Automotive Detailing Supplies and Equipment

Proper car detailing starts with the right detailing supplies. Whether you are just washing your car on the driveway or an experienced professional auto detailer, you are going to want to have the best of the best to work with. The supplies you use will depend on the level of experience you have.

The variety of automotive detailing supplies on the market is sometimes a little overwhelming, so lets look at some basic jobs you would normally do to a car. This applies to both the do-it-yourselfer and the professional.

As an example, let see what you might need for a basic Wash and Dry. You will need the following supplies to properly wash and dry your vehicle
• 2 wash buckets, with a grit guard or tray for each
• Micro fiber wash mit or Micro fiber covered sponge
• Micro Fiber drying towel
• Tire brush
• Wheel cleaning brush
• Water filtration ( optional )
• Drying Blower ( optional )

Most of the detailing supplies are not available at your local automotive supply store, often you will need to purchase them online or find a wholesaler in your area. Finding all the products and equipment from one location is often difficult, but if you find a local wholesaler that carries a wide variety of brands, you can easily get all the supplies you need.

If you are looking to purchase your detailing supplies for home use and are not getting into detailing other vehicles professionally, then a good start would be to check out some local detailing shops. There are professional auto detailers in every major city, and I bet there are a lot more then you think there are. Most of the detailers in the business love what they do, and if you contacted them to discuss detailing, I am sure they would love it. You should ask if you can buy some of the product they use, you will probably get a better deal then if you went and tried to find everything you need yourself. You will probably find that each detailer has a brand or line of products they prefer over others, this is either from experience or what they learned with. Many experienced detailers usually stick to a specific brand for the majority of their products. They will use other suppliers as well for all the specific function products that only select manufacturers produce.

Other detailing supplies that you can buy at your local automotive hardware store are the simple tools and products. Micro fiber cloths and towel are now very common. A few years ago, you would not be able to find a single micro fiber cloth anywhere but specialty stores. Micro fiber drying towels and polishing cloths are the standard for all your auto detailing jobs, don’t get anything else to wash, dry, buff or clean with. The characteristics of micro fiber make them non-scratch and super absorbent. You can also find decent cash wash soap and brushes at your local automotive supply store too. Never use dish soap on your car, only use car wash soap designed for automotive purposes. Dish soap will strip all the protective layers you apply to your car, such as wax, sealant, trim sealers and detailer sprays. Only use it if is your intention to prepare the car for paint correction and polishing, in that case, you want to remove all those waxes and sealers. 

Use a Rubbing Compound on Paint

Rubbing compounds are effective at restoring painted finishes.

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Rubbing compound is a loosely defined term referring to a growing group of polishes that are designed to remove minor damage, imperfections or oxidation, generally from automotive-type finishes. Rubbing compounds can also be used to remove layers of built-up wax from cars and boats, before recoating with new wax. For best results, use rubbing compound on paint when the temperature is at least 50 degrees, and out of direct sunlight if possible.

Difficulty:

 

Moderately Easy

By Guide Fisher

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Clean, soft cloths or towels
• Rubbing compound

Suggest Edits

1. • 1
     Select a rubbing compound approved for the surface, such as metal or fiberglass, and paint type, like acrylic enamel, lacquer or clear-coat finish.
   • 2
     Wash the painted surface with soap and water to remove dirt. Dry the washed surface with soft towels, or allow the surface to air-dry.
   • 3
     Apply 1 tsp. of rubbing compound to a clean cloth, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some compounds call for a damp cloth while other compounds can be applied with a dry towel.
   • 4
     Rub the compound into the paint in short, circular motions, approximately 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Allow the compound to set on the paint according to the manufacturer's instructions, as some types of compounds need to be allowed to dry before being wiped from the surface.
   • 5
     Remove the compound, with a clean section of the cloth, by rubbing in the same circular motion used to apply the compound.
   • 6
     Continue applying and removing the rubbing compound in 12-inch sections, until the entire surface has been covered. To be sure no sections are missed with the compound, overlap the already rubbed section with fresh compound by approximately 1 inch. Use a clean area of cloth each time you apply compound to the paint, changing out towels as needed.
   • 7
     Inspect the entire surface for any areas you may have missed with the compound. Touch up any missed spots as needed.

Car Tire Cleaning Tips

• 

  Keeping your tires clean can lengthen their lifespan and keep you safe on the road. Cleaning your tires involves much more than spraying them down with a hose; several car tire cleaning techniques can keep your tires in optimum shape. Pay attention to the wear and tear on your tires. Any visible degradation or noticeable wires sticking out of the surface indicate a need for new tires. Keep your tires in working order and free from obvious defects that could diminish performance.

