I'm going to spend some time this weekend cleaning and waxing the topsides. I've got 3M boat soap and plan to follow-up with 3M cleaner & wax, hand applied, on the recommendation of a few other boat owners (I also used the combo myself once, long ago, and remember it working quite well).

I'm wondering what to do about the great diamond non-skid that covers much of the deck. I've got an inexpensive electric power washer to apply the soap, which I think will work great, but I'm wondering what people usually do to protect the non-skid surface from UV, etc. and make it easy to wash. Does a wax product (like the 3M one I have) work well? How hard is it to apply with a hand cloth (basically just some cheap rags)? Should I get something softer (e.g., a sponge) to apply the wax between the ridges of the non-skid?

What have others done?