The community put together list of the best tips for new detailers and people starting out. This covers a wide variety of topics, from safety to washing and everything in-between.
- Don’t watch TikTok/YouTube/etc. Research properly – without people trying to shove their products down your throat.
- When you’re looking at products, look at the Safety Data Sheets. If you have any questions – ask. No use endangering yourself and you will be surprised what can be in cleaning chemicals.
- You do not need a foam cannon. If you don’t mind wasting product, they are fun.
- Spray bottles/foamers save a lot of product. They may cost more initially, but you will save.
- Rinseless washing is a thing. Use the appropriate sponges, don’t use a Microfibre cloth or a bag of rags!
- Polishes like AutoGlym Super Resin Polish, Nu Finish, etc – all contain fillers. These fillers temporarily make your paint look better but don’t really perform the proper “polishing” function that polishing does.
- Start with the wheels. Always start with the wheels.
- Don’t detail in the hard sun if you can avoid it. If you can’t – panel by panel is preferred. Chemicals can dry and make things more difficult.
- Don’t watch TikTok.
- A pre-rinse before washing is great. Done right, it will remove a high amount of residue before washing.
- There is no such thing as a contactless wash when washing your car.
- You can ¾ dry a car so it is “decently” dry and then use a quick detailer to finish everything off.
- Don’t start nuclear with your chemicals. Start with the mildest, work towards the stronger.
- Stay away from Hydrofluoric acid. At all costs, unless you are suited up and know what you’re doing. Read ingredients of wheel cleaners.
- Wear appropriate PPE for your chemicals. Did I mention to read the Safety Data Sheets?
- Always wash with a bucket – or two. Don’t spray a soap or rinseless on and wipe it off.
- Measure your chemicals – don’t free pour. They will last longer and will be safer. Extra product does not mean extra clean.
- If you are concerned with how the car looks after a wash and dry – give it a going over with a quick detail spray. A good quick detailer will bring it up nicely.
- Tyre shines/mattes are a personal preference. But don’t coat them on – no one likes that. They can look too shiny, or “sling” – fling off the tyre as you drive off and spray your guards.
- Bird poo is easy to clean after a quick rinseless spray, wait and wipe. Anything stronger (bug and grime, tree sap remover, iron remover etc) will require a wash afterwards.
- Gloves are good. They are good for your hands and prevent fingerprints.
- Spray into the cloth for products, generally don’t spray directly onto the car unless the product specifies.
- Don’t think that you’re going to jump into polishing. Get the basics down pat.
- Don’t watch TikTok.
- Patience is key to learning. Be patient and ask questions if something is not working for you.
- Towels, cloths, sponges, mitts, etc – are all just as important as the chemicals you use. A good drying towel is a life saver.
- Prepare to spend a lot of money to do things right. But after time, you will definitely save money and have a much better result.
- A pressure washer is a “nice to have.” Don’t be turned off cleaning a car properly without one.
- You can’t polish out paint damage and clearcoat failure.
- Polishing out a scratch = polishing your clear coat down to the depth of the scratch. What you CAN do is round the edges of the scratch to minimise it massively.
- Glass cleaning is easy once you know how. Don’t use too much chemical – spray onto the cloth. A waffle drying towel can help if there is too much chemical there.
- Get the right tools for the right job.
- Chamois are a thing of the past. Let them die.
- If you don’t have the tools and chemicals, leave some things to the professionals. Examples of this are interior biological disasters, paint correction, etc.
- Door jambs and areas that are not accessed or dirtied much are quick to clean with a rinseless or a waterless wash.
- Rinseless wash has multiple uses – not just washing the car.
- Keep dish soaps (Dawn, Fairy) in the kitchen. Keep IPA in the medicine/electronics cupboard. Use car cleaning products for cleaning cars.
- When washing or drying, start from the top of the car and work your way down. Water runs down.
- Get comfortable. Use proper posture. Sorting your equipment and keeping comfortable is key. There are wheely chairs
- If you’re worried about how long you’re taking to wash a car – film yourself washing the car from start to finish. Watch it and see what is taking so long.
- The right products are the ones that you can get your hands on that work for you. The discord and HTAD website has recommendations of many different products that have worked for people in different regions.
- Ceramic coatings will not prevent scratches. They will allow washing to be easier and offer chemical resistance to stop sap, bird poo, etc to etching your clear coat. This does not mean that you don’t need to wash these things off straight away – it just gives you some buffer.
- Using a ceramic sealant is not ceramic coating your car.
- Don’t run a cloth/towel/etc over your car before giving it a wash.
- Learn your interior materials. Vinyls, leather, vegan leather, faux leather, fabrics, plastics, rubbers, etc. Rinseless is a good cleaner for the majority of these as a mild cleaner.
- Music makes the wash go faster.
- Practice, practice, practice. Practice on other people’s cars to gain experience. But LEARN on your own.
- After a wash and dry – mirrors, badges, vents, grills can still retain water and leak and run water. There are magnetic pads to stick under the mirrors and stuff – but sometimes, coming back to these or a blower of some sort can clear this out.
- After you’ve washed a car, it’s fine to take it for a “blow dry” by going for a drive. It won’t be perfect, but it will do. Don’t take a cloth to the car until you wash it again however, as contaminants can be picked up from your drive and you will be rubbing them into your paint.
- Use the questions forum on the HTAD Discord. Search it. Feel free to ask questions. There is a huge range of detailers from professional to hobbyists to chemists to all sorts from many different regions. Take the time to listen and provide as much information as you can. We all had to learn.
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Organized by Sneakybadger