Will try and answer what i know
Snow foam lance (to fit a Karcher K series 4600)
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...ance-cat2.html
DA / Rotary -For a novice I would use a DA (dual action) - will be less likely to cause paint damage as it is slower. Rotary spins more quickly and in one spot so you have to be more careful, but will bring better results more quickly.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/cgi-b...x=0&search.y=0
Glaze - designed to clean the paintwork and help get a better level of shine
Wax - protection, once polished, your car needs a layer of wax to protect it.
Clay bar -a bar of clay, used with lubricant that you wipe/rub the panels down with to remove grit and dirt in the paint that washing/shampooing doesnt remove - very effective and easy and will make polishing and waxing much easier and with better results - alot of dirt is still in you paint after a wash, claying gets it slick!
How to remove swirls or dull patches? - A cutting compound and da/rotary machine, different pads - cutting/polishing/finishing, basically removing a tiny bit of the surface to get down below the swirls. Takes time but can be worth the effort for a great finish.
Two bucket method - when washing, use a bucket for soaking the wash mit and one for rinsing it out so that the mit stays cleaner and you dont have gritty water going back on the car ( use a wash mit over a sponge as a wash mit wont drag grime across the paint like a sponge)
Clothes for drying etc. - microfibre towels, lots of pound shops sell them, softer and wont scuff the paint or drag dirt along.
Wheel dressing - after the alloys have been cleaned, you can spray on sort of wax to stop the brake dust sticking, and dress the tyres with tyre gel - meguires endurance etc. Watch out for cheap tyre shine etc as they can eat into the finish of the alloys.
Interior cleaner for fabric - no recommendations, but baby wipes are good at lifting stains.
Quick Detailer - a detailing spray, used to get a quick shine back between waxing sessions after a wash.
I really like poorboys blackhole glaze, very very easy to use, designed for dark cars so doesnt shop up stone chips etc, and then nattys past wax, again designed for dark cars and sooooo easy to use. some links below of stuff I buy.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...ole-glaze.html
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...iler-plus.html
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...paste-wax.html
I like to:
Rinse the car
shampoo
rinse
towel dry
use tar spot remover to breakdown tar spots
clay bar the car
rinse
towel dry
trim restorer - will help prevent polish sticking to plastics and rubbers as well as bringing back the factory colour of faded bits.
polish
wax
I am sure others can add to this thread with hints and tips.