There’s nothing like driving a shiny, freshly detailed car. Watching heads turn as you pass is a sensation not to be forgotten. But car detailing is expensive, and the best car detailers are often booked well in advance.
Many car owners are learning how to detail a car themselves. It’s easier than you might think. You’ll be ready to give your car a thorough interior and exterior detailing once you read our DIY car detailing guide.
You need the right supplies to do a proper detailing job. And when you shop at Jennychem for your car detailing needs, you can rest assured that you’re getting only the best car cleaning supplies in the UK. Count on Jennychem for all your car detailing DIY needs.
Benefits of DIY Car Detailing
Everybody wants their car to look its best. Car detailing brings out your vehicle’s beauty, but it comes at a price. A full car detailing can run you over £600. If you own an SUV or a luxury vehicle, your costs could be even higher. DIY car detailing can be a cost-effective alternative.
Knowing how to detail your own car not only saves you money. It gives you the satisfaction that comes from making your vehicle look its absolute best. You don’t have to worry about booking an appointment or finding a reliable detailer.
Dirt not only makes your car less appealing. It also wears down and corrodes its paint. DIY car detailing teaches you how to properly wash and clean your car. Now that you understand the advantages of knowing how to detail a car, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of car detailing DIY!
What Do You Need to Detail Your Car?
Here’s everything you need for interior and exterior car detailing. You’ll be amazed at what you accomplish with our supplies and our guide on how to detail a car.
Exterior Car Detailing Essentials
Before you get started, you’ll need to prewash your car with snow foam and clean your paintwork, glass and plastic with a traffic film remover.
Snow foam is a prewash that surrounds and isolates dirt particles so they can be rinsed away. Traffic film remover removes stubborn dirt, grime and grease that accumulates on your car as you drive on congested roads.
You’ll need a car shampoo and car wash sponge for the washing. Look for a neutral-pH shampoo that provides lubrication and lots of sudsing power.
You’ll also need a car polishing compound of your choice for the finishing touches. Car polish removes minor scratches and imperfections from paint so your car shines bright as new.
Interior Car Detailing Tools and Products
Window cleaning is important for safety reasons, so read our article on how to clean inside windscreen and purchase a proper car window cleaner.
You’ll need car cleaning brushes for the carpets and vents along with other professional car interior cleaning supplies like upholstery cleaner and leather moisturizer.
Why Source Your DIY Car Detailing Supplies at Jennychem?
Jennychem is the UK’s one-stop shop for car detailing DIY. We’ve got everything you need to detail your car like a pro. Not only do we carry cleaning supplies. We’ve got buckets, mitts, clay bars, and even air fresheners.
Learning how to detail a car is easy when you have the right supplies close at hand. Jennychem has everything you need for interior and exterior car detailing. With our supplies and our guide on how to detail your own car, you have everything you need for car detailing success.
How to Detail Your Own Car: Step-by-Step Guide
DIY car detailing can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Follow our guide on how to detail your own car and you’ll be amazed at the results. We’ve covered everything here, so all you have to do is follow these 10 steps to success.
Step 1: Start With the Wheels
Your wheels and tyres are typically the dirtiest part of your vehicle. Cleaning them first ensures you don’t get dirt on your newly clean auto.
Wheels accumulate grime and brake dust. Use a proper wheel and tyre cleaner to remove the buildup and ensure your vehicle continues to run smoothly. Finish the job with a tyre shine
Step 2: Pre-Wash With Snow Foam, Then Rinse
Spray the snow foam on the roof, and work top to bottom. Coat all glass, doors, body, bonnet, and grille. Wait 5-10 minutes for the snow foam to lift and loosen the dirt, then rinse it away.
Look no further than Jennychem for the best car snow foam on the market. Our snow foam is suitable for various paint types and is formulated to be environmentally friendly.
Step 3: Wash the Exterior Thoroughly With a Good Shampoo
Now that you’ve pre-washed your car, it's time to wash it with the best car wash shampoo. Use an automotive shampoo that cleans thoroughly without being too harsh.
Start washing the roof and work your way down. Scrub your vehicle gently with a microfibre cloth or car cleaning mitt. Rinse your mitt or towel in a bucket of clean water after you finish each section, then dip it into the shampoo bucket.
Step 4: Decontaminate With Clay Bar
Clay bar decontamination is the car detailing DIY secret that turns your vehicle into a shiny showcase. You should always decontaminate with a clay bar before applying polish. The clay bar provides a clean surface that will let polish and sealants bond well.
