Detailing Confusion and Questions

CaptainSlow

I recently got my car and I'm a bit confused with all the steps required to detail my car. Last night I purchased a few items from the WalMart/Canadian Tire here just to tide me over till I figure out what professional products I want. I also wanted to clean my car and didn't want to wait a month or so before I figured stuff out and ordered it. Anyways here's what I bought:

- Meguair's Gold Class Shampoo
- Black Magic Tire Dressing Spray (water based)
- Mothers Clay Bar kit
- Meguair's NXT Wax

Chenille wash mitt, two buckets, six microfiber clothes, and a gigantic microfiber drying towel which I plan to return and get a microfiber waffle towel instead.

The car is about a week old and is coloured white with a clear bra. Here are the questions.

1. Are the products I've picked good enough? Again, here in Canada, at least to my knowledge, we don't have access to stores like Pep Boys and other automotive stores that sell the higher end products.

2. Is there a way I can tell whether or not I need to use a clay bar? When I first got it I felt the paint with the back of my index finger and hand and it seemed smooth. Should I still go with the clay bar? I purchased that paint protection business from them (yes I know some people are against it but what's done is done). Does that have any effect on anything?

3. If I go ahead and use the clay bar on my car does that mean that I have to first wash the car with dish soap to strip the wax? From what I understand the clay bar will remove small particles as well as the wax leaving me with clean surface. Is this correct?

4. If the wax doesn't get stripped with the clay bar and I have to use dish soap should I clean the car again with the Meguairs shampoo after I clay bar or can I just wax it?

5. If the clay bar does remove the wax is it still a good idea to wash the car again after the clay bar has been applied and then wax the car?

6. Can the clay bar be used on the windows? Is there any point in doing so?

7. Will using the Meguairs NXT on the clear bra cause any discouloration or should I be worried about using it on the clear bra? Do you use the same method of waxing on it like you would on the car itself (small sections, buff, move to next section)?

8. Can I use the Meguairs NXT on the sport wheels after I clean them (and after I clean the car) for added protection. I would be cleaning the wheels with a simple soap and water solution as it sounds like that's the best way to go.

I think that's about it. If you have any additional comments or suggestions I would love to hear them. I'm going to clean my car on Saturday morning as well as my girlfriend's Civic (provided I have time). I'll report back with my experience.