How we care for our cars is ultimately a reflection of ourselves. Regular cleaning deals with most surface dust, dirt and grime. But dig deeper, and you’ll find scratches, scuffs and rust eating the car from within.
Detailing differs from the regular car wash in that it not only removes common contaminants but also restores the paintwork, adds a protective layer and keeps that new showroom look for longer. It’s a meticulous process involving defined stages. The obvious benefits are shielding your car from damaging external factors, reduced maintenance needs, and improved vehicle safety.
Professional services do an adequate job in most cases, but the fat bill at the end may be a pill too hard to swallow. That’s why more and more car owners are seeking out the best car exterior detailing products, and doing the work on their own.
How To Detail Your Car Exterior
Getting a spotless car in record time is all about dedication and using the right car care products. Once you know what works and what doesn’t, detailing becomes a habit or hobby that you’ll actually enjoy. Knowing where to start makes all the difference.
Start with the Wheels
The wheels pick up dirt, oil, mud and all kinds of road debris, so are the dirtiest car parts. And they’ll easily get all that grime into the arches, underbody and body panels. Give them a good pre-soak using a dedicated alloy wheel cleaner to loosen up hardened dirt, mud, brake dust and grease. Rinse and use brushes and mitts for tight spots.
Follow up with Pre-cleaner
Pre-cleaner is necessary to break down stubborn grime and remove bugs on the bodywork. This specially formulated solution is easy on car wax and sealant. Spray it in ample amounts on affected areas, and a gentle layer from top to bottom.
Use Pre-wash Snow Foam
This brings the biggest differences compared to a regular wash. Spray the foam in a thicker lather from top to bottom using a pressure washer, let it stay for a few minutes so it breaks down the remaining grime, and rinse. Neglected cars can use two rounds of snow foam. Make sure to get into overlooked areas like the grille, number plates, and side mirrors. Look for good foams that reduce the risk of swirl marks in the next stage.
The Two-Bucket Wash
Here you’ll need a quality car shampoo, mitts, and a pair of buckets. Fill one bucket with the shampoo solution, and the other with clean water. The shampoo is applied with mitts, working your way from top to bottom and rinsing the mitts in clean water as needed. High-quality microfibre mitts are much safer alternatives to old-fashioned sponges. They gently lift dirt and grime off the paint without leaving swirls or scratches. Microfibre gloves also do a good job.
Car shampoos differ from ordinary household cleaners by being gentler on the paint while also more effective in removing dried and hardened grime. Look for pH-neutral shampoos that won’t peel away at coatings or waxes, and shampoos that leave a gloss or matte finish. This rounds out the cleaning stage.
Dealing with Stubborn Stains
Stains, dirt, grease and other contaminants not resolved in the cleaning stage need special attention. Depending on where you drive, this can be anything from iron fallout remover to clay bars and birdlime solution. Iron fallout is small iron particles, often stuck to the wheels and the car underbody. This is accumulated with driving or comes from fine brake pad particles. Look for effective cleaners that change colour once sprayed on affected areas, while leaving the alloys and paint with a clean sheen.
Clay bars deal with water spots, brake dust, salt spray, industrial and other pollutants, to leave a clean smooth surface ready for waxing. Affected areas need a thin layer of water or formulated clay solution that acts as a lubricant and several swipes until the bar changes colour to a dark red or brown.
Other products in this category include degreasers when cleaning the engine bay, sills and lower bodywork; traffic film remover for ingrained debris; tar remover for road work leftovers and birdlime remover if you frequently park your car on the street. All products sold through dedicated detailing retailers are effective, and keep the paint and alloys clean for up to 6 months.
Add Polish, Glaze and Wax
Polishing aims to remove swirls, scratches and imperfections and leave a showroom sheen. For minor paintwork damage, apply non-abrasive polish by hand in a circular motion with applicator pads. Most types also include filler materials to smooth out rough surfaces. Choose abrasive polishes (in varying degrees of abrasiveness, from medium to ultra-fine) in sparse amounts for more visible scratches or scuffing. These too should be applied by hand unless you have extensive experience with a machine polisher.
Glaze is a type of non-abrasive liquid polish containing oils, chemical cleaners and filler materials. It can be used on its own as an all-purpose polish and waxing solution for minor imperfections in newer cars, and to add a protective coating that seals the paintwork against water and dust.
Waxes and coatings are the final layer of protection. They seal the paint against water, dirt and contaminants, and provide a clean, shiny look. Waxes come either as paste applied with applicators, or concentrated solutions in spray bottles. Coatings go one up by chemically bonding with the paint to offer lasting protection.
Finishing Touches and Optional Car Care Products
A full best car exterior detailing products list isn’t complete without trim restorers. These bring back the sheen in faded or scratched plastic and rubber exterior trim parts while preventing wear from UV radiation, washing detergents and road contaminants. As a finishing touch, spray glass cleaner on windshields, windows and mirrors to deal with swirls, leftover birdlime or insects. Stand back, and enjoy the fruit of all that hard work.
Optional products include headlight restorer – a formulated polish that deals with hazing and scratches and brings back the clarity in the polycarbonate; tyre dressing for rubber with a pitch-black showroom look; and all-purpose detailing spray that tends to skip bits and removes residue from other exterior car cleaner products.
Detail your car in mild and dry weather, away from direct sunlight, preferably 2-3 times a year. All the listed products are long-lasting and when applied right ensure a clean, protected vehicle year-round.
