The Ultimate Car Detailing And Cleaning Guide

Welcome back to our newest guide, where we go over car detailing and cleaning, including tips, tricks and best products.

The sheer amount of information out there can be overwhelming regarding car detailing. With many brands and online guides available, knowing where to start or which details to prioritise can take time and effort.

That's why we understand the importance of proper car detailing and are here to help.

Our comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from start to finish, and recommend the most efficient methods and products to make your car look as good as new.

With our help, you can simplify the process and achieve a professional-grade finish, all without the stress and confusion that often accompanies car detailing.

How Do I Clean My Wheels?

When it comes to maintaining the cleanliness of your car, it's essential to start with the wheels.

This is because they tend to accumulate the most dirt and grime, mainly due to mud and brake dust build up.

We highly recommend using a specialised wheel cleaning sponge for the larger surface areas and an exterior detailing brush for those hard-to-reach spots.

If you have aluminium wheels, we have an excellent product recommendation for you - Soft99 Iron Terminator. This powerful fallout removal solution is specifically formulated to remove stubborn ferrous deposits from your wheels.

Its quick colour change formula visibly shows where it's working, making the cleaning process even more satisfying.

And the best part is it's also safe to use on your car's bodywork, so you can thoroughly clean it without worrying about any damage.

How To Use Wheel Cleaner

1. Rinse wheels to remove loose dirt and debris
2. Spray the wheel cleaner across the wheels and allow to stand for a few minutes
3. Rinse with water. Heavy soiling may require a second application and a suitable wheel brush to loosen dirt

Bugs And Grime Removal

To ensure thorough vehicle cleaning, it is highly recommended that you begin the process with a bug and grime remover.

This will effectively eliminate any tough stains and prepare the surface for shampooing. Rest assured that most bug and grime removers are gentle enough not to strip away any previous wax applications.

We suggest using the highly effective Soft99 quick clean stain remover for the best results. This particular product is not only powerful but also boasts a refreshing Grapefruit scent.

This exterior stain remover is effective on various surfaces, including paint, plastic, glass, and rubber. It tackles even the most stubborn stains, such as bird droppings, tree sap, and insects.

With a simple spray application and a pressure washer, you can remove any lingering dirt or grime that standard shampoo cannot effectively combat.

Moreover, this product contains no abrasive compounds and leaves no white residue, so there is no need to worry about additional clean-up.

And with the delightful grapefruit fragrance, your car will look clean and smell great!

Snow Foam

To achieve an immaculate finish for your car, carrying out the snow-foaming process is essential.

This technique is highly recommended for removing any stubborn dirt and grime that may have been missed during the previous bug and grime removal stage.

Additionally, it plays a crucial role in preventing unsightly swirl marks from appearing on the surface during subsequent steps.

One of the significant benefits of using snow foam is that it eliminates dirt and helps prevent any cleaning residue from sticking to the car's surface.

Even if the shampoo dries out while you are washing your car, the snow foam is easy to rinse away and requires only a single rinse - even in the height of summer.

Also, because it is gentle on the paintwork, the foam is incredibly effective at removing dirt and grime.

If you're considering using snow foam to clean your car, you'll be pleased to know it is available in both 5ltr tubs and packs of 30 sachets.

These highly concentrated products are typically diluted at a ratio of 1:100, making them incredibly cost-effective and efficient.

So, if you want to achieve the best possible finish for your car, add snow foaming to your cleaning routine!

How To Use Snowfoam

1. Add water to a foamer tank.
2. Add a sachet or correct mix of solution.
3. Put the cap on the tank and tightly screw it on.
4. Shake gently to mix the snow foam with the water.
5. Pump the lever to increase pressure. Pump the lever until it becomes stiff (If not using a pressure washing lance).
6. Apply the shampoo with a foam dispenser from a distance of about 20-30 cm.
7. Wash off with a pressure washer.

Shampoo

Keeping your car looking shiny and new requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Another important aspect of car care is maintaining the surface, which means keeping it clean and scratch-free.

To do this, it's essential to use a high-quality car shampoo with a deep pile mitt, which helps to absorb particles instead of rubbing them against the surface.

When washing your car, it's best to use two buckets - one with wash solution and the other with plain water. This ensures that the wash solution remains uncontaminated and that you always use clean water.