What’s a clay bar? It’s a soft synthetic putty with a tacky surface that lifts embedded dirt without scratching or damaging your car.
Glide the clay bar over your car's exterior. When you’re finished, put your hand in a zipped bag and run it over your car to make sure it feels completely smooth.
Step 5: Dry the Vehicle Properly
Your car will look great after a wash and clay bar treatment. But its shine may be marred by water spots and streaks if you drive it damp.
Follow our guide to the best way to dry a car after washing for best results. Blow drying is quicker, but we recommend towels because they give you better control over your wipedown and let you get every part of your car properly dry.
Step 6: Polish and Correct Paintwork (If Needed)
Polishing makes your car shiny and creates a layer of protection between your car’s surface and exterior dirt. Polish contains mild abrasives that remove minor scratches and imperfections from your car’s paint. This produces a shinier finish and prevents small issues from growing.
But, you may need paint correction if your car still looks dull after polishing, or if you notice deep scratches or corrosion. Paint correction specialists use pads, compounds, and specialized machines to buff away paint defects.
Step 7: Protect With Wax, Sealant, or Ceramic
You need something to protect your car’s shine after you polish it. A second clear covering will shield the finish against rain, sunlight, bird droppings, and dirt. Let’s look at your options.
Car enthusiasts have traditionally favoured carnauba wax. It provides a lovely warm lustre, but it only lasts a few months. Synthetic polymer sealants last up to 6 months and provide a sharper, more reflective shine.
Ceramic coatings are the gold standard for automobile finish protection. They harden into a glassy layer that can protect your car’s finish for years.
Step 8: Clean Glass and Mirrors
If you want to detail your interior you need to know how to clean inside windscreen. Never use ammonia-based household cleaners to clean your car. They can damage window tints and dashboard materials. Instead, clean your glass and mirrors with an automotive-specific glass cleaner and two microfibre towels.
Always work in the shade as sunlight can cause early evaporation and stubborn streaks. Mist the cleaner on the first towel, then wipe the area to remove dirt. Use the second towel to wipe away residual moisture.
Step 9: Deep Clean the Interior
Start your interior detailing by vacuuming the headlining, sun visors, and pillars. Work your way down to the dashboard and centre, then continue until you have vacuumed the entire interior.
Clean upholstery and carpets with an interior fabric cleaner and soft-bristled brush. Finish your interior deep cleaning by dusting out air vents with fine brushes, cleaning the pedals, and ensuring all door jams and sills are wiped clean.
Step 10: Finishing Touches
Do a final walk-around to check the car from multiple angles. Remove any remaining fingerprints, dust, or residue.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully detailed your car.
How Often Should You Detail Your Car?
Here are some guidelines for when your car will need to be detailed again.
Interior vs Exterior Detailing Frequency
You may only need an annual decontamination and top layer reapplication if you protect your car with a ceramic coating. A carnauba wax application will need to be replaced every few months.
Your interior detailing needs will depend on how often you use your vehicle. A family car that sees daily use will need thorough interior cleaning more frequently than a car you only drive occasionally.
Seasonal Factors That May Affect Frequency
Winter brings road salt and grit that can corrode your car’s paintwork and undercarriage. Your car will need more regular washing during the winter to neutralise salt deposits.
Summer heat and sunlight can cause fading and degradation to paint and plastics. Bird droppings and bug splatter can etch themselves into paint faster than you might imagine. You will need to keep a careful eye on your car in the summertime.
You will want to keep your car clear of abrasive pollen in the spring. Autumn brings mud and falling leaves that can stain your paintwork with stubborn tannins.
Signs Your Car is Due For a Detail
Rough or gritty paintwork is a sign that your car is covered in bonded contaminants. This dirt has become enmeshed within the paint and won’t be removed by a normal wash. If water no longer beads on your car but runs down in sheets, you need to replace the protective layer.
You may need interior detailing if you notice musty odours in your car. Bacteria or spills on the upholstery or carpets or dust in your air vents will require more than a quick wipe-down.
Have you recently taken your car on a lengthy voyage? Has it been parked near a dusty construction site or under sap-producing trees? A deep clean is always a good idea if your vehicle has been under unusual stress.
Final Words on How to Detail a Car
Now that you know how to detail a car, you’ll have no trouble keeping your vehicle in top condition. We’ve provided you with a guide, but we can also provide you with everything you need for interior and exterior car detailing.
Jennychem has been the UK’s trusted choice for over 35 years and counting. We’ve helped many UK car owners take charge of their own detailing. Count on us for all your car detailing needs and get a showroom finish on your own!
