Keeping your car clean and spotless is a tough task. As most cars are parked outdoors, the weather is likely to cover them in dirt, as much as driving them will. However, the task of cleaning your car shouldn’t be a stressful one, as the end result will be worth the effort. With the right car detailing products, a bit of work and some useful car detailing tips, it’s possible to transform a car from a filthy example to a gleaming one in a couple of hours.
But why should you detail your car? Because everyone on the Parkers team believes that everyone should be proud of what they drive, whatever the model. After all, a car is typically the second most expensive purchase most people make, and if you want to enjoy it while helping to maintain its value, keeping it clean will enhance the ownership experience.
Now we’ve confirmed the important reasons why you should keep your car clean, but how do you start detailing your car? In this guide, we’ll run through how to detail a car to make it shine inside and out, while also recommending the best methods, tools and products for the job.
Exterior
To ensure you get the exterior of your car completely clean, there are a few things you’ll need to do. Of course, cleaning your car’s interior is equally important, as this is where you spend your time, but we’ll run through how to detail the inside later, as a spotlessly gleaming exterior is what will get more attention.
Wash your car down
Before you start washing your car, and if your car is very dirty, we’d recommend applying a pre-wash to the bodywork using a spray bottle, as this will help lift the muck and grime off. Once applied, allow it to agitate for a few minutes before rinsing off with a hose or a pressure washer. After this you can start by washing your car down with a car shampoo.
Throughout the entire exterior detailing process, it’s vital you use a clean sponge or microfibre cloth for your car’s bodywork, so as not to scrub any dirt particles into the car’s paintwork. The shampoo itself can be applied either with a sponge/wash mitt or a pressure washer if you’re after the best results.
Once you’ve thoroughly soaked the paintwork, rinse it off with clean water and then dry with a synthetic microfibre drying towel. Use a light touch when drying to prevent any remaining grit from getting rubbed into the clear coat. Avoid using rubber blades to remove the water as you may scratch your paintwork with any remaining dust.
Protection
Once your car is completely clean, it’s time to apply your protective coat. There are a myriad of products available to protect your car’s paint, from waxes to modern ceramic coats with long-lasting lifetimes. If you’re after a deep and rich colour, consider an authentic carnauba wax. If you want the latest in paint protection tech, consider a graphene coat instead.
Whichever protective coating you go for, make sure you apply it with a gentle touch and work your way around the car’s bodywork one panel at a time.
Interior
So, you’ve addressed your car’s bodywork and now it trips the light fantastic for all of creation to enjoy. Next, the inside. You’ll want to pay especially close attention here as this job is for you to enjoy as the driver. After all, clean interiors help make pleasant journeys, so you can keep your mind off your environment and focus on the road ahead.
Before doing anything, however, we recommend taking any large pieces of debris out by hand and throwing them away. If you really want to go all out on your interior, consider removing the seats, floor mats and carpets for better access to all your car’s most remote areas.
Vacuum
If you’ve removed your seats, disposed of any large pieces of debris and cleared any other miscellaneous items, it’s time to start vacuuming. The best part of your cabin’s mess can be removed with a good vacuum, so picking the right one is key. For wield-ability, nothing beats a good handheld model.
These light, easy to use machines are great for tackling cars in good time – just make sure you have the right attachments for the job.
Alternatively, you could opt for a bagged and corded cylinder vacuum cleaner. These models may be a little cumbersome compared to handheld vacuums, but their powerful motors and hose attachments suit them to reach the deepest crevasses of a car. Not only that but, with an extension cable, you can vacuum all day without having to worry about a dying battery.
Upholstery cleaner and interior dressings
To clean your seats, you’ll need an upholstery cleaner. The right cleaner for your car will depend on the material of your upholstery – fabric, leather or otherwise. Remember that the wrong product could end up damaging your material, so always check to confirm your selected cleaner is right for your car.
Car interiors can take a serious pummelling from UV rays, leading to faded colour and other visible wear. To protect your dashboard from the sun, we recommend investing in an interior dressing. These cheap yet effective products are great for reinvigorating cabins while protecting them from further damage.
Don’t have all the products for the job? Why not invest in a car detailing kit for everything you’ll need in one package. These kits often come packed with professional-grade products for a top-drawer DIY detail at an affordable bundle price.
If you really want to unleash your inner OCD, though, you’ll need a set of detailing brushes. These brushes will allow you to remove the dust and dirt from across your dashboard – air vents and all – for a truly comprehensive clean.
Wheels
Don’t forget your wheels. While cleaning your wheels may seem a bit over-scrupulous to the uninitiated, for a complete detail, they can’t be ignored.
Start off by applying an alloy wheel cleaner, leave it to rest for a moment and then rinse it off with cold clean water. For a spotless finish, you could even give the alloys a scrub with a detailing brush.
Alloys clean? Good, onto the tyres. Twinkling rubber can really help top off a full clean, so they’re certainly worth addressing.
For the best results, use a tyre cleaner with a degreasing capacity to ensure all road film and grime is lifted from the rubber.
FAQs
What is car detailing?
Car detailing is the practice of intricate and technical car cleaning, going for perfection every time. While a simple car wash will do the job of removing dirt, for a near-perfect finish, you’ll need to get technical with brushes, chemicals and a lot of elbow grease. It’s the art of front-to-back, top-to-bottom deep cleaning.
How much do professional car details cost?
The price of a professional car detail depends on how much of the car you want detailing. For a full car, the price could cost anywhere from £250 up to £800 depending on the quality of the job. Professional detailers also usually offer local restorations wherever there’s damage or visible wear at a lower rate.
Can car detailing remove scratches?
Even a professional detailer will struggle to remove a scratch using just cleaning products alone. For the best results, use a scratch repair kit and then cover your scratch over with appropriate paint. This will help mask some of the lighter imperfections. Deeper scratches may require the use of a cutting compound and a machine polisher to fully remove them.
- For more advice and how-tos, check out Parkers’ ultimate guide to car care
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