10 Mistakes When Detailing at Home

The sun is shining, the windows are down, the wind’s in your hair, and you’re cruising along that favorite scenic route in a freshly cleaned whip. Does anything beat that feeling? Detailing a car boosts morale, improves working experience, and prolongs the life of your car. That is, as long as you’re doing it the right way.

So here are 10 of the most commonly made mistakes when detailing rides at home. While they won’t harm you or destroy a prized ride, per se, keeping them in mind is a good way to build a solid and more mindful technique when detailing in the future.

1. Not Enough Buckets

It’s always good to kick off a list of mistakes by hitting home. And, frankly we’re all guilty of this one. After all, it’s easier to pull a single bucket from the garage to hold the mitt, grit guard, and necessary brushes while the cleaning process is in full swing. The problem? Your water. All that dirt and debris pulled off the car has to go somewhere. Unfortunately, a good portion of it is just pooling up inside that bucket, turning the water from a good clean source into muddy soup. What’s more, is all that gunk transforms your tools into aggressive paint-eating monsters. That’s why it’s a good idea to always bring at least a second bucket along to keep scratches off the softer surfaces. You know, like the paint that covers the whole car.

2. Cleaning Wheels Last

The wheels are generating the harshest buildups, and often take a little more time to clean than the rest of the vehicle. Despite the fact that they require the toughest chemicals and the most elbow grease, they commonly come up last on the to-do list. We get it– clean everything top to bottom, right? Eh, sort of.

According to car detailing advice from sites like Dr. Beasley’s, AutoGeek, and Meguiar’s, you should actually clean the wheels first in order to avoid overspray and tire sling. Flinging all that dirt and corrosive cleaner onto the freshly washed car surface will undo all your hard work and can actually damage the paint job. So, wheels firstThen clean top to bottom.

3. Using the Wrong Soaps on the Exterior

If the goal is to remove all the grime from the surface so layers of protection can be properly applied, why not use whatever soap is available, right? Wrong. It’s easier to go soap-overkill than you might realize. Using dish soaps and cheap wash fluids may either work too well or not hard enough. Dish soaps can easily strip off any layers of protection that may be worth saving, and low-buck washes might not dissolve tougher build ups. Cleansers should be thought of as tools. Assess the job before slinging chemicals at it and invest in a decent brand.

4. Using the Wrong Soaps on the Interior

As we stated above, the cleaners chosen when detailing are just as important as the tools applying them. Car interiors consist of a lot of different surface types. Admittedly, it can be a pain in the neck when sorting through the different required soaps, making a universal cleaner look mighty tempting. Well, just like that old salesman pawning snake oil off to the cowboys, that’s all you’ll find in that bottle. Take the time, do some research, and pick up the proper chemicals for the job.

5. Cleaning with Scraps

While terry cloths and old rags are cheap and useful, not all towels go to heaven. Unless you want scratched paint and a streaky finish, invest in some good microfibers. Microfiber towels are much softer and will pick up any small fragments that regular towels would just drag along the surface. Furthermore, be sure to pick up some glass microfibers specifically made for window cleaning otherwise you could be looking at some hairline scratches and stubborn lint.

6. Improperly Cleaning Towels

Microfibers might be a bit of an investment, but they can be washed for multiple uses. However, if not washed properly they can become throw rags themselves. Microfibers should be washed and dried separately from other laundry, and fabric softener is a must.

7. Not Staying In The Shade Like You Were Told

What’s better than a sunny day for detailing a car? Well, an overcast one, unless you have access to shade. Direct sunlight speeds up the drying process and makes it hard for wax to set up properly. This can leave water spots, make a mess, and turn that relaxing Saturday into a nightmare. So stay shady and avoid angrily kicked buckets and flung hoses.

8. Using Grandpa’s Dirty Old Duster

Dust isn’t a big deal, right? If there’s a little bit on the surface just break out the trusty ol’ California duster and wipe it away, right? Eh, that might not be a good idea. In fact, it’s a great way to leave behind some scratches if that old duster hasn’t been cleaned properly.

The best thing to do when removing any sort of debris from the surface is with a little bit of lube and a good microfiber. Spray wax is a great thing to keep on hand as well. It will help remove dirt smoothly and will add a layer of protection in the process. That old duster doesn’t necessarily need a trip to the dump—just be sure to keep it clean, otherwise it can act like sandpaper on a stick.

9. Trusting a Squeegee

Squeegees are great when they’re used properly on glass, but can often be like a van with “free candy” painted on the side. In a perfect world, they’re a great idea. In reality, not so much.

Paint is very soft and water blades do a great job at letting little fragments of dirt drag across the surface. To properly wick water and avoid friction, put in the time and hand dry your car with a nice, soft, lightly dampened microfiber towel. And remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

10. Sharing the Wax

Wax is a magical layer that lives over the vehicle’s surface and acts as a transparent barrier to protect paint from minor threats. It also fills in small bumps and helps give a mirror-like finish. Though beautiful in the right environment, it looks like total crap on anything it shouldn’t be touching. Wax can get caught in small areas and flake up on trim—a really aggravating thing to find after a hard day’s cleaning. Remember to always apply wax to a cool car and always work in the shade. And consider taping up the trim if you really want to avoid extra cleaning.

Have you been guilty of any of these detailing mishaps? Have any good tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments section!

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