Cheaper guitars are finished with polyurethane.
Heres what i do.
First, clean off the body of the guitar with a nice clean, soft rag. (I use pledge, really takes out the dirt and grime)
Now, the polishing part:
You'll need the following:
1. two rags, one for wax and one to buff.
2. Rubbing compound or Haze and swirl remover.
3. Liquid car wax
4. Hand Gloss
(I use 3M Auto Care Haze and Swirl remover, Liquid Showcar Wax, and Imperial Hand Glaze)
Heres the procedure:
1. Lay down the rubbing compound, a thin layer. Let dry to a haze, then buff WITH THE SAME RAG.
2. Wipe the surface clean, then lay a thick coat of liquid wax. Let dry to a THICK HAZE.
3. Buff off the wax with the CLEAN RAG
4. Flip the rag, then repeat the buff.
5. The last, and longest is the glaze. Lay down the glaze as you would the wax, let dry, then buff. But you will do the glaze on small 2-inch circles only. Not the whole guitar at a time. COntinue the glazing until the whole guitar is done, then do one final glaze, COVERING THE WHOLE GUITAR.
6. Buff everything clean.