Basic Car Detailing Equipment & Tips
Car detailing is the complete cleaning of a vehicle. You can detail the outside, the inside and the engine. To do a thorough job, detailing a car will take several hours, as you are cleaning everything. You do not need to buy a lot of special products to detail your car. By using basic car detailing equipment and tips, you can have your car looking like new and not spend a fortune.
Car Exterior Equipment
- Water hose or pressure washer
- Bucket
- Mild detergent
- Non-abrasive cloths
- Chamois or terry cloth towel
- All-purpose cleaner
- Degreaser
Wash the outside of your car using a water hose and a bucket of water with a mild detergent added. You can also use a pressure washer, if you have one. Use non-abrasive cloths to thoroughly wash the exterior. After washing, thoroughly dry your car with a chamois or terry cloth towel. Use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the wheels and shine up the engine with a degreaser.
Car Interior Equipment
- Vacuum cleaner or wet/dry vac
- Rug shampoo
- Foaming spot cleaner
- Cleaning cloths
- Conditioner
- Glass cleaner
- Toothbrush, small paintbrush and cotton swabs
To clean the inside of your car, use a vacuum cleaner or wet vac to vacuum the entire interior. Clean stains on the floorboard and upholstery with rug shampoo or a foaming spot cleaner. Clean the door panels, dashboard and console with a conditioner. Use glass cleaner to clean the windows and mirrors. Use a toothbrush, small paint brush and cotton swabs to clean all of the hard to reach areas such as heater vents and knobs.
Tips
- Work in the shade and make sure the exterior surface is cool before washing.
- Presoak your vehicle to remove heavy dirt.
- Work in sections from the top down and wash one section at a time, then rinse off.
- Dry your vehicle immediately after washing to prevent water spots.
- Do not get wax or polish on door handles or plastic components.
- When cleaning windows, slightly lower the window and clean the top edge. After rolling the window back up, you can finish cleaning the remainder of the window.