing wheels and tires)
6. Spray each panel with one shot of Opti-Seal, to help as a drying agent and simultaneoulsy wax the car (lazy man's wax job)
7. Dry with a waffle weave
8. Put chair in location where car is visibile. Sit in char and ask 13 year old son to bring you a beer/scotch/wine/cooler/martini etc.. and enjoy your handy work, knowing that your precious car is safe.