It can be confusing when people use the terms “car detailing” and “car washing” interchangeably, but there are major differences between the two. There are similarities between auto detailing and car washing, but auto detailing goes much deeper than simply cleaning your car inside and out.

When considering auto detailing, one starts with car washing and vacuuming. Then, using more specialized tools and car detailing supplies, auto detailers give your car a much deeper cleaning. This might even include removing parts of the car to get into cracks and crevices that have never seen the light of day.

Finally, once a highly detailed cleaning has been achieved, car detailers will apply specialized products to enhance your car’s appearance and protect it from future dirt and damage. As a result, a detailed car can look and smell like a new car, even if it’s aged over a decade!

At this point, you might think, “Why bother auto detailing myself when I can pay an auto detailer to do it for me?” It might be tempting if your car is going to need a whole day of auto detailing, and the initial investment might seem daunting, but it pays for itself by the second time you detail your car. Also, consider these other benefits of car detailing at home.

• You’ll save money because you provide the labor. You don’t have to buy all these supplies every single time, just whatever you run out of.
• You’ll save time in the long run because a clean car is easier to keep clean, even unintended spills and pet accidents.
• You’ll gain a new appreciation for what it takes to keep a clean car.
• Finally, your car will last longer. Auto detailing is just as much about long-term protection from the elements as it is looking great and smelling clean.

Professional auto detailing and DIY car detailing follow pretty much the same steps for a showroom finish, though the tools and supplies may vary. Interior detailing will require opening doors and getting in and out of the car often, which will likely dirty the outside of the car. Therefore, many auto detailers start by detailing the interior of the car. When, once the inside is clean and protected, they close the doors and windows and focus on exterior detailing.

• Use a dry microfiber duster to dust all interior surfaces, starting from the top down. The dash, instrument cluster, center console, and door panels are a good start, but there’s more. Don’t forget the headliner, interior panels, rear deck, windows, and seats. Use compressed air, from an air compressor or electronics duster, to blow dust out of small crevices.
  • Pro Tip: Use a soft long-bristle artist’s paintbrush or makeup brush to get into small crevices, such as air conditioning vents. A spritz of furniture polish on the brush will improve dust removal.
• At this point, take a break and think about how your car smells. If you notice heavy food or drink smells or musty smells, treat it with Turtle Wax Power Out! Odor-X Whole Car Blast. First, remove the cabin filter and put the fan on high speed in recirculation mode with the AC off. Then, set off the can and close the doors and windows for 15 to 20 minutes. This will circulate the deodorizer throughout the whole cabin for a long-lasting clean and fresh scent. Turtle Wax Power Out! Odor-X Spray can be used in problem areas, like the trunk, cargo area, or air vents. Finally, install a new cabin filter.

• Leather seats require special care because soaps and chemicals will dry it out, leading to fading and cracking. For quick cleaning and protection, Turtle Wax POWER OUT! Leather cleans without harsh chemicals. The included soft brush can work out grime and stains. For stubborn grime or stains, a diluted citrus or organic cleanser can be used.

Pro Tip: Always clean from top to bottom, because loosened dust and dirt fall – gravity is great that way.

• A wet-dry vacuum with automotive vacuum accessories will get all that dust and dirt out of the carpet. Be sure to move the front seats back and forth to get to every part of the carpet. If you’re mechanically-inclined, with a few hand tools, remove the seats, center console, and other trim pieces for better access to every corner of your carpet.

Pro Tip: Use a stiff brush to agitate the carpet just ahead of where you’re vacuuming to get even more dirt out of it.

• Using a garden hose or pressure washer, thoroughly rinse the outside of your vehicle, starting from the top to the bottom. This starts loosening dirt and grime and bugs from your car so they can run off. A snow foam pre-wash is good to apply once the car is completely rinsed.
• Clean the tires and wheels. Turtle Wax All Wheel & Tire Cleaner’s powerful foam formula sticks to tires and wheels, floating off brake dust and road grime without abrasives or harsh chemicals. Use tire and wheel brushes to work the foam into crevices.

Pro Tip: If you clean the wheels last, you might splash road grime to the body of a clean car.

• Use a garden hose or pressure washer to rinse your car, starting at the top. Now, it might be tempting to let your car air-dry, but this is an invitation for water spots. Use a chamois or microfiber cloths to dry your vehicle. Squeeze out the cloths often and switch to dry cloths for the final wipe-down. Open the doors and dry weather seals, especially if freezing temperatures are expected. Wipe down weather seals with Turtle Wax Trim Restorer to improve appearance and prevent cracking and sticking.
• Even though your car is clean and dry now, don’t stop there – there are likely still contaminants on your paint and glass that are sticking around to ruin your image. Stuff like grease, bug splatter, brake dust, and water spots aren’t always easy to see, but their combined effect is poor paint appearance. Using detailing clay and clay lubricant – leftover soapy car wash is a good option – work the clay over your car. Work small sections at a time and knead the clay often. Use your fingers to feel where the paint is not as smooth (read: contaminated) and work these areas with the clay bar.

Pro Tip: Detailing clay also works great on wheels, glass, and chrome, too, but never use clay bar on rubber, plastic, or polycarbonate.

• While the waxed surface is waterproof, a truly hydrophobic finish – water beads up and runs off – will improve shine and prevent most road grime from sticking to your paint. Turtle Wax Ice Seal N Shine goes on easy with a microfiber cloth and lasts for months.
• By this time, the tires should be dry. Spray them with Turtle Wax Wet’N Black Ultra Wet Tire Shine – wipe with a cloth for a more matte finish. This leaves a nice finish, protecting your tires from sun damage and slowing down dry rot. Your tires will also stay cleaner, longer.
• Finally, as with the interior, glass comes last. Using non-ammonia glass cleaner and microfiber cloths, clean all exposed glass and polycarbonate. Moisten one cloth with glass cleaner to clean, using a second cloth to buff out any streaks. Start with the sunroof glass, moving to the windshield, side windows, side mirrors, and rear window. Then, clean the headlight, fog light, and taillight lenses.

The first time your detail your car at home, it might seem like a lot of steps. As with all things, detailing your car quickly and efficiently takes practice. Once you see, feel, and smell the results of a freshly detailed car, though, it’ll have been a worthwhile experience.