I use a mix of OTC and online order type items.....most of my weekly/monthly items are OTC, Waxes, soaps, tire shine, clays ect... Wax i use Megs NXT 2.0, it does not last long, but comprared to CG 50/50 and a sample of supernatural. the NXT just seemed to give a deeper/wetter look to me and is way cheaper... And Mail order stuff like menzerna for polishing needs... but really for just starting out, OTC is the way to go.....oh and do the whole car when u do wax it, its not hard and not much u can screw up if u do it by hand. just avoid plastic/rubber panels...

how much diffrent is paste to liquid?

like i said i'm using what i already have been given which is almost all liquid stuff.

when applying wax by hand, do you use 1 applicator for the WHOLE car? are the pads machine washable in cold with no soap and let air dry?

couple more questions from me if i may..

How do you know how long a wax or sealant "lasts", and its time to do another application ?

what specifically do you look for, ie ability to bead water ,etc?

Liquid waxes are generally much easier to apply. From my experience, liquid waxes generally don't last as long on the car of in the bottle. You end up using more product and due to it's liquid (more oils) nature you don't get the same amount of protection as something with a high wax content.

Generally you should apply on a schedule regardless of how long a wax lasts. For example Migliore has seen testimonials of around 3 months, but I still apply every month. I love the depth and reflection, it's better to know you have protection on your paint rather than waiting until you know you don't have any more.

You should be able to tell by beading properties, looks, and ease of medium moment when washing.