Pro Tips And Tricks For Car Detailing (Beginner’s Guide)

People procrastinate cleaning their cars for a handful of reasons. Most of the time, these reasons don’t include laziness, but confusion and uncertainty with car detailing. In this article, you will learn a beginner-friendly process that anyone can implement, with steps, tools, and tricks.

 

First Step: Interior Car Detailing 

Start off the interior detailing process by removing items and trash that are larger than the opening of your vacuum, along with with the floor mats. 

Then, vacuum out the entire interior. Pay attention to the details, slide your seats back and forth, and go for crevices where you are aware that dirt accumulates. The seat’s underside is a common area for things such as food drops.

Next, use an extraction method for the carpets and seats/upholstery, if needed. We recommend this for stain removal and odors.

Now, wipe down and condition any plastic and leather surfaces. Pros use tools such as steamers, air compressors, and brushes to assist them with these steps, but they aren’t necessarily required.

 

Step 2: Exterior Car Wash

The car wash is a simple process but it’s probably not as simple as most people think. It’s also a great time to check if you need things like clay bar treatment, paint correction, and paint protectants such as car wax and ceramic coatings.

First, start by walking around the car and making sure there are no damages, you don’t want to spray a paint chip and accidentally make it larger.

Secondly, set up your bucket of water, and your soap bucket, insert dirt traps into both, prepare your pressure washer or hose, and your foam cannon, and put your clean car wash mitts and brushes into your soap bucket. Do these steps in an organized fashion so you know where everything is when you begin the process.

Next, spray a light all-purpose cleaner such as Chemical Guy’s “Invisible” onto your rims, tires, bumper, and any other areas of your car where grime tends to build up; this will loosen the debris. 

Then, take your time and pressure wash/hose off the entire car from top to bottom, and do your best to safely remove as much of the grime as possible to reduce the chances of rubbing dirt against your paint later.

Now, spray each wheel with a foam cannon filled with high-quality car shampoo, and take your dedicated wheel brushes and mitts and clean the wheels along with the wheel wells. Now, spray them off. 

Next, spray soap onto your entire car with the foam cannon and wash each panel from top to bottom. Dunk your wash mitt into the water-only bucket occasionally to rinse the dirt off. 

Take this time to note any issues or plan any additional things you’d like to do, such as clay bar treatment. If your paint feels rough, clay bar it, 

if it looks dull or has many micro swirls, correct the paint, 

if water isn’t beading off of your paint, wax it,

if your headlights look foggy, restore them via headlight restoration polishing.

Now, rinse the car well and immediately dry it off with a dedicated blower, microfiber towel, or both. If you don’t need any of the mentioned additional processes mentioned above, feel free to stop reading here!

 

Additional Step 1: Paint Correction & Polishing

Take your choice of DA polishing machine, cutting/polishing pads, and liquid polish or simply use a foam applicator pad if you prefer to do this process by hand. Our favorite machine is the Rupes BigFoot LHR15ES Random Orbital Polisher.

Starting with small areas and panels, work the polisher at a low speed and make tiny circles to “prim the pad” then you can spread the product slowly into a larger surface area. 

Try your best to control the machine and apply minimal pressure, keeping the pad flat on the surface. Many people go too fast, push down too hard, angle the pad onto the surface, and use too much product. A few small drops evenly spread across the pad are plenty for each focus area. 

Once you have polished the entire car, use plush microfiber towels with a surface preparation product to reveal the freshly polished paint.

 

Additional Step 2: Headlight Restoration

For mildly fogged headlights, you can actually use a 3-inch polishing pad and polish your headlights clear with your DA polishing machine. Many people will want to go further than this, especially if your headlights are more than mildly cloudy, so we will add a few steps.

For all of these steps, move the sandpaper across the lens in straight, horizontal lines and maintain a uniform, symmetrical pattern. Tape off the car paint surrounding the headlights before beginning to prevent accidental damage.

  • Dry sand the lens with a 600-grit sandpaper
  • Wet sand the lens by spraying them with your bottle of water before sanding them with your 1000-grit sandpaper
  • Wet sand the lens with your 2000-grit sandpaper

After you’ve done these steps, the layers of the headlight with the oxidation and haze will be removed. Keep in mind higher grit sandpaper is finer, while lower is more coarse. Some people may need to start the first step with 400-grit sandpaper for heavily oxidated headlights.

Now, just polish the headlights by hand with your DA machine or by hand, and apply a protectant such as a wax or ceramic coating. Remember, you will need to reapply the protectant accordingly. 

 

Additional Step 3: Add A Paint Protectant

Most people will need to add a paint protectant after washing or any of the other steps mentioned above. 

Ceramic coatings can last for years, making them a good option for a lot of people. 

You can apply ceramic coatings after claying, correcting, and using surface prep on your paint. 

You apply it section by section in perfectly symmetrical hash patterns (move it across each designated surface once and go back over each line perpendicularly). Then, after about 45 seconds, or when you see the small “lines” dividing, you buff off well with a microfiber towel. Repeat these steps for the whole car.

Sealants and waxes are also great options, but reapplication will be needed more frequently with these. You will generally apply these by spaying them onto a small surface, spreading them evenly across the paint, and buffing them off. 

Some hand waxes and sealants are applied with an applicator and later buffed off with microfiber towels.

Finally, the trim restorer is great for bringing depth and restoring/preserving those faded plastics and rubbers that cover the exterior of your car and engine bay.

Typically, these instructions will be included on the product label of the paint protectant you select.

 

How To Detail Cars Like A Pro – The Verdict 

There’s a lot to be learned from car detailing pros, and hopefully, this article will send you out feeling confident next time you go to wash your car. 

