Happen to peak in at the responses you've gotten on cleaning the canoe. Looks like you are getting some awfully good advice on the wax thing. I noticed you mention dish washing soap. As an old car guy, (hate to admit the old part) I could advise to use any "car wash" liquid soap. Our dish washing soaps are not as soft and friendly as the marketers would lead us to believe. Dish washing soaps tend to be a bit an the acidic or alkaline side and left on a painted surface can actually cause a few potential problems. They kind of have a tendency to spot. Most car wash soaps are very PH neutral and are pretty friendly to those shiny surfaces we like so much. Hope this made some sort of sense.
Happy Canoeing.................. Idaho Joe