Ok here is my basic cleaning process. can be done in about an hour maybe less.
step 1: take the dirty car and pull the body, wing, and tires off. Now pull the engine, fuel tank, radio tray, and pipe off.
step 2: with it torn down to the basic roller chassis, hose it down with the garden hose (I use a short hose attached to my basement sink in the winter)
step 3: douse heavily with diluted simple green and scrub with a scrub brush/ tooth brush for small areas.
step 4: rinse with hose
step 5: spray bearings and outdrives etc. with wd-40
step 6: coat with pledge (yes the furniture cleaner/polish). this step can be skipped or you can use wd-40 for this too. I prefer the pledge because it shines it, doesn't leave an oily residue and repels dust.
step 7: dry with air compressor and wrags.
step 8: reassemble
step 9: get it dirty again lol
My cars look brand new every weekend. Some may prefer to remove the shocks aswell, and clean them seperately. Personally I have never had a problem with them getting any water in them.
It may also be a good idea to use wd-40 on hinge pins and ball end joints.