How to Detail a Car
Detailing made simple.

Welcome to "How to detail a car"

Experience has shown me that when it comes to the car detailing process, and the basic requirements of cosmetic car care, the topic gets confusing and overwhelming quickly for people due to some specific reasons:

• Too many product choices!


• Too much bad information!

Detailing Made Simple

As an Expert with over twenty years of first-hand experience under my belt, the things I hear the most from people are:

• Just show me what works!
• Just show me how to use it!

Most people are much more concerned with the visual look and care of the cars paint then that of the interior. For this reason I am using this "How to detail a car" page to break down the specific products and tips that process for you, and also provide excellent results. Apply all this with a healthy dose of patience, and you are on your way to getting professional results.

This is What Works!

The following list of products will be ordered by level of importance. If you are short on funds, or short on patience and commitment, you can sign off after the first two products; all the products past the first two are be less critical. I will also add this, having all of these products and following all these car detailing tips, you will not only know more than 90% of people out there, but you will have the necessary products for 98% of you out there with regards to your cars, trucks, boats, and RV's!

1.-Meguiar's Professional Clay

How to detail a car product#1

Detailing clay is a critical and mandatory step in proper paint care. Texture is not good when it comes to your paint, and airborne pollutants will embed into your paint and create a texture. Use the Meguiar's Professional detailing clay anytime you start to feel texture to your cars paint. Trust me on this, normal washing and waxing will not remove these stubborn embedded forms of pollution. Because pollution is ever present, this will be an ongoing process. The professional way to prep your paint for a glass smooth finish to be used prior to waxing. When done correctly and thoroughly, you paint should feel like waxed glass.

Meguiars Professional Detailing Clay

2.-Meguiar's Ultimate Paste Wax

How to detail a car product#2

Another required product for anyone from hard core enthusiast, to "Weekend Warrior". This product contains the best of both worlds; advance synthetic chemical engineering of polymers, and the best in natural ingredients. Not only can achieve the kind of glossing and depth of paint associated with traditional carnauba paste waxes, but you get the added durability of polymer technology! These two products so far constitute half of your paint car care battles. This product is a must for any dark colored cars where visual performance is a must. If you are working on a light colored car, boat, or RV, see the next recommended product below as an alternative.

Meguiars Ultimate Paste Wax

3.-Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #20

How to detail a car product#3

Are you working on a light colored car, boat, or RV where visual perfection is less critical, or mass amounts of surface material are of issue? Switch to the ease of a synthetic polymer sealant that will make the job at hand much more realistic. Nothing is going to beat the durability of synthetic liquid polymers. Ideal for use on freshly clay-barred paint, gelcoat, or fiberglass in good to excellent condition. Using this will start you off with a foundation of durability that can be followed up with a spray wax or quick detailer to extend its life after washings. I recommend using a polymer, whether it be liquid or paste form, every 6 - 12 months depending on the type of conditions your vehicle is up against.

Meguiars Mirror Glaze #20 Polymer Sealant

4.-Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax

How to detail a car product#4

Another staple of mine; I keep this on hand in my personal and professional world. Can be used as a stand alone wax, or as a spray detailer. I use this product on time sensitive projects where speed and visual results are top priority, and protection and durability are less critical. When I want to add further depth and visual enhancement to the vehicle I am working on, I use this product as a follow up product to whatever I have applied first; paste wax or liquid wax. It also serves as way to remove any residual dusting that might be present after removing any wax product I have chosen.

In a real time crunch? Mist this onto your freshly washed car that is still wet prior, to drying. When using with the recommended chamois from below, you will get superior results to simply drying alone and you will be left with added protection and shine. This spray wax is so light and easy to use, you will find you can be almost as quick with this product as you are with a dedicated spray detailer.

Meguiars Ultimate Quik Wax

5.-Griot's Garage Micro Fiber Cloths

How to detail a car product#5

If you are new to micro fiber, you are in for a big treat! These amazing wonders have completely replaced the age old staple of baby diapers as the universally accepted tool for wax removal. So versatile, you will find many other uses for them. I reserve the newest micro fibers to wax removal only. As the micro fibers start to wear, I transition them into other tasks of car detailing.

Griot's Garage Micro Fiber Wax Removal Cloths, 3 Pack

6.-Water Sprite Chamois

How to detail a car product#6

The exact chamois I have used professionally for over twenty years; still the best! I like this over-sized version that I cut in half; one half is reserved for freshly washed cars, the other half for dirtier jobs like wiping door jambs. Simply hose out with pressure when they get dirty. All the benefits of natural chamois, with none of the drawbacks! An absolute must for every "Driveway Detailer".

Water Sprite Plus® Chamois 4 sq. Feet

7.-California Car Duster

How to detail a car product#7

One of my personal favorites and an absolute must! Whether you are a die hard enthusiast, or someone looking to just keep their car looking great with minimal effort. Enhance the love affair with your car and extend the time between washings by using the proven California Car Duster. A simple way to think of the car duster is to think of dusting your fine furniture indoors. For basic and simple dusting of your car, the California car duster removes the dust by trapping with paraffin enriched fibers of the car duster; this means dust removal, not dust moving.

California Duster Combo

How to Detail a Car

There you have it folks; my professional "how to detail a car" tips straight from the professionals' mouth. A simplified approach to an overly saturated market of car care products. These car detailing instructions and techniques will suffice for 98% of you out there, whether this be on your cars, trucks, boats, or RV's.

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