I always say there is no such thing as a daft question, but here goes......when washing your car, how much pressure should be applied with the mitt? Is it a softly softly skim over the top with plenty of suds, or firm pressure, again with plenty of bubbles? I always give a pre wash soak to remove as much surface dust as possible before I start, and use the double bucket technique to further reduce the chance of any grit getting trapped in the wash mitt too.

You don't want to tickle it! Soft, circular motions, making sure to keep everything suitably lubricated

As for washing the car...

I use the hose to get off the worst of the muck and stubborn bits rather than scrubbing them off. I don't use too much pressure whilst washing but make sure to follow the lines and contours of the car to hide any marks you may make by accident. The bubbles/suds should lift the dirt off hence some people pre foam the car before getting hands on. And keeping whatever mitt/sponge/cloth/rag/bit-of-old-tramps-coat as free from grit and dirt as possible always helps. If you go scrubbing away you'll just make your paint hazy with tiny scratches. Then it's a post wash going over with the hose then dry/shammy before polish and wax of your choice.

That's what I do anyway