To begin, start washing from the top and work in small sections. Rinse the mitt in the water bucket before applying fresh wash solution to ensure that you always have clean water to work with.

For a maintenance wash that removes dirt and grime without affecting previously applied wax, it's important to use a PH Neutral Shampoo.

This shampoo is perfect for keeping your hard work intact and produces a thick, creamy foam that quickly removes dirt.

It's also easy to rinse off and can be used on coated vehicles, typically diluted at a ratio of around 1:50.

The shampoo is compatible with water and air-driven foamers, making it ideal for car owners who want to maintain their vehicles' brand-new look for years to come.

How To Shampoo Your Car

1. Rinse your car thoroughly.
2. Apply shampoo directly to your chosen sponge or wash mitt.
3. Lather up and start wiping your car down.
4. Rinse the mitt or sponge in the water bucket.
5. Thoroughly rinse your car.

The Decontamination Stage

When cleaning your car's paint, it's crucial to eradicate all dirt. Soft99's Micro Liquid Compound is highly recommended for an effective cleaning solution.

This exceptional product cleans your car's paint, masks scratches, and enhances its gloss. It's available in light and dark variations to choose the one best suited for your car's paint.

A clay bar is a perfect solution for the next step for a smooth and deposit-free finish if you're dealing with stubborn deposits such as sap or overspray.

To use a clay bar, first, apply a lubricant like water or a specific clay bar lubricant, and then run it over the car's body. This will effectively remove any remaining contaminants.

Once you've finished with the clay bar, it's essential to wash and rinse your vehicle thoroughly for a great-looking finish. These steps ensure thorough decontamination and a fantastic finish for your car's paint.

How To Use A Claybar

1. Wash the car, removing sand and dust from the vehicle's body.
2. Knead the clay bar by hand until it’s soft and flat.
3. Gently slide the clay bar over the wet surface.
4. Be sure to knead the bar regularly to expose fresh clay.

The Drying Stage

Now that we've finished washing the vehicle, it's time for the drying stage. This is a crucial step to prevent water spots and streaks from forming on the surface.

It's best to start at the top of the vehicle and work your way down, panel by panel. This ensures you don't miss any spots and allows for a more efficient drying process.

It's essential to work quickly and be thorough during the drying stage. Using a drying cloth made of a highly absorbent polyester and nylon mix is recommended.

These cloths are delicate but effective in drying large areas without leaving any streaks or scratches on coated vehicles.

The long, fleshy bristles of the towels allow for practical work, ensuring a thorough drying process.

If you notice any water spots during the drying stage, a quick detailer can clean them up. It's always best to catch them early to prevent further damage to the vehicle's surface.

The cloths can be unfolded for larger areas or folded for more precise drying, depending on the size of the car and the areas that need to be dried.

Polishing And Glaze

When polishing your car, you have two options: hand polishing or machine polishing.

Although hand polishing can produce a decent finish, utilizing a machine polisher can yield significantly better results, provided you know how to use it properly.

We offer a range of polishing products, but we strongly advise against using a machine polisher if you lack experience.

Improper use of a machine polisher can cause damage to your car's paint, potentially resulting in an expensive respray. We recommend practising on a separate spare panel to avoid this costly mistake.

In addition to polishing, waxing, and sealing your car's paint, we highly recommend using a glaze product to enhance its appearance and minimize the appearance of fine swirls, particularly on darker colours and metallic finishes.

Trust us; the extra effort is worth it for a stunning, showroom-quality finish.

How To Apply Polishes And Glazes

1. Apply an optimal amount of paste onto the pad or polishing sponge.
2. Work on small segments of the paintwork, adequately selecting the machine's rotation speed.
3. Frequently check the temperature of the paintwork to prevent it from overheating.
4. Keep checking the effects using Soft99 Silicone Off, which will remove the remaining paste and help you evaluate the actual progress of the work.

The Wax Stage

Maintaining your wax is critical to ensuring the paintwork performs optimally and lasts long.

One crucial step in this regard is applying wax or sealant to the exterior of your vehicle to protect it from the elements and preserve the hard work you've put into maintaining it.

