Auto Detailing Guide

Auto Detailing Supplies Checklist

1. Rags/towels. You'll need a few dozen good-sized clean towels to do the the job. One or two will be used to dry the vehicle off, others to remove wax, and still more for the interior windows etc... Some small towels are handy also. If you are serious about doing this the right way, get Microfiber towels. I used to buy microfiber towels from the high end online detail suppliers, but now I get a dozen for about $6 from Sam's Club or Costco and they are just as good. Save your money and get them there, the price difference is amazing. One thing to add here is to make sure you separate about 3 or 4 of these out of the bunch to keep for just doing windows. Mark them with permanent markers and wash them separately from your cleaning and wax towels. This will help you by limiting film residue that builds up on your windows when you use towels that have been used to wipe wax.

2. Pressure Washer. There are many affordable models available today. Gas is preferable so you can use for other things around your house or shop. 2000 to 2500 is good psi to have flexibility with what you want to use it for, but make sure you keep it dialed down to about 1000 psi when washing or spraying down your car. More than that and you run the risk of doing damage. I have seen excellent buys lately on pressure washers at Home Depot with good units running in the $225 to $290 range for machines that will definitely do the job.

3. Rubbermaid Brute Commercial Mop Bucket. You need a larger wash container. You can just use a 5 gallon bucket, but after awhile you will be hating it. You have to drag it around the car with you while you washing, why not make it easier on yourself - get wheels! The Rubbermaid Brute Commercial Mop Bucket is the standard yellow mop bucket you see at restaurants and stores. Yes, you can use a 5 gallon bucket if you like, but for under $50 you can get rid of the frustration of lifting and dragging that bucket around the car. The Rubbermaid Brute line of products is also indestructable, so plan on having it for the next 50 years.

4. Auto Detailing Brush's. There's many different opinions regarding brush types and sizes. I'm writing from years of experience doing high volume detailing and these are worked best for me. First a 1" soft bristled brush. Next a stiff bristled tire brush, get both the nylon and the brass for harder to clean rims. A 1" round semi-firm bristled brush. A long handled wheel well brush is a good idea. You can buy the specialized detailer brushes if you like. These smaller brushes are great for getting into little cracks and behind trim.

5. Mequiar's Deep Pile Soft Cotton Wash Mit. These aren't very expensive and you should have enough available to always have a clean one on hand. You don't want to be washing your car with a dirty wash mit.

6. Spray bottles. The 32oz type are most beneficial here. The least expensive one's are available at Home Depot , Sam's or Costco. They go fast though. If you want to spend some money and one's that will last go for the sprayers that are chemically resistant with "viton" seals. Those are the top end sprayers and will last you forever. You always want extra spray bottles for dressings, wheel cleaners, etc. You can always just use the bottles they come in, but sometimes you may get products that can be mixed down from a concentrate and in those cases extra bottles are always handy.

7. Synthetic chamois like the Absorber or similar brands. These are great and much better than actual chamois. Just remember to keep them wet and keep the bottle closed. Once they dry out you've got to toss 'em. Take care of them and they will last forever. When they get dirty toss them in the washer with the your wax and cleaning towels. Another great product along these lines is the Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet. Meguiar's ultra plush Water Magnet absorbs up to 3X the water of traditional terry towels to reduce drying time and create a spot-free finish. The extra large 22 x 30 waffle textured towel is trimmed with premium satin edges to prevent scratching.

8. Sponges. You can pick-up bug sponges and regular sponges in any supermarket. Don't get the green ScotchBrite sponges. You will not even be able to remember what your car looked like after you get done destroying it with one of those. We spent an entire day wet sanding and buffing a car once because the guy scrubbed his new Yukon with one of those and kept going back over it because he was trying to get the "film" off the car. Meanwhile, the film was him scratching the clearcoat over the entire vehicle. About $800 later, he understood the difference between a ScotchBrite pad a scrubbing sponge.

9. You definitely need an Original California Duster Water Blade. These are made of surgical quality rubber on the squeegee end and they are wonderful. They never scratch the paint and they will push more water off your car then you could ever get with an absorber or chamois. The absorber is still important for other areas, but the water blade does a great job on the big areas of the vehicle.

9. Wet/Dry Shop Vac. The stronger the better. I personally prefer Shop Vac brand, but you can choose something similar. Shop Vac's are just easier to find replacement accessories, filters and they last a lot longer than other brands.

10. Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner. There's a product called the Eureka Sanitaire SC6070 Spot Cleaner for Commercial Use that can really provide a deep clean to your auto carpets. It's compact, has a 55psi solution pump and great suction. It's perfect size for cleaning interiors at home or able to put up with the abuse in a professional mobile detailing environment.

11. Orbital Buffer. Check out the High Speed Buffing page to see exact do's and don'ts for using buffers. Porter Cable 7424 Orbital Polishers are the best units by far to own whether you are just doing your own car or doing this for a living. Applying wax is so much easier with an orbital buffer. Once you've done a vehicle by hand and then done another with an orbital you will never go back to trying to buff a car by hand again.

12. Sprayway Glass Cleaner. I'm very picky about this subject. When it comes to glass cleaners I've tried them all. Some of the high end brands from the auto parts are good, but expensive. The best product for the price whether you are buying a bunch or a little is Sprayway. You can't use windex, or ammonia products or anything with any water in it. They all streak and look awful. You don't want to spend hours detailing your car and have somebody not be able to get past the streaked windows.

13. You may find that you like other items I haven't even listed here. It just depends on how much you are willing to spend to get the tools you need to do this right.