- Your car's finish is the majority of the surface of the vehicle. With some effort, a deep shine and glossy finish is achievable on most cars. A soft cloth and a light smoothing polish will help remove moderate levels of road buildup and paint pollutants. Some auto detailers prefer to use clay for these lighter jobs because it is non-abrasive and cleans better than most polishes. More seriously damaged finishes may require that you use buffing wheals and more aggressive paint cleaners.
- Clean glass will give your car an added sparkle that is noticeable from far away. Glass is generally cleaned with a soapy wash when the rest of the car is washed. Once dried, a soft cloth and glass cleaner should be used on the inside and outside of the window. Some detailers use ammonia or vinegar and water mixtures to clean auto glass, others swear by simple distilled water. Microfiber cloths are a new tool available to auto detailers that works wonders on glass.
- The interior of your vehicle is essentially made of breathable and solid material parts. Solid parts like vinyl and plastic should be sprayed with diluted Simple Green cleaner and a microfiber cloth. These surfaces need to dry completely before going over them once more with a dry dust-free cloth. Cotton swabs are ideal for getting into crevices and other hard to reach places. Breathable surfaces like cloth seats, carpeting and cloth headliners should be vacuumed first, then spot cleaned with an upholstery or carpet cleaning spray.
- Wheels are usually the dirtiest part of a vehicle. They are exposed to brake dust and road grime that can build up over time and be difficult to remove. There are commercially available spray cleaners for both painted and unpainted wheels that break up this dirt and make cleaning the wheel much easier. The wheels should be washed separately from the rest of the car, rinsing all your tools completely when finished. Using the same sponge or cloth on other parts of the car will leave scratches.
- Even an engine that is working properly will accumulate dust and grease buildup when used. Once your engine has been fully cleaned, it will be easier for you to spot any future leaks. Removing the engine buildup can be a challenging task due to the tight spaces and small parts of an engine compartment. Powerful grease-cutting dish soap should be used in a 20-percent mixture with water to create thick suds. Wash the entire compartment including the inside of the hood. Once the engine has been rinsed, WD-40 should be applied to remaining greasy trouble areas.
