Best Car Detailing Products

At Chemical Guys, we’re basically your car’s best friend—here to make it shine so bright that sunglasses might become mandatory. In this piece, we’ll review the best car detailing products available that won’t drain your wallet and step-by-step guides that everyone can follow. Let's get to it.

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Key Takeaways:

  • Power Up Your Detailing Kit: Chemical Guys provides car enthusiasts and professionals with high-quality detailing products, innovative techniques, and a passion-driven community for achieving the ultimate car shine.
  • Comprehensive Product Arsenal: From shampoos, wheel cleaners, and interior cleaners to microfiber towels, Chemical Guys offers a diverse range of products designed for every aspect of car detailing, ensuring superior results.
  • Advanced Technology And Enjoyment: Chemical Guys combines cutting-edge formulations with a fun and engaging detailing experience, making achieving a professional-grade finish enjoyable and accessible.
Best Car Detailing Products

Car Detailing Checklist: Prepare Your Gear

Alright, the first thing you want to do is gather your supplies. We’ll split our checklist into interior and exterior pieces to make this easier. Then, we’ll go into the nitty gritty and explain why each product is necessary.

Interior Car Products

  • Hard Surface Cleaner And Protectant: Want to keep your interiors looking fresh? Our InnerClean Quick Detailer and Protectant makes quick work of keeping hard surfaces like vinyl and plastics grime-, dust-, and fingerprint-free without leaving a residue. Plus, it offers UV protection with an anti-static formula to repel dust and dirt. A dedicated cleaner for your interior is perfect for dashboards, consoles, and other plastic parts.
  • Fabric, Upholstery, And Carpet Cleaner: The ideal cleaner for these surfaces should be effective yet gentle, capable of cleaning spills, stains, and smells without damaging the fabric fibers. This gentle, versatile formulation is perfect for tackling even the grimiest fabrics and carpets, and you can use it on cloth seats, floor mats, and even carpets in your home or office!
  • Wipes Safe For Touch Screens And Displays: For these areas, it's important to avoid ammonia-based cleaners, as they can damage the screens' anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings. This product is in a convenient wipe format and can be used for virtually any interior surface.
  • Microfiber Towels, Interior Brushes, And Vacuums: You can’t polish up your interior with your bare hands. That would lead to a mess of fingerprints everywhere. Use these tools to help you reach every interior crevice for a deep, professional-level clean.
  • All-Around Cleaner: This gentle formulation cleans and UV-protects any interior surface, including leather, vinyl, plastic, carpet, cloth, wood, glass, and navigation screens. It’s great to have a cleaner that can get the job done in a pinch.
  • Leather Cleaner And Conditioner (Situational): If you have leather in your interior, a dedicated leather cleaner and conditioner are necessary to protect and rejuvenate your leather to maintain its beautiful, original look and feel.
  • Air Freshener (Optional, But Necessary For An Immersive Clean Feeling): There’s nothing like topping off your deep interior clean with your favorite air freshener spray. This new car scent uses premium ingredients to ensure your car smells fresh long after cleaning.

Exterior Products

  • Car Wash Soap & Shampoo: Chemical Guys' car wash soaps create the perfect base for your ride, ready for polishing. They’re formulated to trap dirt and grime and rinse off easily to minimize the risk of scratching.
  • Foam Guns And Cannons: Want to feel like a pro with every car wash? Quick-connect nozzles attach to your hose (no need for a pressure washer) for faster hook-up and soap application.
  • Sturdy Buckets And Dirt Traps: These car wash accessories will help you achieve a professional car wash clean in the comfort of your own garage or driveway.
  • Clay Bar: Use a clay bar to remove rough contaminants from your car’s exterior for an ultimate clean. Plus, it extends the life of your wax, sealant, and paint. 
  • Clay Luber: This spray applies a slick coat of lubrication, allowing your clay block to glide without getting stuck or marring the surface of your vehicle. It is a non-negotiable item if you want to use clay on your car.
  • Microfiber Drying Towels: With Chemical Guys car drying towels, you don’t have to worry about scratching up your car. They’re plush and crafted with a 70/30 microfiber blend material. They’re incredibly absorbent and can hold up to half a gallon of water.
  • Polishing & Buffing Pad Conditioner: With one spritz of this conditioner, you can reduce wear and tear on your buffing pads while achieving superior polishing results.
  • All-In-One Polish + Sealant: This product doesn’t require any additional correction due to its built-in sealant. 
  • Jet Seal: This protectant leaves a brilliant, glassy shine while shielding against even the harshest elements.
  • Ceramic Coating: Add depth, clarity, and protection to any car exterior. It applies like wax and offers one year of defense against UV rays, elements, and fallout. 
  • Wheel Brush And Tire-Cleaning Brush: If you’re going for a deep clean, you can’t forget your wheels and engine. Get into all the nooks and crannies with wheel brushes of all sizes.
  • Quick Drying Solution: Applying a drying aid is the best way to dry your car safely. This advanced drying aid repels water, adds lubrication, and creates a streak- and scratch-free shine when driving any vehicle.
  • Dual Action Polisher Kit (Optional, But Makes A World Of Difference): While optional, this can become your new exterior detailing weapon. Perfect for seasoned pros and beginners, work smart, and it's not harder to step up your polishing game. Finish any detailing task quickly and achieve a professional shine with its adjustable speeds.

