Car Detailing Tips: Clean Your Car Like a Pro

Have you ever wondered how to do car detailing like a pro? The answer to this question lies in the fact that there are many intricate steps involved in getting that perfect shine. But you can do most of it yourself without spending a ton of money. 

We\’re going to outline some of the essential tools and follow that with a step-by-step car detailing guide from start to finish.

What You\’ll Need for Car Detailing

It\’s easy to get carried away when doing car detailing on your own. But you don\’t need a huge set of tools or a professional-grade paint job to get good results. In fact, you probably have most of what you need right in your garage or toolbox.

Here\’s a list of basic items and materials that you need for car detailing like a pro: 

Sponge or mitts: This will prevent scratches from occurring when cleaning your vehicle\’s exterior parts with water pressure alone. It will also save time since you\’ll only have to wet one sponge instead of a rag per area being cleaned on your vehicle.

Car wash soap: You can buy this at any auto supply store or online. Make sure that you choose a product that\’s free from harsh chemicals like ammonia and petroleum distillates.

Water hose or garden hose with spray nozzle attachment (optional): This will help rinse off all of the soap so that it doesn\’t dry on the surface of your vehicle after washing it with soap and water. If you don\’t have access to this tool, use plenty of clean water from another source instead — such as rainwater collected from an outdoor drain gutter or even a bucket of water. 

Appropriate cleaning products: Depending on what type of dirt you\’re removing, there are various products available in the market that can help you achieve your goal. For example, if you want to remove grease and grime from your vehicle\’s undercarriage, use Luxxio Engine Degreaser. 

Proper Washing for Car Detailing

To do a proper car detailing, you need to start with the basics. 

The first step is washing your car. Use warm water and a mild dishwashing liquid. 

A pH-balanced car shampoo is best because it won\’t strip wax or sealants. If you don\’t have one, dilute the dishwashing liquid with water and use a sponge or soft cloth to wash the entire car.

Use a sponge or soft cloth and clean all sides of the car, including the roof and windows, using circular motions. Use plenty of water and rinse to keep soap residue from drying on paint. 

Furthermore, be sure to clean under all trim pieces: door handles, bumpers and mirrors. These areas are prone to dirt buildup because they sit lower than the rest of the bodywork, so cleaning them is necessary for preventing corrosion in these areas over time. 

Don\’t forget to clean the wheels — this is especially important if you live in an area where salt is used on roads during winter months or if you frequently drive through salty slush (like during snowstorms). 

Waxing or Polishing Car Detailing Tips

Waxing or polishing is an important step in car detailing. It\’s a great way to protect the paint and make it look shiny. This process can be done by hand or with a machine. But either way, it\’s crucial that you use a quality product. 

You want something that will last but also something that won\’t leave behind any residue once it\’s been washed off. Luxxio Speedy Coating is one of the best products for the task. It can provide amazing water repellency, shine and UV protection for matte and gloss surfaces.

Waxing or polishing is an easy process that requires just a little bit of elbow grease and some patience. Here\’s how:

• Apply your wax or polish in small sections at a time, rather than trying to do everything at once. This allows for better coverage and makes it easier for you to see where you\’ve already applied the product.
• Use pressure when rubbing in your wax or polish with an applicator pad — this helps spread out the product evenly over the entire section being treated and helps ensure good results from each application (no missed spots!). Make sure not to go too hard though — remember, you still need to be able to wash off your car after applying this protective layer. 
•  Work on one section at a time until each area has been covered in wax or polish. Don\’t rush through this step. Going slow will help ensure that every inch of your vehicle gets treated equally when it comes time to wash off the excess product. 
• When finished with one section, move onto another section until all parts of your vehicle have been covered (alternatively, you can do all sides at once).
• When finished with waxing, apply a second coat of wax or polish over the entire vehicle. The second coat should take about half as long as the first coat to dry and buff off.
• After both coats are dry, use a clean microfiber towel (or other soft cloth) to buff off any excess wax or polish from the surface of your car\’s paint. You\’ll want to rub briskly in circular motions for best results; if you find that you\’re removing too much of the product from your paint job, stop immediately and rinse out your towel in plain water before continuing with buffing.

Interior Car Detailing

To do car detailing like a pro, don\’t overlook the interior of your car. It gets just as dirty as the exterior. Plus, if you want to sell your vehicle, having a clean interior can help make it worth more money.

Here are 5 DIY car detailing tips for cleaning the inside of your ride:

• Vacuum every nook and cranny to remove any dirt or sand. Pay special attention to areas that are hard to reach, such as under seats, between seats, and in between your center console\’s buttons.
• Dry mop all carpets with a microfiber towel or carpet cleaner. Doing this will help get rid of any stains or spills that may have happened over time, especially if you have pets.
• Clean all vinyl surfaces with a vinyl cleaner or leather cleaner depending on the type of material it\’s made from. Let dry before wiping down with a microfiber cloth so that no streaks remain behind. You can also purchase interior car sprays like Luxxio Leather Defence. It\’s an olive oil-based formula, increasing the life, durability, UV protection, mold and dust resistance and longevity of leather. 
• Wipe down hard plastics with a plastic polish to remove any scratches and restore shine to the plastic surface. Make sure to test out this step before using it on all plastics because some plastics are sensitive when it comes to polishing them!

Final Touches

Once your car is completely clean and waxed, it\’s time for the final touches. These are the little things that will make a huge difference in the look of your car — and they\’re easy to do. 

Here are the final touches to do car detailing like a pro: 

• Wash the wheels. Wheels can easily get dirty from brake dust, road grime and oil leaks from the engine compartment. Use a soft sponge or microfiber towel to wash them off. To make them shine, apply a coat of paste wax with a detailing brush and buff it off with a soft cloth.
• Clean the window trim and lights. The interior window sills, lights (head- and tail lights) and bumper trim look dingy over time. Use an old toothbrush or soft sponge to scrub off any dirt or stains by hand. 
• Wax your tires – Clean tires make a big difference in how your vehicle looks overall — they\’ll stand out more when they\’re clean! You don\’t need anything fancy. Even the common car detailing products can help in keeping the tires look clean. 

Final Words

The best way to make your vehicle look like new is to follow the steps you would have taken if it was brand new. It\’s easy to assume that a professional car detailer can do more for you, but most of what they\’re doing has probably already been done in your driveway. 

If you don\’t have time to do car detailing on your own, we can also do that for you. Contact us now and let\’s talk about your car!