Auto Detailing How-To's
Facts, Tips and Tricks from Industry Leading Experts
Welcome to AutoDetail's online knowledge-base of car care how-to's. This is your personal detailing instruction manual covering all car care topics: polishing, waxing, washing, cleaning wheels and tires, convertible top care, and more. Print it out, bookmark it… treat it like your own detailing handbook. You’ll find tips and techniques here that are currently used by detailing professionals and enthusiasts to create automotive masterpieces. Borrow from their knowledge and turn your own vehicle into a work of art.
These detailing how-to’s are written from the combined experiences of the AutoDetail.org staff as well as tips provided by customers, professional detailers, and industry leaders in car care. We constantly update our how to guides to provide you with the latest tips and products as we learn about them. Follow the links throughout these guides to learn more about the products recommended and to add
them to your own detailing arsenal.
Check back often because we’re always updating our detailing guides and adding new features.
Our goal is to provide you with the best information and products for your vehicle all in one place, here at AutoDetail.org.
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Proper Care of Trim & Molding |
In recent years, black plastic trim has become popular among auto manufacturers – think of the Nissan X Terra, the Hummer H2, and the Jeep Wrangler. All these vehicles have two things in common: #1 they have black molding either over the wheels or on the front, or both; #2 they’re rugged, off-roading vehicles that incur more abuse than your average sedan. For these two reasons, you have to apply protectant to these pieces. If you don’t, they’ll turn gray faster than you can say “low resale value”.
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Polishing Metal |
Here are our top tips and techniques to polish metal, including chrome, aluminum, and stainless steel, to a mirror-bright shine. We’ve included some of the best metal polish and metal cleaner recommendations, all tested and approved by our staff. There’s nothing like the gleam of just-polished metal and we’ll tell you how to get it.
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Glass Cleaning Facts & Tips |
Cleaning automotive glass is tricky, but well worth doing. Clean, clear glass looks beautiful next to clean, waxed paint. Crystal clear glass will give you optimum visibility when driving. That’s a significant life-safety factor we ignore at our peril. Just a few extra minutes detailing your windows will add a sparkling touch to your vehicle’s finish and just might save your life!
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How To Care for Your Convertible Top |
Convertibles are a real pleasure to own, especially if you take care of them. Some people are hesitant to buy a convertible because they believe the top will require extraordinary upkeep, but with the appropriate timely care it’s just not the case. Here are a few products and tips that we have found that will allow you to enjoy your convertible with just a minimal of maintenance.
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Carnauba Car wax VS. Paint Sealants |
You have two basic choices when it comes to paint protection: carnauba wax or synthetic paint sealant. Here you’ll find information on each so you can choose the paint protection that’s right for you.
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Klasse Application Guide |
Klasse USA products have been some of the best products in the car care industry since 1979. Klasse can be found in the garages of car enthusiasts and collectors across the country and around the world. Now that you’ve read about what Klasse products can do, here are some tips on how to best use Klasse All in one and Klasse Sealant Glaze.
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How To Care For Microfiber |
Microfiber towels and tools have particular care requirements due to their unusual cleaning properties and composition. As you probably know, microfiber is excellent for dusting and scrubbing because of the static-charged, woven fibers. The combination of polyamide and polyester is incredibly strong and soft, and microfiber towels absorb 7 times their weight in moisture!
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Engine Detailing |
Next to your paint, your engine is one of the most expensive parts of your car. It may even be the reason you bought the car to begin with. You just had to have that big block muscle car or that turbo charged power wagon. You spend thousands of dollars over the course of your vehicle’s life servicing the fluids, maintaining the paint and interior, replacing the tires, and everything else involved with car ownership. After years of ownership and tens of thousands of miles behind the wheel, what does your engine look like now?
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Winterizing Your Car's Exterior |
Providing additional protection for your vehicle in the wintertime is vital to maintaining the paint especially, but also the wheels and glass. Snow and ice, and the scraping it takes to remove them, can be as rough on your vehicle as they are on you. This article will walk you through a few products and procedures that will give your vehicle just what it needs to weather the winter storm.
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