The Ultimate Guide to Car Detailing: 15 Expert Tips for a Showroom Shine

If you take pride in your car’s appearance, you know there’s nothing better than a fresh detail. Seeing your car shine the way it did in the showroom is a great feeling.

But who can afford the price of a professional detail every few months? Instead of spending a fortune at the car wash, many people are ditching the service and opting for the DIY route.

These are some tips experts shared about detailing. If you want quality at-home car detail, look no further than these tips.

1. Clean Rinse

The first thing you want to do is give your car a good, long, clean rinse. Starting with soap will grind the surface dust and road grit into your paint finish.

A thorough rinse with warm water clears up the micro debris and prepares the car for a detailed wash.

2. Use The Right Soap

Many people use simple dishwashing soap like Dawn or Cascade for their cars, but detailing experts don’t advise doing that. They warn that these soaps are too abrasive and can suck out oil from the paint, making it more prone to fading.

Instead, invest in some authentic car wash soap. Brands like Armor All and Meguiar’s have been trusted by car companies for years. They’re available at most auto stores and are suitable for your car’s paint job.

3. Use a Microfiber Mitt

Microfiber mitts are not only far more effective at cleaning up embedded grit but also much more hygienic. Sponges can trap dirt particles and stale water, so you’re wiping your car with growing bacteria and trapped rocks that can act like sandpaper.

Most car detailers use a microfiber car wash mitt because dirt and grime rinse out after each washing.

4. Use Two Buckets

Keeping your soapy water and your dirty water separate will give your car the best shine it can possibly have. Make sure you use only one bucket for rinsing. Clean out this rinsing bucket as much as possible to avoid contaminating your soap water.

There are no set rules regarding how many times you should rinse the bucket, so your best practice will be to use your best judgment based on the color of the dirty water.

5. Dry With a Microfiber Towel

Many people prefer a chamois when drying off their car, but a microfiber towel is far superior. A chamois will soak up water, but they fail to grab any leftover grit after rinsing.

Microfiber towels act like a magnet for microscopic dust rocks and they only need a little water. Stop occasionally to wring out the excess water, and you’re on your way to your vehicle looking brand new.

6. Remove Minor Scratches Before Polishing

This step is where the professionals show their true artistic skills. While many DIYers can give their cars an exquisite polish, it will never cover the underlying scratches.

However, if you pick up a basic scratch removal kit from your local auto parts store, you can eliminate that blemish, apply a polish coating, and your car will look like it has rolled off the showroom floor.

7. Buy a Dual-Action Polisher

A dual-action polisher is a pro detailer’s best friend. Now, you might think these and buffers are the same thing, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Buffers run at high speeds and can burn the paint right off your car if you are not careful. Polishers run at lower speeds and oscillate as they rotate.

Any DIYer can perfect the art of polishing in just a few minutes. Polishing before waxing makes a huge difference, making these a must-have in your garage toolbox.

8. Use Synthetic Wax

Different types of car wax can be used for different purposes. Old-style paste waxes work great for older cars that spend most of their time in a garage or under a cover.

Modern synthetic waxes create a “wet look,” which lasts longer and is what most car dealerships use as a paint sealant. You can mimic these effects at home with your own synthetic wax and a wax applicator sponge for problem areas on your vehicle.

9. Remove Wax Haze With a Microfiber Towel

Are you starting to realize the importance of microfiber towels yet? If you are a serious car enthusiast, seriously invest in a pack of these towels. While using a circular motion, these cloths gently remove the residual haze that most waxes leave on your paint job. After removing most of the haze, come in with a second towel to fully rid the excess wax. You will love how amazing your paint job will look after a few wipes.

10. In the Cabin, Start From the Top

Cleaning the interior of your car can be time-consuming. But starting from the top and working your way to the bottom saves time. When you follow this process, you push all of the dirt down and let gravity do its job.

If you started at the carpet, by the time you got to the seats and the dash, you’d just be pushing the dirt down, meaning you’d need to clean the carpets once again. Work smarter, not harder.

11. Suck It Up As You Go

There are thousands of hidden cracks in your car’s interior, where dust and grime can hide. When getting a detail, these professionals use a detail brush to sort those crannies out while holding a vacuum up to them.

This helps gather the particles in the bottom of the vacuum instead of the bottom of your car. It’s a simple trick of the trade, but one many people neglect when cleaning their vehicle at home.

12. Brush and Vacuum Your Carpet

The carpet used in cars is much more unforgiving than the carpet used in most of our homes. It soaks in that dirt so much that it takes more than the power of a high-speed vacuum to get it all out. That’s when having a thick scrubbing brush comes in handy.

A heavy scrub with some stiff bristles will free the unwanted dirt from the carpet, allowing you to suck it up as you go. This is once again another insider trick to help you get the job done faster.

13. Use Non-Silicone Matte Finish Dash, Vinyl Protectant

Take a good look at your store-bought dash protector. If it’s silicone-based, return it to the store. Car experts will tell you silicone dashboard protectant sprays leave a greasy film on your dash that actually attracts more dust.

Play it safe and use non-silicone spray. This will keep your dash cleaner longer and reduce the glare from the windshield.

14. Lubricate Door Seals

You might be asking yourself why this is a step in cleaning my car. Well, door seal lubricants are standard to keep the seal from sticking in summer and winter. Odds are it was worn off, or you have unintentionally wiped it off while cleaning your vehicle’s interior.

Silicone spray reinforces that seal and keeps the harsh elements outside of your car, leaving you as comfortable as possible.

15. Finish With the Glass

Last but not least, finish your car’s interior with the windows. If you kick up a lot of dust and debris in the air, the windows are probably filthy.

Once again, grab a clean microfiber cloth and clean the windows in slow, deliberate movements. Remember to clean your rear-view and side mirrors too. You don’t want limited visibility.