The 7 steps to heaven in car detailing:

Download this guide as a pdf flow chart here.

1. Wheels (Wash Wheels First)

Start with the wheels.

Use 3-4 Brushes:

Recommend Wheel Brushes:

Wheel nuts and corners - Rockcar Boar Hair or Hard Detail Brush

Wheel Barrel - Rockcar Soft or Hard barrel brush

Wheel Face - Rockcar Soft Short Brush

Large Tyres - Rockcar hard short brush

Low Profiles - Rockcar pad & Carpet Brush

Recommend Wheel Cleaners:

Strongest Autostolz PH13 (not for bare metal)

Best for Brake Dust: Dragons Breath

Good all round: Fireball Wheel & Tyre

 Refer Wheel Guide for more information.

2. Prewash

Do not rinse vehicle. Foam a Pre-wash directly on the dirty vehicle. Let dwell 5 mins, then hose off from bottom to top.

Pre-Wash PH Guide:

• Normal Wash - Neutral
• Dirty Wash - Alkaline
• Striping Old Waxes - Alkaline at Higher Concentration

3. Targeted Wash (If Required)

After the Pre Wash, address Specific Issues like bug and tar with Targeted products.

• Bugs:  Bugs are protein, Fireball Bug Remover is most effective here
• Tar:  The most effective for Tar is Fireball Tar Remover
• Glue:  For Glue residues Valet Pro Glue and Tar Remover.

4.  Contact Wash

Now Wash with a premium Wash soap to complete the clean and add shine and

water beading.

We recommend Autostolz Premium Auto Wash or Fireball Hydro Shampoo. Or If Preparing for Polishing we can Use a stronger Soap Like a Pre Wash.

To reduce scratch risk: Use 2 buckets with traps and the bottom, use a high quality soft 70:30 blend wash mitt like from Fireball. Wash in straight lines, washing and re-soaping often. Rise off, Dry with a low scratch risk towel, we recommend the Rockcar Performer Drying towel.

5.  Clay (recommended)

If possible move the car indoors. Paint should be cool to touch. Clay with a high quality clay and plenty of clay lube. use 1/3 of the clay at a time folding over as it gets contaminated. We recommend Valet Pros Clay’s and Autostolz or ValetPRO Clay lube, and the rockcar roadie cloths, wipe away residue as you go so it doesn't dry back on.

Clay Guide:

• Very Contaminated: Heavy Clay.
• Normal Contamination: Medium Clay
• New Cars: Light Clay

6. Paint Correction (If required)

Light surface water spots: Try Water Spot Remover first

Use at least 4 pads per car. Overlap by half, smooth and steady. Clean pads with pad cleaner and hot water that day. Dry standing or Velcro up so water runs out.

Recommended Polish & Pad Combos:

• 1 step (to 2,000 grit): Autostolz One Step with Pad matched to Paint Hardness (Euro, Std, Asian)
• 2 Step: Autostolz Heavy Cut & Heavy pad. Final Finish with polishing Pad.
• Heavier: Lake Country Wool Pad with Autostolz heavy Cut.
• Difficult Finishing: Black Cloud and Autostolz Final Finnish

7. Protect Paint, Add Shine and water beading:

t is important after going to the effort to detail a vehicle properly to add a layer of protection to lock in your good work, and to add more shine and slickness.

Our Picks:

Easy and Quick:

Autostolz Enhanced SiO2 Spray Wax Spay, buff off. Lasts 60-90 days.

Best Wax: 

Autostolz Enhanced Wax (cream sealant) Apply with applicator, buff off. Lasts 9 months.

Best DIY Ceramic:

Fireball Angel Tears. Prepare Paint with Reborn, Apply thin layer with included applicator in cross hatch pattern, section ant a time, buff off with Fireball Polishing towel. Keep out of weather for 24-48 hours.

7. Maintain

Pre Wash, Targeted Wash and Contact Wash.

Spray while still wet with Autostolz Enhanced SiO2 Spray Wax while wet, dry with Rockcar Performer Drying towel.

In between washes or to add more shine we recommend using Autostolz Enhanced SiO2 Spray wax on wet or dry vehicle, with the soft Pegasus microfiber cloth.

For a waterless wash on the go Autostolz Waterless Wash and Rockcar Roadie Microfiber Cloths.

See Maintenance Wash Guide for more details.

Download this guide as a pdf flow chart here.