How to Detail a Car?
Detailing your car is an art and science that goes beyond a regular wash. This is a full guide on how to detail a car, taking you through the RSRVD detailing process.
Our Steps to A Full Detail
Preparation
Before the actual detailing process begins, preparation is key. This step includes removing any personal items from the car and ensuring that all surfaces are ready for cleaning.
Wash & Dry
Washing the vehicle is the first physical step in detailing. It removes dirt, grime, and contaminants from the surface of the car.
Interior Cleaning
This step focuses on cleaning the inside of your vehicle, getting rid of dirt and debris from carpets, seats, and hard surfaces.
Final Touches
The final touches are what make the car look flawless and complete. This step includes ensuring every detail is attended to for a pristine finish.
Preparation: Getting Ready To Detail
If you are looking for how to detail a car the proper way. Preparation is key. This sets the foundation for an efficient detailing session. By ensuring the car is free from personal items, trash, and any obstacles, we can fully focus on the cleaning process. This step also allows us to identify any special areas that may need extra attention (odors, scratches, stains)
How We Prepare for a Detail
Prep Checklist
Remove Interior Items
To start we open up the vehicles doors and trunk and remove any left items that could get lost or damaged in the cleaning process. Before every job we recommend that all items are removed from the vehicle but sometimes this doesn’t happen. We will take the items out and move them to a safe space during the service.
Inspect Interior/Exterior
We than will conduct a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior. Things to look for are stains, excess pet hair, sticky surfaces, scratches, and paint chips. It is important to point out exterior defects to your clients prior to conducting the service. You can and should also take before and after pictures for many reasons. The more the better!
Remove Floor Mats
Remove all of the floor mats in the vehicle, this is done because if they are all-weather (WeatherTech) or rubber mats these will be washed in the first part of the detail. If they are carpet mats its also much easier to get them deep cleaned outside of the car. Lastly we want to get under the mats when we get to the vacuuming section of the detail.
Tools Used for Prep
Construction Trash Bags
We always bring extra trash bags to each job. These will come in handy when removing personal items from the vehicle that were forgotten. These will also be used when we get to the interior cleaning of the vehicle for trash, bottles, and emptying the vacuum
Inspection Tools
Here we will bring a few tools to helps us inspect the car prior to the detail. Here is a list of them.
- Swirl Finder (Helps find swirls in the paint, this can be hard to spot with the naked eye)
- Gloss Meter (Measures the gloss level of the paint to asses the depth of the shine, used when conducting paint correction or polishing)
- Paint Thickness Gauge (Measures the thickness of the paint layer and checks the thickness of the clear coat layer (if any)
- Clay Bar & Spray (Ensures the vehicle has a smooth surface and prevents marring)
- Gloves
Wash & Dry: A Careful Wash
Washing is the first step in eliminating surface dirt and road stains from the exterior. A clean surface allows us to further inspect the condition of the paint and gives any further exterior tasks a solid foundation.
How We Conduct a Hand Wash
Hand Wash Process
Hand Wash
Begin by rinsing the car with water to loosen dirt and debris. Then lather the vehicle with a pH-balanced car wash soap like , mixed with water in a separate bucket. For a smooth wash, we use the two-bucket method: one bucket for soapy water and the other for rinsing the mitt. Make sure to wash the car from the top down, as the dirtiest areas are mostly lower on the vehicle. Use a microfiber wash mitt, which is gentle on paint and helps lift dirt without causing damage. Be sure to rinse the mitt frequently to avoid transferring dirt back onto the car.
Wheel Brush
Cleaning the wheels and rims is a crucial step to a fantastic detailing job. Start by applying a pH-balanced (same as car soap) or iron-removing wheel cleaner, such as Sonax Wheel Cleaner, and let it to sit for a few minutes. (You will see the grime slowly dissolve) Than use a soft-bristle brush, like the Chemical Guys Wheel & Rim Brush, to scrub the outer surface, and a stiff-bristle brush for more stubborn grime. Don’t forget to clean the wheel barrels.
Dry
Drying the vehicle properly after a wash is crucial to avoid water spots. Using a high-quality microfiber drying towel, that is designed to absorb large amounts of water without scratching surfaces. Start at the top of the vehicle and gently wipe the surface, allowing the towel to absorb moisture. Avoid rubbing or dragging the towel, as this could lead to swirl marks. For areas with excess water, such as mirrors and door handles, use a squeegee to dry the cracks. We also utilize a blow dryer for areas like these.
Tools Used for Wash & Dry
Washing Tools
These Tools are the tools we use here at RSRVD, we recommend them but there alternatives. Remember a man is only as good as his tools
- Microfiber Wash Mitt (Used for gently washing the automobiles surface without scratching)
- Buckets (1 for soapy water, one for rinse)
- PH-Balanced Car Wash Soap (Any soap will do but auto specific soap is recommended)
- Wash Sponge (Optional but helps with delicate finishes)
Drying Tools
Many of these tools are optional but this is how we do things at RSRVD.
- Microfiber Drying Towel
- Squeegee (Used for mirrors, windows, grills)
- Compact Air Blower (Used for crevices, door handles, and wheels)
- Final Touch Spray (Used after drying to add a layer of protection and enhance the shine.)
