Detailing your vehicle is more then just making it glean. The benefits range from increasing it’s resale value to improving it’s performance. Not everyone can afford to visit their local automotive detailing shop, so today we bring you tips from the pros that you can do yourself. Here are a few of the best tricks in the book…
Pro Tips For Auto Detailing at Home
First we will hit the basics and then explain them each in more detail.
- For Sap on the Paint Use Rubbing Alcohol. Cars that park under trees. like mine, often get sap dripping on them. It is not only difficult to get off, but can also damage your paint the longer it sits on it. I have seen some blogs recommend using a razor…YIKES. Do not do that. Soak some rubbing alcohol on a microfiber towel and use it to wipe away any sap. It is safe for your clear coat and is super effective.
- Apply Toothpaste on Hazy Headlights. Hazy headlights diminish the amount of illumination you get at night. Clearing the haze will increase the amount of light and help you see better. First wash your headlights with either Windex or use soap and water. Then put some toothpaste, preferably with baking soda, on a microfiber towel. You will scrub your headlights vigorously. Then you apply a sealant. I like to use a little turtle wax.
- Dry Interior and Exterior Glass in Opposite Directions. Always use two towels to wash your glass, one to apply cleaner and one to wipe dry. When you dry the interior glass move side to side horizontally. When you dry the exterior glass move up and down vertically. Then you look into the glass and if there are streaks you will see the,.
- Use a Special Tool For Pet Hair. I like to use a tool called a Chom Chom Roller. You rub it over your seats and carpets and it creates static electricity to attract the pet hair. Then what ever pet hair doesn’t collect in the receptacle in the tool is much easier to vacuum with a shop vac. For other tips to remove pet hair, read this.
- Hand Wash Your Vehicle With The Two Bucket Method. Use one bucket for soap and water and use the other bucket for fresh clean water. Dunk your microfiber mitt into the soap bucket and wash an area of the vehicle. Then use the clean water bucket to rinse the mitt after you clean each section. This technique prevents spreading your dirt and contaminants from one part of the vehicle to another. It also reduces scratches and swirls. This is one of the best ways to upkeep your vehicle between pro detailing jobs.
- If You Have Grimy Glass and Chrome, Use Steel Wool. Steel wool doesn’t sound like something you should be using on the exterior of your vehicle, but for glass and crome it works like a charm. Use #000 Steel wool and apply glass cleaner to it. It doesn’t scratch chrome or glass. Just rub it on gently and you will get a nice shine. Once done, buff it with a towel.
- If Your Vehicle Smells, Use Baking Soda. Baking soda is one of my best tricks to get cigarette smoke out of a car, but it also works well for gym clothes smell and other funk. Liberally apply baking soda to your carpets and cloth car seats. Let it sit for a few hours (3 to 4 hours). Then go and vacuum it up. You vehicle will be smelling fresh.