How to Detail Your Car - DIY Pro Tips and Tricks
Most likely, your car is a major investment that is essential for your daily life. Since your car is an integral part of everyday life, it is only natural that you enjoy driving. The detail will make you feel good knowing that your car is clean, protected and looks great. Here are seven DIY car care tips and tricks from my 13 years as a professional detailer.
Use the right soapA: The body of your car is not a dinner plate, so you should not use dishwashing detergent to wash your car. Dishwashing liquid is designed to remove grease stains stuck to food, as well as an important protective wax on car paintwork. Auto shops and large retailers sell concentrated soap specifically designed to remove road grime. Professional craftsmen use car soaps from companies such as Meguiar's, Simoniz and 3M.
Don't skimp on glovesA: The wash mitt is the material that actually touches your car. Spiffy supplies all of our professional technicians with two microfiber cleaning gloves. It is not recommended to use a sponge or woolen mitt for washing or wiping. Both sponges and wool mitts tend to hold onto dirt that will later scratch the car's paint. Microfiber mittens are soft enough that they don't have this problem.
Upgrade your bucket or buy two: The detailers' secret is to use two water buckets or use a bucket upgraded with sand protection inside. Two buckets allow you to use one for fresh soapy water and one for dirty rinse water. First, dip the wash mitt in a bucket of clean, soapy water, and then rinse it in a second bucket of rinse water. Spiffy professionals use a large bucket with a sand guard on the bottom. The sand guard is a perforated plastic plate that prevents the mitt from becoming soiled with sand and dirt after the first wash cycle. As a general rule, bigger is better, so I recommend using 5-gallon buckets for washing and rinsing.
Dry with the bestA: Plush terry cloth or microfiber towels are best for drying the car. Suede wipes are something auto repairers used to use, but they're not ideal because they tend to pick up debris and take more effort to keep clean than a standard terry cloth or microfiber towel.
Invest in compressed air: The air compressor is the secret weapon of professional detailers. It really helps to clean the nooks and crannies of your car's interior that love to collect dust, dirt and grime. It can also help flush water from your vehicle's exterior. Air compressors require a large investment (about $100), but they are well worth it. Canned compressed air can be purchased for one-time emergencies, but I recommend you buy an air compressor if you intend to clean your car regularly.
Smooth things out with a clay bar: To give the appearance of the car a smooth glass-like feel, professionals use clay sticks. Car clay is a special material designed to remove small adhering dirt that makes the surface rough. Clay looks like a little brick of stupid putty. Use it on a freshly washed car and prep the surface with a lubricant before applying the clay. The clay rod system contains both clay and lubricant.
Febreze really works: If part of your goal of self-cleaning is to eliminate odors, you need to clean both seat surfaces and the air in the car. Upholstery is best cleaned at home with a foaming shampoo and then treated with Febreze. After you have cleaned the interior, treat the Febreze heating and air conditioning system to remove any odors from the system. The best way is to spray a large amount of Febreze into the cabin air intake in the engine bay. This will provide a pleasant smell to the entire heating and air conditioning system.
These seven tips I have used throughout my career as a professional auto repair shop. Follow them as you detail your car so that the exterior and interior look and smell great.
Carl Murphy is President and Co-Founder of Spiffy Mobile Car Wash and Detailing, a car cleaning, technology and on-demand services company with a mission to change the way car care is done globally. Spiffy currently operates in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. Spiffy washes with Spiffy Green, the most environmentally friendly way to clean your car. The Spiffy mobile app allows customers to schedule, track and pay for car wash and care services anytime, anywhere they choose.
