Car Detailing Do’s and Don’ts

Detailing is a restorative process. The idea is to get your vehicle looking like it did when it came off the lot, and it can be an economical way of restoring the interior and exterior’s factory-fresh luster. However, to get the most value from your effort, you should keep in mind the best practices to adopt, as well as those that are best to avoid. By adhering to these suggestions, you not only make the work easier but also prevent damage to the body, trim, and upholstery of your car.

The process involves more than just simple cleaning, so if you plan to detail your own vehicle, it’s important to know about the products, tools, and techniques to use. Read on to learn about the essential dos and don’ts of car detailing.

View New Vehicles View All Used Vehicles

Detailing Products

The detailing products you use on the exterior of your vehicle can make a significant impact on the outcome. Do use a high-quality shampoo specially formulated for vehicle exteriors. Don’t use household cleaning products, such as dish soap or laundry detergent, as these are likely to strip the paintwork.

One of the most overlooked cleaning agents is water. To ensure that your water remains clean as you detail your vehicle, heed these simple tips. First, do be mindful of your order of operations. Clean the wheels and tires first, as these are the dirtiest components of the exterior. Don’t move on to the body before disposing of the water you initially used.

While working on the body, do use two buckets — one containing the shampoo water, the other with plain water. Dunk your clean wash mitt into the shampoo bucket, wash your vehicle, and then rinse the mitt in the plain bucket before reintroducing it to the shampoo. This practice prevents contamination.

When it’s time to wax the body, do practice restraint. A little bit of wax should be all you need to get the job done. Don’t overdo it. Using too much wax can leave streaks on the body, negating all of the work you put into creating an attractive exterior.

Detailing Tools

The tools you use contribute to the outcome as well. Do use soft materials for exterior detailing. In most cases, the best tool for the job is a car wash mitt, which provides a gentle surface for lifting away the dirt and grime on the body of your vehicle. Wash mitts are available in wool, microfiber, and synthetic materials. Wool and microfiber are the gentlest on paintwork, with microfiber generally being longer-lasting and more dirt-absorbent.

Don’t use a sponge. The composition of a sponge means it’s more likely to push grime around rather than lift it off, resulting in unsightly swirl patterns on the body. Sponges can also be abrasive, causing fine scratches to form on the paintwork.

For added protection of your bodywork, do consider using a grit guard. A grit guard is an object, typically made of plastic or metal, that you place in a bucket. It sits a few inches above the bucket’s floor and helps separate the clean water from dirt and grime that has transferred from your wash mitt.

Finally, be careful about your finishing tools. Do use soft towels for drying the vehicle, and don’t let it air-dry, lest you leave watermarks on the body. Also, do use a buffer to polish the body, which promotes an even application and consistent result. Don’t polish by hand unless you’ve mastered the art of manual application and shining.

Personal Practices

As the detailer, you can follow certain personal practices to ensure high-quality results from your efforts. For example, do wear soft clothes for the exterior detailing. Like a sponge, abrasive fabrics can rub against the paintwork and inflict very fine damage. In a similar vein, don’t wear jewelry or zippered items, which can leave highly noticeable scratches on the paintwork. Remove rings, watches, necklaces, and similar objects and store them in a safe place while you carry out your detailing tasks.

Also, do be mindful of where you’re working. The ideal environment for detailing a vehicle is in a cool and shady area. You’ll feel more comfortable as you perform the work, and it will be easier to avoid water spots that form when the surface of the vehicle is too hot. With that in mind, don’t work when it’s too hot outside. Either start your work at a cooler time of the day or, if possible, find a spacious indoor spot to complete your detailing.

Finally, consider your methodology. Do begin with a gentle spray of the exterior to loosen any debris and finish with a hose-down to wash away any remaining particles. Don’t neglect the nooks and crannies when you do this. Make sure to address the undersides, jambs, and deep crevices. Be careful with pressurized water, too. Don’t focus the spray on a single area on the body, as this can embed dirt that may end up scratching the paintwork. Also, don’t use overly hot or cold water. Warm water is ideal for exterior detailing.

If you have any questions about detailing your vehicle — whether it concerns the products you use or the practices you follow — feel free to get in touch with us. Fill out the form on our contact page with your name, contact information, and message, and one of our associates will reach out to you. If you’d prefer to speak with someone directly, give us a call on 859-724-6956.

Of course, you’re always welcome to drop by the dealership at your earliest convenience. Find us at 2021 Iverson Drive in Paris, Kentucky. We’re open six days a week — 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. While you’re here, you can take a look at our inventory of new Chryslers, Dodges, and Jeeps, as well as our stock of pre-owned vehicles. Whatever you’re looking for, let us be the ones to help you find it.

Tags: Car Tips
Posted in Article, Car Detailing, Car Tips | No Comments »