There’s nothing like driving a shiny, freshly detailed car. Watching heads turn as you pass is a sensation not to be forgotten. But car detailing is expensive, and the best car detailers are often booked well in advance.
Many car owners are learning how to detail a car themselves. It’s easier than you might think. You’ll be ready to give your car a thorough interior and exterior detailing once you read our DIY car detailing guide.
You need the right supplies to do a proper detailing job. And when you shop at Jennychem for your car detailing needs, you can rest assured that you’re getting only the best car cleaning supplies in the UK. Count on Jennychem for all your car detailing DIY needs.
Benefits of DIY Car Detailing
Everybody wants their car to look its best. Car detailing brings out your vehicle’s beauty, but it comes at a price. A full car detailing can run you over £600. If you own an SUV or a luxury vehicle, your costs could be even higher. DIY car detailing can be a cost-effective alternative.
Knowing how to detail your own car not only saves you money. It gives you the satisfaction that comes from making your vehicle look its absolute best. You don’t have to worry about booking an appointment or finding a reliable detailer.
Dirt not only makes your car less appealing. It also wears down and corrodes its paint. DIY car detailing teaches you how to properly wash and clean your car. Now that you understand the advantages of knowing how to detail a car, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of car detailing DIY!
What Do You Need to Detail Your Car?
Here’s everything you need for interior and exterior car detailing. You’ll be amazed at what you accomplish with our supplies and our guide on how to detail a car.
Exterior Car Detailing Essentials
Before you get started, you’ll need to prewash your car with snow foam and clean your paintwork, glass and plastic with a traffic film remover.
Snow foam is a prewash that surrounds and isolates dirt particles so they can be rinsed away. Traffic film remover removes stubborn dirt, grime and grease that accumulates on your car as you drive on congested roads.
You’ll need a car shampoo and car wash sponge for the washing. Look for a neutral-pH shampoo that provides lubrication and lots of sudsing power.
You’ll also need a car polishing compound of your choice for the finishing touches. Car polish removes minor scratches and imperfections from paint so your car shines bright as new.
Interior Car Detailing Tools and Products
Window cleaning is important for safety reasons, so read our article on how to clean inside windscreen and purchase a proper car window cleaner.
You’ll need car cleaning brushes for the carpets and vents along with other professional car interior cleaning supplies like upholstery cleaner and leather moisturizer.
Why Source Your DIY Car Detailing Supplies at Jennychem?
Jennychem is the UK’s one-stop shop for car detailing DIY. We’ve got everything you need to detail your car like a pro. Not only do we carry cleaning supplies. We’ve got buckets, mitts, clay bars, and even air fresheners.
Learning how to detail a car is easy when you have the right supplies close at hand. Jennychem has everything you need for interior and exterior car detailing. With our supplies and our guide on how to detail your own car, you have everything you need for car detailing success.
How to Detail Your Own Car: Step-by-Step Guide
DIY car detailing can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Follow our guide on how to detail your own car and you’ll be amazed at the results. We’ve covered everything here, so all you have to do is follow these 10 steps to success.
Step 1: Start With the Wheels
Your wheels and tyres are typically the dirtiest part of your vehicle. Cleaning them first ensures you don’t get dirt on your newly clean auto.
Wheels accumulate grime and brake dust. Use a proper wheel and tyre cleaner to remove the buildup and ensure your vehicle continues to run smoothly. Finish the job with a tyre shine
Step 2: Pre-Wash With Snow Foam, Then Rinse
Spray the snow foam on the roof, and work top to bottom. Coat all glass, doors, body, bonnet, and grille. Wait 5-10 minutes for the snow foam to lift and loosen the dirt, then rinse it away.
Look no further than Jennychem for the best car snow foam on the market. Our snow foam is suitable for various paint types and is formulated to be environmentally friendly.
Step 3: Wash the Exterior Thoroughly With a Good Shampoo
Now that you’ve pre-washed your car, it's time to wash it with the best car wash shampoo. Use an automotive shampoo that cleans thoroughly without being too harsh.
Start washing the roof and work your way down. Scrub your vehicle gently with a microfibre cloth or car cleaning mitt. Rinse your mitt or towel in a bucket of clean water after you finish each section, then dip it into the shampoo bucket.
Step 4: Decontaminate With Clay Bar
Clay bar decontamination is the car detailing DIY secret that turns your vehicle into a shiny showcase. You should always decontaminate with a clay bar before applying polish. The clay bar provides a clean surface that will let polish and sealants bond well.
