If you are new to detailing, everything about it can seem daunting. You may have thoughts like, 'Car washing? You mean to tell me that I've been washing my car all wrong?' or "Decontamination? What does that even mean?", amongst other endless questions. We are here to help you with the five basic steps to car detailing. But even if you've been detailing for a while, it couldn't hurt to brush up on some general knowledge.
Wheels & Tires
What you probably didn't know about detailing your car, is that when it comes to cleaning, you should always start with your wheels and tires. This is because your wheels and tires are the dirtiest part of your car, whether or not its obvious, they are. Because of this, if you were to wash them last, then anything you do to the wheels and tires, like spraying them with a jet of water to rinse, the contaminants will fly over all parts of your just cleaned car. And for this reason, we clean them first.
What should I use to clean them, you ask? Glad you did! Use Wolfgang Tire & Wheel Cleaner to clean the surfaces of all contaminants. You can use the Speed Master Wheel Brush to get into those hard-to-reach spaces of the wheel, no matter the design. You can also use 20" Montana Original Boar's Hair Wheel Brush to clean the face of the wheel and the Cobra Microfiber Gloves to get your fingers into the lug nut areas. When it comes to the tires, you can use the Short Handle Tire/Wheel Brush to scrub the face of the of tire. And then use the Wolfgang Black Diamond Tire Gel to prolong the life of your tires by conditioning and revitalizing them, keeping them hydrated.
Car Washing
So, it's likely that you have in fact been washing your car the wrong way, this whole time. You probably didn't start with your wheels & tires first for one thing. When it comes to car washing you should always work from the top to bottom. What you also probably didn't know is that there are three ways you can wash your car; the traditional way, a rinseless wash and waterless wash.
The traditional way is the way you most likely, know with a bucket of water, a hose with running water, a car wash and a bunch of towels. You can use Wolfgang Über SiO2 Coating Wash for a long-lasting shine and hydrophobic properties. Along with Super Plush Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt, a 5 Gallon Professional Wash Bucket with Grit Guard and a bunch of Cobra Guzzler Waffle Weave Towels
A rinseless wash is when you are able to wash your car with only one 5-gallon bucket of water, so you don't need to have a hose hookup. To do a rinseless wash, you can use the same products as above, but instead of the Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash, use Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Rinseless Wash .
For a waterless wash, you guessed it, you don't need water! With Wolfgang SiO2 Waterless Wash . you can clean your vehicle's surface with hydrophobic properties to allow for intense water beading. Besides that, all you need are a bunch of microfiber towels.
Decontaminating
Decontaminating your car may sound intimidating, but it's an important part of the detailing process. Decontaminating your surface basically means claying your car and using iron remover.
Claying your car takes the contaminants that you can't see, off your surface. You can't always see these contaminants, but you can feel them, the surface will feel rough to the touch. You can feel this even more so by doing the baggie test, where you place your hand inside a plastic sandwich bag and run it along the surface. So, to clay a car with Wolfgang, use the Wolfgang Clay Lubricant Spray . to create a lubricated, slippery surface between your surface and your clay tool. As for that tool, you can use the Cobra Clay Mitt . or the Wolfgang Elastic Poly Clay Bar .
To decontaminate you also have to use iron remover. Wolfgang Uber Iron Remover works to remove iron particles that collect and ruin your surfaces, that you typically can't see. With this iron remover, your surfaces will turn red as it starts to work. Once you do both of these steps, you can try the baggie test again and you will be able to feel difference!
Paint Correcting
When we talk about paint correction, we are talking about compounding and polishing. Compounding is abrading the paint to make the surface perfectly leveled using a gel that contains AGRESSIVE abrasives. Compounding will often get rid of the major scratches, but leave some minor hazing and swirling behind. Polishing is using even finer abrasives to correct minor damage. Polishes are so fine that they very rarely leave any paint imperfections behind. Basically, if your surface is strewn with moderate to severe scratches, it is best to compound THEN polish.
If your surface only a has a light amount of scratches, then you can go straight to a polish.
For both compounding and polishing, you are either going to need a Foam Wax Applicator or a polisher. As for the products, give Wolfgang Uber Compound and Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover a go.
Wax/Sealant
Applying a wax or sealant is going to be one of the last, if not the last step. Both of these types of products add that final layer of gloss, shine and protection to your surface. You can blatantly notice when a car is detailed when it has a wax or sealant on it.
Waxes/sealants can come in three forms; paste, liquid and spray. All serve the same purpose but can vary in time and effort it takes to apply. Paste obviously being the most detailed and time consuming, and spray being the easiest. When comes to Wolfgang, grab some microfiber buffing cloths and foam applicator and then choose from a spray wax like Wolfgang Fuzion Spray Wax , a liquid sealant like Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant , or a paste wax, like Wolfgang Füzion Carnauba-Polymer Estate Wax .
Now what?
Now you get moving! You've got some serious detailing to get started with!
