How to detail a car

Car cleaning is more than just taking pride in its appearance. This can prevent or even correct the resulting damage, extending the life of your vehicle's bodywork.

Proper car detailing can be expensive if you're buying single-use supplies. If you plan on doing detailing on your own car on a regular basis, it will be a good investment as part of regular car maintenance.

The main difference between brushing and detailing is the extent to which everything is scrubbed. Cleaning your vehicle includes vacuuming all soft surfaces and cleaning and wiping all hard surfaces. Detailing involves cleaning each part individually to make the car look just like it did at the factory. Detailing from time to time will keep your car in good condition for longer.

Whether you're polishing your car, applying car wax, cleaning your windows, or polishing your wheels, it's important to start with a clean car.

Give yourself 4 to 6 hours to fully and carefully detail your car's exterior. The time you spend detailing your car's exterior will be reflected in the final product.

Part 1 of 6: Interior Detailing

Necessary materials

• Air compressor
• All-purpose cleaners
• Soap for washing cars
• Chamois
• clay bar
• Carpet Cleaning Foam
• Wiper
• High pressure water sprayer
• Leather conditioner (if needed)
• Metal polishing
• Microfiber towels
• Plastic/Finish Cleaner
• Polish/wax
• Razor/stationary knife
• Protective agent for rubber
• sponges
• Tire cleaner/protector
• Vacuums
• wheel brush
• Wood cleaner/protector (if necessary)

Step 1: Get everything out of the car. This includes the contents of the glove compartment and all floor mats.

Nothing should be covered by anything unless absolutely necessary. Do not dismantle the interior, but get as close as possible.

Some storage compartments or ashtrays are removable, so use this feature if available.

Step 2: Vacuum everything inside. Including the carpet in the trunk.

Vacuum the headlining first and climb down from the roof. This way, any knocked-out dust will be vacuumed up later.

If your vacuum cleaner has a brush attachment, use it and gently rub the surface to be cleaned to shake off dirt and other debris.

Use an air compressor and blow air through every crack, hole and crevice where dust and debris might be, then vacuum.

Focus on actually getting all the dirt and dust off the seats. They are often used and abused, so they will need a more thorough cleaning later. To make it easier, vacuum them thoroughly now.

When you think you're done, make another pass with the vacuum cleaner over each surface, being careful not to miss any spots.

Step 3: Clean up any stains with a foaming cleaner.. Carpets and floor mats often have stains and discolorations that become more visible after vacuuming the carpet.

Use a foaming cleanser to deal with these stains. Spray lather over any stains or discolorations.

Leave for a minute before lightly rubbing the cleaner into the carpet.

Use a towel to blot the stains dry. Repeat this process until all stains are gone.

Step 4: Remove any stains that cannot be cleaned. If the stain is too deep, or if the material is melted or damaged, it can be trimmed with a razor blade or utility knife.

If it is still visible, the patch can be cut out and replaced with a piece of cloth taken from a remote location, such as behind the rear seats.

If you do not know how to do it correctly, it is best to contact a professional.

Step 5: Wash floor mats and interior items outside of the vehicle.. Use a high pressure hose nozzle.

Rinse these parts with water before washing the carpet with carpet cleaner and cleaning the interior with an all-purpose cleaner.

Blot the carpet to speed up drying and make sure everything is dry before putting it back in the car.

Step 6: Clean all hard surfaces inside the car.. Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down and clean all hard surfaces inside the car.

Step 7: Individually clean the different surfaces with specific cleaners.. Use individual cleaners to keep your interior looking like new:

The plastic protector gives the plastic parts a beautiful appearance and prevents the plastic from becoming brittle.

Wood preservative is a must for any wood finish, as wood can shrink or warp if it dries out.

Metal parts of the finish must be polished with a polish suitable for this metal. Use a small amount of product and polish until the surface is shiny and flawless.

Use a small detailing brush to remove dust from the vents and speakers.

Step 8: Thoroughly clean the seats. Make sure you are using the correct cleaner for your seat.

Leather or vinyl seats should be cleaned and wiped with a leather or vinyl cleaner. Leather conditioner can be used if the car is a few years old and the leather is dry or cracked.

Fabric seats should be washed with a seat cleaner. Then vacuum the liquid with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner.

Step 9: Clean the inside of all windows and both windshields.. Mirrors are also clean.

Use chamois to wipe the glass dry, as leaving the glass to air dry will stain.

Part 2 of 6: Cleaning the outside

Necessary materials

• Bucket
• Insect and tar remover spray such as Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover
• Concentrated car wash soap such as Meguiar's
• Microfiber cloths
• Sprayer
• Tire repair like Meguiar's
• Washing glove
• Water source
• Wheel cleaning spray
• Wheel brush

Step 1: Get ready for the car wash. Fill a bucket with water and add car wash according to the instructions on the soap label. Stir to get foam.

