[REAL 1]

I mist down the car with a spray bottle.

I take a wet terry towel. and matt it gently over the surface of the car. This losens all the dirt etc.

I take a damp micro fiber towel and gently dry the car allowing the towel to do the work and apply very little pressure. I ring the micro out over and over until the car is basically dry and detail with a lightly damp micro towel with water or detail Meguiars Final Inspection.

BTW my car is Raven Black with no clear coat and is almost 10 years old. My paint still looks great.

Do not run the towels in circles/swirls. Go back and forth along the length of the car. A Zaino trick. Fine scratches (impossible to avoid completely are harder to see if they run north and south then if they are circular.