Hosing Down

• Spraying down the car tires with water removes surface debris. For best results, use a garden hose fitted with a pressurized spray handle. Once you've wet the tires completely, leave the water for several minutes to loosen surface debris. Scrub the tires with a wire brush to remove stubborn debris and brighten the white lettering of the tire company logo.

Special Tire Soap

• Automotive supply shops sell special soaps made specifically for cleaning car tires. Use these soaps instead of a regular soap, which might contain tire-damaging acids. Also avoid wheel-cleaning sprays that claim to finish the job more quickly; most contain hydrofluoric acid that will damage the rubber. Used according to the manufacturer's directions, tire soap will help remove surface dirt and debris from your tires. Use a stiff brush coated in the soap to remove debris from the treads.

UV Protectant Spray

• Ozone and ultraviolet (UV) light degrade car tires by breaking down the hydrocarbons in the rubber. To prevent tires from cracking or losing elasticity, coat tires with a special protectant once they have dried after you wash them. Automotive supply shops carry UV protectant sprays with varying degrees of strength. When shopping for a spray, avoid products that contain raw silicone oil or formaldehyde, which will eat away at the rubber of your tires. A car care specialist or mechanic can recommend the best brand for your tires.

References

• Autos: Cleaning Tires: 3 Tire Cleaning Tips of the Pros

Resources

• Insure on the Spot: The Importance Of Tire Maintenance

• Photo Credit tire treads close-up image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com;

How Often Should You Wax a Car?

how often should you wax a car?

Help your car maintain its showroom shine with regular waxing. But first, figure out how often you'll need to wax your car. Certain factors will tell you when you need to wax your car, but to be sure, you can perform a bead test.

1. Frequency of Waxing

   • It is recommended that car owners wax their vehicles about once every 2 to 3 months, according to Web-cars.com, or more if the car is exposed to tough conditions. Extreme amounts of rain, or road salt in cold climates, can necessitate more waxing.

   The Bead Test

   • A good way to tell if it's time to wax your car is by the water bead test. Sprinkle some water on your car, and if the water beads that form are more than 1/2-inch in diameter or if it doesn't bead up at all, it's time to wax the car.

   Applying Wax

   • To properly apply wax to your washed and dried car, use a clean, dry cloth and put on a thin layer of wax with a circular motion. Be sure to do this in a shaded area because if the wax gets too hot it may dry too fast and become difficult to remove. Once the wax is dry, gently buff it off with a clean, dry cloth.

   Don't Overwax

   • Don't try to apply a thicker coat of wax in the hopes that you won't have to wax as often, Web-car.com advises. It will only be more difficult to buff off the wax.

   Fixing Problem Spots

   • If there are hazy spots or streaks mist the area with distilled water and a 1/2 tsp. of isopropyl alcohol, then wipe the area clean.

By Valerie Clark, eHow Contributor

 

Resources

• Proper Auto Care
• Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts

Remove Yellow Stains From Chrome Rims

Chrome rims add visual appeal to cars, motorcycles and trucks. To maintain the lustrous shine of chrome rims, vigilance is needed. Because the wheels of a vehicle are in constant contact with the ground, rims get dirty. Sometimes yellow stains appear on the chrome as the beginning stages of rust. Fortunately, these stains can be removed with a little work.

Difficulty:

 

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Chrome wheel cleaner
• Polish soap
• Bucket
• Hose
• Roll of paper towels
• Baby oil
• Cotton cloth
• Fine steel wool

Suggest Edits

1. • 1
     Take the bottle of chrome wheel cleaner and squeeze out some of the liquid onto the chrome rim. Be certain that you cover the entire affected area that you will be working on. Rub the area with a cloth rag in a circular motion. Repeat on any additional affected areas.
   • 2
     Use a small chunk of fine steel wool for more stubborn stains that won't come off using a rag. For the really stubborn or long-set stains, allow the chrome rim to sit for 2 to 3 minutes after spraying. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the chrome rims.
   • 3
     Wet a slightly abrasive sponge with water from a hose or bucket. Apply the polishing soap to the wet sponge in a circular fashion and build a good lather.
   • 4
     Apply the soapy sponge to the areas that were treated with the chrome cleaner. Rub the chrome rims using the same circular motion that was used applying the cleaner. Start on the area that was cleaned first. Work your way to the other areas in the order used for cleaning.
   • 5
     Use a dry cloth or paper towel to remove the soap suds that are left over. Running water from a hose could also be used for this task. If using water, dry the chrome rim completely with a towel or cloth.
   • 6
     Apply some baby oil on a soft cloth and rub over the entire rim. This will give the chrome rim a beautiful showroom shine.