May sound like a dumb question, but I want to get it right. After you wash, what's the correct order?

Wax?
Polish?
Detailer?

 

polish wax and detailer

 

"Detailer"? Do you mean detailing spray? If so, you really don't need to use this stuff as a "step", it's just stuff that you can use to help buff stuff off, dust the car, use as lube, etc, etc. It's there to help you, that's all.

If you really want to do a full-bore detail job, you would go:

-wash
-clay (optional, but I highly recommend this step)
-polish (possibly multiple separate steps as required)
-wax

That's the basic steps boiled down, but you could make them more involved as desired.

 

Yea QD is just to help you get products off or clean up the paint between steps or whatever. Go wash -> polish -> wax

 

polish-adds oils to paint no protection just sparkly
wax-seals in polish & protects paint
detail-adds shine ontop of wax,touch up spots,ie.dust,bird yak.

 

You also may want to add a compound before that polish if you have any swirl marks.