Soak a car wash mitt in a bucket of soapy water.

Spray insect and tar remover on any stains that have formed on your car. Let it soak in for 5-10 minutes before washing your car.

Step 2: Spray the entire car outside. Wash everything with a high pressure hose to remove dirt and grime.

The hood can be opened for this step, but all electronics should be covered with plastic bags to make sure they don't get exposed to direct water.

Don't forget to spray the wheel arches and the underside of the car.

Use a pressure washer if you have one, or use a garden hose with enough water pressure to give your car a good wash.

Start at the top of the car and work your way down. The water running down the body of the car will help pre-soak some stuck parts, especially if you use warm water to rinse.

Step 3: Clean the wheels. Clean the wheels well with soap and water as described in Part 1.

Step 4: Apply Wheel Cleaner. Spray wheel cleaner onto the wheel.

• A warning: Choose a wheel cleaning spray that is safe to use on your specific wheels. Many wheel cleaners contain harsh chemicals and are only safe to use on alloy and aluminum wheels or coated hubcaps. If you have uncoated aluminum rims, use a product specifically designed for them.

• FunctionsA: Clean one wheel at a time from start to finish to make sure you don't miss a single spot.

Leave the cleaning spray foam on the wheel for 30 seconds to break down brake dust and dirt.

Use a wheel brush to scrub all sides of the wheel spokes, wash them regularly as you clean them.

Clean the wheels, then use a metal polish to give them a shine.

Apply tire protectant to the sidewalls of the tires.

• Attention: Because wheels contain so much dirt and grime, washing them can cause dirty water to splatter the rest of the car. That is why they are cleaned in the first place.

Step 5: Rinse the wheel with clean water. Rinse until soapy water, foamy water or visible dirt does not drip off the wheel.

Let the wheel dry. Move on while clearing the other wheels.

Step 6: Apply Splint Bandage. Apply splint dressing to the tires.

Start with a dry tire. If there is still water on your tire, wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. Use a separate fabric for your wheels than for any other purpose.

Spray the splint dressing onto the applicator.

Wipe the tire in a circular motion, leaving a shiny, clean black surface on the tire.

Let it dry before driving. Wet Tire Dressing collects dirt and dust, giving tires an unsightly brownish appearance.

Step 7: Clean Engine Components. Spray the degreaser on any dirty components under the hood and let it sit for a minute or so.

Blow off the grease with a hose after the cleaner has been absorbed. This can be repeated until the engine compartment is completely clean.

Apply a rubber protectant to the rubber parts under the hood to keep them soft and flexible.

Step 8: Clean the outside of the car. Clean the car body with a washing mitt. Put a washcloth on your hand and wipe each panel one by one.

Start at the top of the car and work your way down. Save the dirtiest panels for last.

Wash each panel or window completely before moving on to the next to make sure you don't miss any stains.

• Functions: Rinse the washcloth whenever it seems like a lot of dirt is gathering on it.

After all parts of the car body have been lathered, use a washcloth to clean the wheels. Brake dust and road grime build up on your wheels, discoloring them and making them look dull.

Step 9: Flush the car completely from the outside. Start at the top and work your way down. Again, the water you use to rinse the top of the car will run down, helping to wash the soap off the bottom of the car.

Rinse your wheels thoroughly. Try rinsing the space between the spokes and the brake parts to get the soap off them, as well as to wash off as much loose brake dust and dirt as possible.

Step 10: Dry the car outside. Wipe the exterior of the car from top to bottom with a damp microfiber cloth. A damp microfiber cloth easily absorbs water from windows and car paint.

You will be left with a slightly wet car finish. You can dry the outside completely by rubbing a dry microfiber cloth over it to absorb any remaining moisture.

Your car should now be relatively clean, but you're not done yet. There is still a lot to be done to get the shiniest and purest finished product.

Step 11: Clean the outer glass. Because glass cleaner can leave marks or streaks on a clean car, it's important to clean windows and mirrors before the rest of the bodywork.

Use glass cleaner and remember to dry the glass with chamois, not air, so that it does not leave stains and streaks.

Part 3 of 6: Polish your car

Polishing is a repair procedure that removes the visibility of scratches and marks on paint by removing a thin layer of clear coat and blending the scratches. This should always be done with extreme caution or you could cause costly damage to your car's exterior.

Necessary materials

• Clean cloth
• Polishing composition
• Polishing pad

• polishing machine

• A warning: Never try to polish the car while it is still dirty. A grain of sand in the dirt will cause deep scratches in the paint, making repairs even more difficult.

Step 1: Prepare the polisher. Apply polishing paste to the pad of the polishing machine and lightly rub it into the foam.

