Thanks PonySC
I was trying to stay out of this one , mostly because the majority of advice is sound, and because I do it for a living doesn't mean everyone has to use the same things I do, or even believe what I say or know. Truth is, if you use the right approach, any decent products will yield great results. If 1 product was best, it would win at Concours De 'Elegance (Pebble Beach) every time, and that doesn't happen.
As far as Dawn (the seeming bone of contention here), it's not going to hurt urethane enamel if used 1x or 2x a year to strip wax etc. You should rinse , rinse, rinse afterwards to avoid an alkaline film, that could compromise the wax or sealant you use, that's all.
BTW, Sal Zaino
HAS won trophys with his cars at such events, and they are advocating the Dawn routine to strip, so that argument goes out the window i'm afraid. They have chemists working for them that know what's happening on a molecular level. The same people that curse using Dawn on their paint once a year are likely the same folks that spray an acid wheel cleaning product on their wheels now and then, or apply white vinegar (mild acetic acid) to remove mineral deposits, or use a solvent to remove a sticker 's residue. Can't have it both ways folks, all those things can POTENTIALLY damage paint resins. You sometimes need a stronger approach to solve a problem, you have to use those products logically. Hey, one cigarrette now and then won't kill you, but do it every day...
We're talking about degree here, so keep it in perspective.
No one, that I know of, or have ever read about in all my years on the detail boards, has killed their paint by using Dawn now and then. Who here has?... so let's no blow this out of proportion so one person can "be right". There are other ways to strip wax, so if it makes you queasy, use the alternatives.
Most people would be surprised at what lands and often sits on their paint on a regular basis, that's much more dangerous to your paint than anything Dawn could ever do;
RAIN
I have a map of the U.S. that lists acidity of rainfall for every region, and it averages about 4.5 on the PH scale. That's on the acid scale, about like coffee or orange juice. Sitting on your paint. Still worried about Dawn that you rinse off? Not trying to be a smarta$$ here, just some technical information to quell the hyperbole.
Which is why we apply wax or sealants. Sacrificial, renewable layer of protection.
lastly, with summer coming on, remember; carnauba wax fractures at 165 degrees. Polymer sealants at ~400 degrees.
On a hot sunny day, a black or dark green metallic car can hit ~265 degrees surface temperature, and even light colors can exceed 200 degrees. Bye bye carnauba wax. If you like to rewax every few days, you're good to go and ok. Otherwise, use a sealant. Good sealants like Zaino contain UV40 also, most waxes do not. But something is always better than nothing, so just keep wax on and do it more often , or use a sealant every few months.
Keep it clean and mean. And remember, we're supposed to get along here. ( I think)