With the brushed finish most of the time I simply used warm water with a micro fiber towel and another one for drying. Maybe if I had some grime or
oil to remove I added a squirt or two of dishwashing soap to the bucket of water to cut through the dirt. It was like washing pots & pans after cooking.
After the first season to get rid of the scuff marks, I lightly wet sanded it using the maroon colored scotch brite. It took a few minutes to get the hang of going in one sweeping motion from front to back of the car staying parallel to the ground. The good thing was if you didn't like how the last stroke looked as far as it being straight enough, you just went back over it again and this time kept a steadier hand. The only prep work was to mask off the chrome ring around the headlights and tail lights because the scotch brite will scratch anything it comes in contact with.
I will say the brushed finish was nice because I didn't feel like I had to clean it all the time because it looked rough & tough. Whereas the polished finish looks beautiful but does need to be wiped down after each day of cruising. Either one is fine with me. What it really comes down to is the rush you get stomping on the gas and feeling that big block come alive. Now you're talking some serious fun!