The Ultimate Guide To Detailing Your Car Inside Out

Ready to transform your ride into a head-turning masterpiece? Follow these easy steps for a pro-level detailing experience that’ll make anyone who steps into your car feel like a celebrity (including you!). Let’s get into it.

Interior Detailing Steps

  1. Start Fresh: It’s time to remove all the trash, personal items, and clutter from your seats and floors. Vacuum the seats, carpets, and every crevice to create a clean canvas.
  2. Shine Your Vinyl And Plastics: Spray a dedicated Total Interior Cleaner onto dashboards, door panels, and other plastic surfaces. Wipe it clean with a microfiber towel to reveal a matte, residue-free finish that resists dust.
  3. Revive Your Fabrics And Carpets: Spray a Fabric, Upholstery, and Carpet Cleaner on seats, carpets, and floor mats. Scrub with an interior brush, then blot or vacuum up the stains. Grimy fabrics? Not anymore!
  4. Clean Hard Surfaces: Use a hard surface cleaner such as Nonsense All Purpose Cleaner on trims, consoles, and buttons. Wipe away dirt and stains easily, leaving these areas looking brand new.
  5. Detail and Protect Your Interior: Apply Interior Detailer & Protectant to dashboards, door panels, and trim. This magical formula restores shine blocks UV rays, and repels dust, keeping your car fresh for longer.
  6. Touch-Up Screens: Wipe touchscreens and displays with suitable wipes to remove fingerprints without damaging the anti-glare coating.
  7. Condition Leather (If Applicable): Clean leather seats and trims with Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. This step restores softness, prevents cracking, and keeps your leather looking luxurious.
  8. Add The Final Touch: Spritz your favorite Air Freshener to seal the deal with a fresh, inviting scent.

Exterior Detailing Steps

  1. Wash It Down: Fill a bucket with Car Wash Soap, using dirt traps to keep dirt and debris at the bottom of the bucket where it belongs. Wash the car with a wash mitt, working from top to bottom. Rinse thoroughly.
  2. Clay Your Paint: Spray Clay Luber on the surface, then glide the Clay Block to remove embedded contaminants. Your paint will feel as smooth as glass and ready for polished perfection.
  3. Dry Without Scratches: Use microfiber drying towels like the Cloud 9 Extra Large Microfiber Drying Towel with a Quick Drying Solution to safely and quickly dry your car. Say goodbye to streaks and scratches.
  4. Polish And Protect: Apply All-in-One Polish + Sealant with a dual-action polisher or by hand. Polish out imperfections and seal in a long-lasting shine. Finish with a Jet Seal to shield your car from the elements.
  5. Don’t Forget The Wheels: Scrub the wheels and tires with a Wheel Brush and Tire-Cleaning Brush. Clean every nook and cranny, leaving them spotless and shiny.
  6. Buff It Out: Go over your car with a clean microfiber towel to remove any remaining smudges or streaks.
  7. Step Back And Admire: Your car is now the star of the show. Take a moment to bask in the glory of your hard work and that unbeatable shine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essential products for car detailing?

To achieve that coveted showroom shine, you'll need a few essential products: a high-quality car shampoo designed for deep cleaning, a clay bar for removing embedded surface contaminants, a reliable car polish to correct imperfections, a protective wax or sealant for that glossy finish, and a tire dressing to give your wheels a fresh, new look. Microfiber towels and a good set of detailing brushes are also indispensable tools in your arsenal.

How often should I detail my car?

The frequency of car detailing can vary depending on several factors, including your vehicle's exposure to the elements, how often it's driven, and personal preference for car cleanliness. Generally, thorough detailing is recommended every 4 to 6 months to keep your car looking its best and protect its surfaces from long-term damage.

How do I choose the best car polish?

Selecting the best car polish depends on your car's needs and the finish you aim for. If your vehicle has light scratches and swirl marks, look for a polish with fine abrasives. For newer cars or surfaces in good condition, a less abrasive polish or even a pure polish without abrasives may enhance the shine without removing paint. Always consider the polish's compatibility with your car's paint type.

What is the difference between waxing and polishing?

Polishing and waxing serve different purposes. Polishing removes imperfections from the car's surface, such as scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation, creating a smooth and reflective surface. Waxing, on the other hand, is about protection. It adds a protective layer on top of the paint, helping to shield it from UV rays, dirt, and moisture. Ideally, you polish to correct the paint and then wax to protect it.

How do I detail a car interior?

Detailing a car interior involves several steps to ensure every nook and cranny is clean and protected. Start with thoroughly vacuuming to remove dirt and debris from carpets and upholstery. Clean all surfaces with a suitable interior cleaner, including the dashboard, center console, and door panels. For leather surfaces, use a leather cleaner followed by a conditioner to keep the leather supple and prevent cracking. Don't forget to clean the interior windows and treat specific areas like navigation screens with appropriate products.

What products are safe for leather seats?

When cleaning and maintaining leather seats, using products specifically designed for leather care is crucial. Look for pH-balanced leather cleaners that gently clean without drying out the leather. After cleaning, applying a leather conditioner is essential to keep the leather hydrated, maintain flexibility, and protect it from wearing out prematurely. Check out our dedicated Leather Cleaner and Conditioner for your leather seats. Always test any product in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it does not adversely affect the leather's color or texture.

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