What’s a clay bar? It’s a soft synthetic putty with a tacky surface that lifts embedded dirt without scratching or damaging your car.
Glide the clay bar over your car's exterior. When you’re finished, put your hand in a zipped bag and run it over your car to make sure it feels completely smooth.
Step 5: Dry the Vehicle Properly
Your car will look great after a wash and clay bar treatment. But its shine may be marred by water spots and streaks if you drive it damp.
Follow our guide to the best way to dry a car after washing for best results. Blow drying is quicker, but we recommend towels because they give you better control over your wipedown and let you get every part of your car properly dry.
Step 6: Polish and Correct Paintwork (If Needed)
Polishing makes your car shiny and creates a layer of protection between your car’s surface and exterior dirt. Polish contains mild abrasives that remove minor scratches and imperfections from your car’s paint. This produces a shinier finish and prevents small issues from growing.
But, you may need paint correction if your car still looks dull after polishing, or if you notice deep scratches or corrosion. Paint correction specialists use pads, compounds, and specialized machines to buff away paint defects.
Step 7: Protect With Wax, Sealant, or Ceramic
You need something to protect your car’s shine after you polish it. A second clear covering will shield the finish against rain, sunlight, bird droppings, and dirt. Let’s look at your options.
Car enthusiasts have traditionally favoured carnauba wax. It provides a lovely warm lustre, but it only lasts a few months. Synthetic polymer sealants last up to 6 months and provide a sharper, more reflective shine.
Ceramic coatings are the gold standard for automobile finish protection. They harden into a glassy layer that can protect your car’s finish for years.
Step 8: Clean Glass and Mirrors
If you want to detail your interior you need to know how to clean inside windscreen. Never use ammonia-based household cleaners to clean your car. They can damage window tints and dashboard materials. Instead, clean your glass and mirrors with an automotive-specific glass cleaner and two microfibre towels.
Always work in the shade as sunlight can cause early evaporation and stubborn streaks. Mist the cleaner on the first towel, then wipe the area to remove dirt. Use the second towel to wipe away residual moisture.
Step 9: Deep Clean the Interior
Start your interior detailing by vacuuming the headlining, sun visors, and pillars. Work your way down to the dashboard and centre, then continue until you have vacuumed the entire interior.
Clean upholstery and carpets with an interior fabric cleaner and soft-bristled brush. Finish your interior deep cleaning by dusting out air vents with fine brushes, cleaning the pedals, and ensuring all door jams and sills are wiped clean.
Step 10: Finishing Touches
Do a final walk-around to check the car from multiple angles. Remove any remaining fingerprints, dust, or residue.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully detailed your car.
How Often Should You Detail Your Car?
Here are some guidelines for when your car will need to be detailed again.
Interior vs Exterior Detailing Frequency
You may only need an annual decontamination and top layer reapplication if you protect your car with a ceramic coating. A carnauba wax application will need to be replaced every few months.
Your interior detailing needs will depend on how often you use your vehicle. A family car that sees daily use will need thorough interior cleaning more frequently than a car you only drive occasionally.
Seasonal Factors That May Affect Frequency
Winter brings road salt and grit that can corrode your car’s paintwork and undercarriage. Your car will need more regular washing during the winter to neutralise salt deposits.
Summer heat and sunlight can cause fading and degradation to paint and plastics. Bird droppings and bug splatter can etch themselves into paint faster than you might imagine. You will need to keep a careful eye on your car in the summertime.
You will want to keep your car clear of abrasive pollen in the spring. Autumn brings mud and falling leaves that can stain your paintwork with stubborn tannins.
Signs Your Car is Due For a Detail
Rough or gritty paintwork is a sign that your car is covered in bonded contaminants. This dirt has become enmeshed within the paint and won’t be removed by a normal wash. If water no longer beads on your car but runs down in sheets, you need to replace the protective layer.
You may need interior detailing if you notice musty odours in your car. Bacteria or spills on the upholstery or carpets or dust in your air vents will require more than a quick wipe-down.
Have you recently taken your car on a lengthy voyage? Has it been parked near a dusty construction site or under sap-producing trees? A deep clean is always a good idea if your vehicle has been under unusual stress.
Final Words on How to Detail a Car
Now that you know how to detail a car, you’ll have no trouble keeping your vehicle in top condition. We’ve provided you with a guide, but we can also provide you with everything you need for interior and exterior car detailing.
Jennychem has been the UK’s trusted choice for over 35 years and counting. We’ve helped many UK car owners take charge of their own detailing. Count on us for all your car detailing needs and get a showroom finish on your own!