Choosing the right one can be overwhelming with so many different types of car waxes on the market.

However, our comprehensive article on car wax can help you make an informed decision and protect your car's exterior for an extended period.

Regarding car wax, we highly recommend Soft99 Fusso 12-month waxes, available for light or dark colours. These waxes contain PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), which boasts super hydrophobic properties that protect your car's surface from rain, dirt, and other unwanted residue.

The thick hard coating ensures that water beads up and smoothly runs down and off the car surface, effectively repelling it.

Moreover, these waxes are specifically designed for either light or dark-coloured cars, and for best results, it's recommended that you properly clay bar your car's bodywork before washing and applying Fusso.

Additionally, allowing a gap of 24 hours between using Fusso and washing the car is advisable.

Fusso Coat 12 Months incorporates a highly resilient fluoropolymer for long-lasting paintwork protection against UV rays, rain, dirt, and other unwanted residues.

It's been formulated for exceptional hardness, giving it unmatched scratch resistance and relentless durability.

The finest Japanese polymer technology has provided your vehicle with a thick, transparent barrier that helps maintain sharp looks while protecting it against corrosive contaminants.

Moreover, its superior beading ensures water slides right off, making cleaning a breeze. All of this comes with longevity that gives you maximum protection with minimum hassle, making it a worthwhile investment for your paintwork.

Steps To Waxing Your Car

1. Prepare your vehicle by washing it thoroughly with PH-neutral shampoo, drying and decontaminating the car paint using a clay bar, a cleaner or other products.
2. Apply the wax onto a pad by rubbing it lightly into the wax after opening the can.
3. Spread the wax on your car paint thinly and evenly, panel by panel, with cross movements.
4. Wait for the wax to dry on the surface until the white residue becomes visible.
5. Polish the residue with a dry and clean microfiber cloth.

Tyre Dressing

Once you have finished cleaning your vehicle's tyres and trims, enhancing their appearance is essential.

Luckily, various products can help return the actual colour of plastics and spruce up your tyres without leaving them with an undesirable greasy residue.

One such product is the Soft99 tyre wax, which boasts a natural matte finish that can last up to a month (depending on the condition of your tyres).

This innovative product can even be used on unpainted plastic trims and bumpers and comes with an easy-to-use sponge to make the application process a breeze.

It is a rigid formula that contains mineral wax and ultrafine carbon black pigment. This unparalleled product has been specifically designed to restore faded black parts like no other product.

It provides a natural blackness and shine to your tires and plastic trims without being overly glossy. This product is perfect for revitalizing stained or faded tires and trims under stress and UV damage.

How To Apply Tyre Dressing

1. Wash off dirt or debris in advance and dry the tyre wall thoroughly.
2. Remove cap and apply wax to the sponge.
3. Apply and allow to dry for approximately 5-10 minutes.

Glass Cleaning

Maintaining your vehicle's glass is an essential aspect of car care that should be noticed. Even the slightest scratches or fingerprints can detract from the overall appearance of your car's windows and mirrors.

For this reason, car enthusiasts suggest incorporating high-quality glass cleaners, such as Glaco roll-on, into your detailing kit.

Its potent cleaning formula and user-friendly application make it effortless to attain a sparkling, streak-free finish on your car's glass surfaces.

It's important to note that not all glass cleaners are created equal, so opting for premium-quality products like Glaco roll-on is recommended.

Please don't settle for anything less than the best to keep your ride looking as good as new.

How To Apply Glass Cleaner

1. Shake well.
2. If the inner glass is dusty or dirty wipe it off with a microfiber cloth.
3. Spray the product directly onto the glass, or onto a towel or paper, until the bubbles have disappeared, and spread evenly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can take additional measures to enhance your vehicle's appearance. These measures are not mandatory, but they can provide a quick and easy solution for maintaining the shine of your car.

Quick detailers are an excellent option for keeping your vehicle clean and adding an instant shine.

On the other hand, applying a ceramic coating is a more advanced technique that can provide long-lasting protection and a superior finish.

With the information provided, you should now have the knowledge and confidence to detail your car in preparation for the summer months thoroughly and show season.

If you require any further guidance or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by leaving a comment or contacting our team directly. We are always here to assist you in selecting the right products to suit your needs.