Car detailing might seem like a daunting and labour-intensive chore, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and quality detailing products, you can transform this task into a satisfying and rewarding experience. More and more drivers in the UK are opting to take matters into their own hands, ditching expensive professional services. By doing so, they gain complete control over how their cars look and feel. You’ll quickly discover which areas need special care, set your desired results, and enjoy the process of achieving them on your own terms. Embrace the satisfaction of having a pristine vehicle that reflects your standards!
Detailing focuses on addressing every nook and cranny of your vehicle to eliminate ingrained dust, debris, and hidden contaminants. It goes well beyond simple washing and cleaning. Using specially formulated products in a logical sequence helps protect the paintwork, reduces the need for long-term maintenance, and improves overall safety. The end result is a near-showroom appearance, which enhances your vehicle’s resale value when it’s time to sell and contributes to your long-term health.
Gathering Your Gear
Cleaning products have become more sophisticated, meaning better protection and lasting results. Still, treat your vehicle to the best products to clean car exterior, with formulated solutions that are easy on the paintwork, bring added shine, and won’t leave streaks or swirls on the alloys or glass. For comprehensive detailing, start with supplies used in general washing, rinsing and drying;
- Microfibre cloths, mitts, pads, brushes and sponges – used in general washing tasks while being gentle on the paint
- Drying towels, blowers, rinse aid – prevent swirl marks and dry the car quicker
- Buckets – one for clean water, the other for rinsing
- Pre-wash solution and shampoo – pre-wash solution breaks down grime, and car shampoo deals with the remaining contaminants
This is the washing phase and should remove most contaminants. For results that meet professional standards, you’ll also need a decent pressure washer and a matching lance. And for stubborn remnants, use:
- Bug, tar, and glue remover – protect the paintwork with appropriate solutions
- Clay bars – rough spots in the bodywork are treated with clay bars
- Wheel cleaner – stubborn brake pad dust around the wheels might be harder to remove in general washing. Use fallout remover instead
- Birdlime remover – a common sight in parked cars, birdlime can cause flaking paint and rust
- Glass cleaner – removes dirt, bugs, mud etc, prevents swirls, and adds a hydrophobic layer
To provide lasting protection and more time before the next thorough exterior detailing, stock up on surface protectants like polish, wax and sealants. Car exterior detailing products used in this final phase include scratch removers, general and abrasive polishes and glazes, fillers for dents and serious scratches, ceramic waxes and sealants to shield from UV rays, chemicals and heat. Once you’ve gathered all your gear, time to throw in some elbow grease.
Start With the Wheels
The wheels are the dirtiest part of the car, accumulating road debris, mud, oil, tar and other contaminants easily sprayed onto other areas. Spray pH-neutral wheel cleaner to avoid damaging wax or coatings, and use brushes to get to tight spots. Let the solution sit for a few minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Applying Pre-Wash Solution and Shampoo
Fill the lance with pre-wash solution, and spray the car from top to bottom, ensuring you cover all areas. This breaks down hardened grime like birdlime, spattered insects and ingrained dirt. Let the foam dissolve surface contaminants, then use the pressure washer to rinse it off. Follow up by shampooing. Car shampoos are formulated to be easy on the paint, while still tending to most grime. Here you’ll need high-absorbent wash mitts that fit over the hand like a glove and prevent swirl marks. Soft, closed-cell sponges also work well without retaining dirt.
Add shampoo to buckets with clean water and apply in circular movements from top to bottom. Rinse mitts or sponges as needed. Let the shampoo sit for a few minutes, then rinse with a pressure washer. Avoid detergents and home shampoos, as these can be too abrasive. Finish up by drying the car, preferably in the shade with a dry microfibre cloth, or use electric blowers to speed things up.
Dealing With Hardened Stains and Surface Damage
Once the car is dry, inspect for signs of damage and remnant contaminants. Stain marks, ingrained dirt, brake dust, tar, and birdlime are just a few nasties needing more attention. Clay bars are effective for tar and asphalt remnants, birdlime remover prevents rusting and flaking, and iron fallout remover deals with corroded alloy wheels and pad dust. You also use limescale remover to prevent swirls. Applying these prepping solutions ensures a cleaner surface for the next and final phase.
Polishing and Waxing
Regular washes are fine, but won’t reverse or prevent surface and paint damage. This is where polishes, waxes and sealants come in. Polishes deal with water spot marks, etching, swirls, chipping, light scratches and rust. They can be applied by hand with the right amount on pads or (rotary or dual action) machine polishers, usually in paintwork with more visible damage. These protective detailing solutions differ in how abrasive they are. Use less abrasive polish for minor embellishments, or polish with more ‘cut’ to smooth out areas with damage that go deeper into the paint.
Waxes and sealants are all about protection. They can fill in minor dents and scratches to create a smoother, reflective surface and prevent environmental damage from scorching sun, heavy downpours, bug spatter and abrasive road debris. Most also have hydrophobic protection, wicking away water and liquids. Choose natural waxes for a higher sheen, or synthetic types for a matte look that also lasts longer. Like shampoos, there are more than a few types of polishes, sealants and waxes, so for a nice sheen and lasting protection shop for the best products to clean car exterior from detailing specialists.
Finishing Touches
Finishing touches get you nearer to showroom looks. Remove tarnish, soot and contaminants from metal surfaces, including exhaust pipes, mirrors, and wheels with a metal polisher, and use sealants to protect against rust. Move onto the glass, with spray bottle glass cleaner to remove stubborn grease, bugs, birdlime and other contaminants, and deal with swirl marks. And get tyres shining with tyre dressing. Also, pay attention to plastic and rubber trim along the windows, panels and doors with general-purpose exterior cleaner or a trim solution matching the material.
Ideally, you’ll want to set aside a few hours to get to all contaminants, deal with surface damage and provide a full protective layer. Detail your car in the shade on a dry day in mild weather. Deal with minor blemishes using an optional quick exterior detailer, and thoroughly detail your car every six months.