Vacuuming & Surface: Getting Inside
Vacuuming and Surface wipe down are where we get inside and we get into those hard to reach spots. Here you’ll find the dust, crumbs, coins etc. This step is where you separate yourself from the average detailer.
How We Interior Car Detail
Interior Detail Process
Vacuuming
We use high-powered vacuums with a situation specific hose attachments designed for cars. These help us access hard-to-reach areas. Begin with the seats, moving to the lower portions of the car, like the footwells and under the seats. Pay attention to the corners, where dirt tends to build up, we encourage bringing multiple hose nozzles for narrow crevices like these. Vacuuming not only removes visible debris but also helps prevent deeper grime from becoming embedded in the fabric. If you are dealing with a car that has an odor vacuuming can help.
Surface Wipe Down
Next, a surface wipe down is essential for eliminating dust, fingerprints, and sticky center consoles. Begin by selecting a microfiber towel and an a non-abrasive cleaner. Focus on the dashboard, center console, door panels, and steering wheel. Be extremely detail oriented because this is what your customer sees the most. Make sure you are careful when cleaning sensitive areas like touchscreens or leather. Avoid over-wetting the towel, as excess liquid can cause streaks or damage to tech. Here you will need a soft detailing brush to get into tough spots like cupholders.
Detail Crevices/Mats
Detailing the crevices and tight spaces within the vehicle is an important part of a thorough clean. Often, dirt and debris can build up in hard-to-reach areas like air vents, around buttons, and in between seats. To tackle these spots, use your detailing brush. Next, consider using compressed air to blow debris out of narrow spaces. Now with the floor mats we took out earlier, it’s important to clean them properly. First, shake them out to get rid of loose dirt and debris. For fabric mats, vacuum them thoroughly and follow up by using a stiff-bristled brush to shake out any deep dirt. For rubber or weather mats, spray them with a foam cleaner or rinse them with a high-pressure, followed by a wipe-down with a microfiber towel.
Tools Used for Interior Detailing
Tools for Soft Surfaces
- Compact Vacuum
- Crevice Nozzle Attachments (For Vacuum)
- Upholstery Brush (Helps release debris from seats and carpet)
- Air Compressor (Helps get tough spots)
Tools for Durable Surfaces
- Non-Abrasive Cleaner
- Microfiber Towels
- Stiff Bristle Brushes
- Pressure Washer (For Mats if hard plastic or rubber)
Finishing Touches: Windows & Mirrors
Final touches are the details that elevate the entire car detailing experience. Clean windows improve visibility and safety, while shiny tires and wheels complete the overall look of the car. This is also the stage where we ensure the car looks polished from every angle.
Making Finishing Touches
Touch Up Process
Windows & Mirrors
Throughout the detailing process, we most likely left finger prints, and liquids on the glass so this step is reserved for the end. Using a glass cleaner such as Invisible Glass, we carefully spray and wipe down all windows and mirrors, both inside and out. A microfiber towel is used for this to leave the windows streak less. For mirrors, special attention is given to removing any fingerprints or smudges that may have accumulated during the cleaning process.
Wheel Dressing
Following this process we waited long enough for the wheels to fully dry from the wash. Now we are ready to conduct wheel dressing. We apply a high-quality wheel dressing product, which gives the wheels a shiny, glossy finish while protecting them against harsh elements. The dressing is applied evenly using a foam applicator pad or a microfiber cloth, working it into the surface to ensure full coverage.
Final Inspection | Additional Services
Once all steps are completed, the final inspection is performed to ensure nothing has been overlooked. This thorough inspection involves checking every surface and corner of the vehicle—both interior and exterior—to make sure everything is spotless. If anything is found, we address it immediately to ensure the vehicle meets our high standards. After the inspection, we either contact the owner to inform them the service is complete or we move forward with additional services if requested.
Tools Used For Final Touches
Tools for Windows & Mirrors
- Glass Cleaner
- Microfiber Towels
Tools for Wheel Dressing
- Wheel Dressing Solution
- Microfiber Towels / Foam Pad
Now That You Know The RSRVD Way
Auto detailing is a comprehensive process that ensures you leave vehicles feeling like new. From the meticulous cleaning of both the interior and exterior to the finishing touches like window cleaning and wheel dressing, every step plays a vital role in enhancing a vehicles appearance. With prices starting as low as $159 for interior detailing and $189 for exterior detailing, we offer affordable packages to fit various vehicle types and needs. To better understand how long each service typically takes, be sure to visit How Long Detailing Takes. For those who want the full picture of our service, our Auto Detailing page offers a deeper dive into all the services we provide. Any brand related questions visit our Home Page by clicking on our logo or here! If you have any questions or need additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re here to help ensure your car always looks its absolute best.
RSRVD Mobile Detailing
We are a mobile detailing company which means we come directly to you with our auto detailing services. Our detailers are located in Camden County, NJ and service a 10 mile radius from our location. Check out our service area or give us a call to see if we service you!
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Frequently Asked How to Auto Detailing Questions
