The two-bucket method is the best move for washing your 'Stang. Using dual containers ensures only fresh water and car-wash solution are being applied to the body, and the dirty stuff is discarded, not recycled back onto the car, which inevitably causes swirl marks.
Step 2: Body Wash
With the wheels and tires clean, washing the body panels is next. First and foremost, never wash your Mustang using household cleaning detergents, as chemicals in these products will no doubt strip away wax protection and promote premature oxidation of your clearcoat and paint.
Always try to wash the car in the shade, a garage, or in the cool of early morning or evening if a shady outdoor location isn't available. By doing so, you're minimizing the chance of having water spots ruin your work.
Mike recommends using two buckets and washing your 'Stang in sections, as opposed to lathering the entire body at once. We filled one bucket with a water/Meguiar's Deep Crystal Car Wash mixture, and the other with water only for rinsing the mitt. You'll find it's a lot easier to rinse, wash, and rinse one area at a time than it is trying to chase suds from front to back, before the car wash dries before you can get to it.
Be sure to dry inside the door jambs, trunk, and hood on your Mustang, as water tends to accumulate in small pockets in these areas.
There's a multitude of cloths and sponges that can be used for washing your Mustang, but Mike suggests using a microfiber mitt for the job.
A good water-only rinse is the first order of business when washing the body. The rinse cools the surface and loosens dirt and debris.
After rinsing, work downward from the top of the car to apply the car-wash solution on the body.
The lowest sections, below the body's beltline, should be washed last, as they're the dirtiest sections of the car.
What's the best method for predrying your ride after washing it? Unscrew the spray nozzle and flood the car with a trickle from the hose instead of spraying water on the body surface. You'll be amazed by how well this works, and it really does save a lot of drying time.
Old-school chamois or today's microfiber towels are recommended for drying your Mustang. The microfiber stuff is absorbent and doesn't drag, which makes it a lot easier to maneuver across the sheetmetal. Dry the car with even, thorough passes across the body.
If you have a compressor at your disposal, a great way to achieve maximum dryness is by blasting air into corners and components such as louvers, grilles, and other areas where water can be trapped.