I washed my convertible over the weekend and in the sunlight today, I noticed some new fine scratches on the hood. I'm pretty sure it's from dust or sand that I didn't rinse off properly first. I'm now really focused on learning the right way to protecting convertible car paintwork in this environment. A detailed guide I found explains that the first step is a thorough rinse to remove abrasive particles before any contact, and using the two-bucket method with a pH-neutral shampoo. It also emphasizes drying with a soft microfiber towel by patting, not rubbing, and applying wax or a detailer spray afterwards for UV protection. I realized I skipped some of these steps. My question for other convertible owners is, do you use a specific type of wax or paint sealant that holds up well against our sun? Also, the guide mentioned professional services have soft water and roof-safe products, maybe that's worth considering. Any recommendations for products or routines that have kept your paint swirl-free would be really helpful.