Detailing Like a Pro – The Full Step-by-Step Guide to a Safe, Professional-Grade Detail at Home

This in-depth guide covers every single step required to detail your vehicle the right way—without cutting corners or using outdated techniques. From the dirtiest wheels to ceramic protection, this is how the pros do it.

Step 1: Begin with the Wheels and Tires

Your wheels pick up the most contamination from the road. That includes brake dust, tar, road grime, and tire dressing sling. Cleaning them first prevents all of that from getting flung back onto your clean paint later.

• Use Pure Magic Cleaner for powerful, acid-based cleaning
• Agitate with wheel and tire brushes
• Rinse thoroughly and dry separately

This also allows your wheels and tires to fully dry before applying dressing, which improves bonding and durability.

Step 2: Pre-Rinse and Pre-Soak the Paint

Before you ever touch your paint, you should rinse and foam it to lift loose dirt. This drastically reduces the chances of scratching during the wash process.

• Foam your car using The Super Soaper in a foam cannon
• Let dwell for 5–10 minutes for maximum effect
• Rinse thoroughly from top to bottom

This pre-soak acts as a safe "touchless" phase that removes most surface grime without needing a wash mitt.

Step 3: Contact Wash Using Proper Towels

When you move to the contact wash phase, your goal is to gently remove anything the foam didn’t lift. The towel and technique you use here are critical.

• Use the Orange Wash Microfiber towel for a soft, scratch-free wash
• Use a rinseless wash method or one bucket with clean towels
• Never reuse a dirty towel across panels

Working in small sections and flipping your towel often is the secret to a swirl-free wash.

Step 4: Drying the Car Safely

After the contact wash, you need to remove the water without scratching or streaking. The drying step is often overlooked, but it’s just as important as any other.

• Use The Massive Drying Towel for full coverage and high absorption
• Gently drag across the surface or pat dry
• Use compressed air or a blower for emblems and trim

Skipping proper drying is one of the biggest causes of water spotting, especially in hot or hard water areas.

Step 5: Clay Decontamination

Now it's time to remove bonded contaminants that washing alone won’t touch. Think rail dust, tar spots, tree sap, and embedded dirt.

• Use a clay mitt or bar with The Super Soaper as lube
• Work in small, lubricated sections
• Feel the surface – once smooth, you’re done

This step preps the surface for polishing and allows coatings or waxes to bond more effectively.

Step 6: Polish to Restore and Refine

Polishing improves gloss, removes minor swirls, and gets your paint as perfect as possible before locking in protection.

• Use Picture Perfect Polish for one-step cut and finish
• Pair with a Cut & Finish Pad or Black Finishing Pad depending on the paint condition
• Wipe down with Softer Than Soft Towels to inspect your work

This isn’t always required, but if your paint needs love, don’t skip it.

Step 7: Apply Paint Protection

Now you lock in all that hard work with a coating that repels water, resists UV damage, and keeps the paint cleaner longer.

• For ease of use, go with Tough As Shell
• For long-term durability, use Gloss Boss

Both are safe for paint, glass, trim, and even wheels.

Step 8: Don’t Forget the Interior

Detailing doesn’t stop on the outside. Protect your interior too.

• Clean with Complete Cabin Cleaner for streak-free, matte finishes
• Dress and protect with All Dressed Up

This combo is safe on plastics, vinyl, rubber, and interior trim.

Step 9: Add Finishing Touches

Dial in the last 5% to make your detail pop:

• Clean windows with a clean towel and glass cleaner
• Wipe down door jambs and fuel doors
• Apply tire dressing and inspect all crevices

This is what separates a basic clean from a full detail.

Want to Master Each Step?

• How to Pre-Wash Your Car
• How to Use a One-Step Polish
• Spray vs. Wipe-On Ceramic Coatings