The final pro tip is to make sure that all of your equipment and tools are clean. You always hear car enthusiasts preaching that automated car washes scratch people’s cars, and the reason for this is that high-speed brushes are contaminated with dirt that grinds against your car’s finish. Do your best NOT to mimic this when washing your own car. Have you ever wondered where to buy the best car-care tools and products?

Neon 8Neon 8
18:55 05 Apr 24
We are extremely well satisfied with the work done by Darren on our two cars; an eleven year old Audi and an eleven year old Lexus. The cars look almost new. Darren showed up on time, did the work efficiently and thoroughly, and the price was very competitive. We will definitely use his service again.
Hugo ContrerasHugo Contreras
23:07 30 Mar 24
I enjoyed collaborating with Sumptuous detailing services! Definitely recommend to anyone looking for great detailing services!
Gareth EvansGareth Evans
16:01 21 Mar 24
Darren did a great job on my pickup truck I use for construction. I was surprised how clean he got it inside.
TJ EdwardsTJ Edwards
00:58 13 Mar 24
Tyrone came out today and detailed my dad’s Tesla model X for us. Let me tell you - that man is so incredibly positive. You just feel good talking to him. He spent a large amount of time detailing his car and it looks better than it did the day he bought it! We could not be more thrilled and will continue to use Tyrone every month to detail and keep it looking great! The pricing is extremely competitive and even on the lower end compared to other mobile retailers! We are extremely pleased all the way around!
Anne HucksAnne Hucks
00:30 13 Mar 24
It was a wonderful experience. My car has not been this clean since I bought it.
millenyn soaresmillenyn soares
01:46 10 Mar 24
If I could put 10000+ Stars I would. Words can't explain how satisfied, I am. Tyrone did a phenomenal job, he took his time and you can tell he loves what he does. My car looks brand new, the seats are so clean and when I opened my car the smell of brand new car hit me. If you are looking for someone to detail your car STOP LOOKING, Because you found them and the customer service is excellent! I highly strongly recommend them you will not be disappointed!
Gregory TrenaryGregory Trenary
02:21 09 Feb 24
02/08/24 We are not local to this area, visiting with our son. Three large cups of coffee were accidentally split in our vehicle this morning... What a mess! Found some one online who didn't do interior detailing, however recommended Darren. He made arrangements to clean our truck that day. His men were here at scheduled time, did a fantastic job! Highly recommend Sumptuous Mobile Detailing!
Pam McCloudPam McCloud
12:24 06 Oct 23
Amazing and meticulous! Darren did such a great job with my vehicle that his services were requested the very next day by my hubby. My vehicle is so clean that I’m afraid to get in and undo all of his hard work. Most importantly, he took his time and didn’t rush the job.
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Fundamental Detailing Package
  • Exterior wash
  • Towel dry
  • 25-60 day wax (beads water and dirt off the paint, offering superior protection compared to traditional wax)
  • Tire conditioning
  • Window cleaning
  • Detailed vacuuming
  • Detailed cleaning of all hard, plastic, leather, and vinyl surfaces
  • Pressure wash for hard floor mats
    For a deeper clean with added surface protection and attention to detail.
Full Decontamination Package
  • Includes all features of Fundamentals
  • Clay Bar Treatment: Removes embedded contaminants like tar and sap that washing alone can't eliminate.
  • Iron Remover: Dissolves bonded iron particles from brake dust, protecting the paint from long-term damage.
  • Steam cleaning or extraction for seats and carpets if needed
    Perfect for vehicles requiring a thorough clean and contamination removal. Interior only is available in this package & higher only.
OCD Package
  • Includes all features of Full Decontamination
  • Special Stain Removal Attention: Attempts to target and remove stains, though results are not guaranteed.
  • 1-step Paint Correction: Removes minor surface defects like swirl marks and light scratches to restore the car’s shine.
  • 6-12 month Ceramic Wax: Adds a durable layer of protection and shine, lasting longer than standard waxes.
    For clients who want every detail perfected and their paint protected.
    Highly recommended to add the 5-year ceramic coating for long-term protection.
The Exterior Wash, Clay, & Seal
  • Wash
  • Clay Bar Treatment
  • 6-12 month sealant/wax.
  • Exterior Only
The Express Wash (4+ Vehicles Required)
  • Exterior wash (exterior)
  • Vacuum
  • Dash cleaning

It is not very detail-oriented, but it is convenient for daily drivers that aren't particular.

Interior Only

Select full decontamination or OCD package, then specify interior only.

Add Ons
  • 6-12 month Wax: Upgrade for longer-lasting protection is available for Fundamentals and Decontamination packages.
  • Headliner Cleaning: Can be added to any package to remove dirt and stains from the ceiling fabric.
  • 5-year Ceramic Coating: A long-lasting, high-gloss protective layer that repels water, dirt, and UV rays, making maintenance easier.
  • Ozone Treatment: Eliminates odors, bacteria, and mold by oxidizing and destroying airborne contaminants for a fresher, cleaner interior environment.
  • Paint Correction: Restores the car’s original shine by removing surface defects like swirl marks, oxidation, and light scratches. This results in a deeper and more natural shine compared to the superficial gloss added by wax.
  • Headlight Restoration: Increases nighttime visibility, improves front-end aesthetics, and compliments shiny paint.
  • Clay Bar Treatment: Removing embedded contaminants from the paint, which the wash will not remove.
  • Pet Hair Removal: Extensive pet hair removal beyond vacuuming.
  • Leather Conditioning
  • Spot Stain Removal
  • Decal/Sticker Removal