This essentially "prepares" the pad so it doesn't overheat your car's paint.

Step 2: Apply Polishing Paste. Apply a silver dollar-sized drop of polishing paste to the scratch or stain you are polishing.

Apply the polish with a pad to the polishing machine without turning it on.

Step 3: Start polishing your car. Run the polisher on medium-low speed and apply the pad to the polish on the car, already moving from side to side over the area you are polishing.

Maintain light pressure on the polisher and always move it from side to side.

Step 4: Stop When Stains or Polish Are Gone. When the polish is almost gone from the paint, or the scratch or mark you are polishing is gone, stop the polisher.

If the scratch is still present, apply more polish to the area and repeat step 4.

Check paint temperature by hand between each polishing step. If the paint is comfortably warm, you can continue. If it's too warm to hold your hand on, wait for it to cool down.

Step 5: Wipe polished spots. Wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth.

Regular car soap, along with environmental elements, can make your chrome, aluminum, or stainless finish look dull, faded, or dirty. Restore the shine with a high quality metal cleaner whenever you give your car a thorough treatment.

Necessary materials

• Metal cleaner and polish
• Microfiber cloths

Step 1: Prepare a microfiber cloth.. Apply metal cleaner to a clean microfiber cloth.

To start, use a coin-sized spot so you can easily control where the cleaner goes.

Step 2: Use a microfiber cloth to spread the cleanser.. Apply the cleaner to the metal finish. Dampen a microfiber cloth with the tip of your finger to apply the cleaner to the surface, being careful not to let the cleaner come into contact with painted surfaces.

Step 3: Coat all metal trim with cleaner.. Apply the cleaner to the entire metal trim of the car. Let it dry after you have worked on it.

Step 4: Wipe the metal trim clean. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe down the metal trim. The dried cleaner can be easily wiped off with a rag in your hand.

Your chrome or metallic finish will be shiny and bright.

Part 5 of 6: Apply a protective wax coat

Waxing your car should be part of its regular maintenance. A fresh coat of wax should be applied every 6 months, and sooner if you notice that the paint has faded and faded again.

Necessary materials

• car wax
• Foam applicator pad
• microfiber cloth

Step 1: Start with a clean car. Wash it as described in part 1.

Waxing your car when it's dirty can result in noticeable scratches on the paint.

Step 2: Add Wax to the Applicator. Apply liquid wax directly to the applicator.

Use a 1 inch smudge of wax on the applicator.

Step 3: Start Waxing Your Car. Apply the wax in wide circles all over the car's dashboard in overlapping strokes.

Use light pressure. You are applying the coating over the paint rather than trying to rub it into the paint.

Apply wax one panel at a time from start to finish.

Step 4: Dry the wax. Let the wax dry for 3-5 minutes.

• Check if it is dry by running your fingertip over the wax. If it spreads, leave it longer. If the tissue is clean and dry, proceed to the next step.

Step 5: Wipe off dried wax**. Wipe dried wax off the panel. It will separate as a white powder, leaving behind a shiny colored surface.

Step 6: Repeat steps for all panels of your vehicle.. Repeat for the rest of the painted panels on your car.

Part 6 of 6: Wash your car windows

Cleaning your car windows should be left to the last step. If you clean them earlier in the process, you run the risk of getting a different substance on the glass, meaning you still have to redo the glass cleaning at the end.

Required material

• Glass foam
• microfiber cloth

Step 1: Apply glass cleaner to the window.. Spray the foaming glass cleaner directly onto the window.

Apply enough so that you can spread it over the entire surface of the window. Spray enough liquid on the front and rear windshields to treat half the glass at a time.

Step 2: Completely coat the surface with the cleaner.. Wipe the glass cleaner all over with a microfiber cloth.

Wipe the cleaner first in a vertical direction and then in a horizontal direction so that no streaks remain.

Step 3: Lower the windows a little. Lower the side windows a few inches.

• Use a window rag dampened with the glass cleaner you just wiped down and wipe the top half inch that rolls into the window channel.

The top edge is often neglected, leaving an unsightly line whenever the window is lowered a bit.

Patience is key when detailing, as there's really no point in doing it if it's not done properly. Such meticulous detailing helps your car retain its value, and the feeling of owning a brand new car makes you appreciate it much more. If there is anything that doesn't seem clean enough, go over it immediately to make the car fully detailed and almost perfect.

If following the guide above does not meet the level of detail your vehicle requires, you may need to consult a professional. Particularly old or classic vehicles, rare vehicles and vehicles in very rough condition may require special products or methods.

If you find any problems with the wheels, windows, or other parts of your car during a thorough inspection, make sure you fix the problem right away. Call a certified mechanic, such as from AvtoTachki, to make sure your car not only looks great, but also runs smoothly and safely.