10 Easy & Effective Ways To Elevate Your Detailing Game

All These Products Turn A Regular Car Wash Into A Full Detail Experience, In No Time At All!

Most of us are familiar with the routine of grabbing the buckets to clean our vehicles on the weekend. But how can you elevate your wash into a full detail and then take it further, all without spending too much extra time, effort, or money?

That’s where we come in with our top ten products, designed to make your detailing process easier while instantly raising the bar on your results...

Pre-Wash

You might think that pre-washing is only necessary during winter when roads are covered in salt and grime, but in reality, it's a crucial step year-round. Hot summer weather brings its own challenges, such as the increased number of bug splatters you’ll encounter while driving. If left untreated for too long, the acidic content in these splatters can etch into your paint or vinyl wraps, leading to potential damage or requiring correction.

The goal of pre-washing is to remove these harmful contaminants before you touch your car during the contact wash, which helps minimize the risk of dragging debris across the surface and creating swirl marks.

For the most effective pre-wash, you'll need a high-quality cleaning agent—enter Citrus Power Bug & Grime. This powerful solution breaks down, loosens, and lifts contaminants, allowing them to be safely rinsed away. Citrus Power is ready to use, so simply spray it on the affected area, allow it to dwell for a few minutes (and remember, don't let it dry on the car in hot weather), and rinse off with a pressure washer.

For extra cleaning power, or when dealing with tricky grilles and trim, you can agitate the product with a Detailing Brush or microfibre cloth for an even deeper clean.

Finish Your Windows Like A Pro With Crystal

One thing's for sure: nothing ruins an otherwise flawless detail like streaky, smeary windows. The irony is, many people overlook their glass when achieving a crystal-clear finish is actually quick and simple with the right product.

Crystal Glass Cleaner is a powerful, solvent-based formula that easily removes grime, fingerprints, and greasy films from both the inside and outside of your windows. Despite its strength, it’s gentle enough for tinted or polycarbonate glass.

A quick spritz and wipe on the exterior and a spray directly onto a microfibre cloth for the interior is the perfect way to complete your detail. You can also use Crystal between washes to remove light dirt and improve visibility. For the best results, pair it with our Superior Waffle Glass Cleaning Towel—the ultimate tool for achieving a streak-free shine.

Clay Barring

Contrary to popular belief, claying isn’t just for the front end of your vehicle, even though that’s where you might notice a higher concentration of contaminants. The real purpose of claying is to remove a variety of nasties—such as mineral deposits, tree sap, bugs, and bird droppings—from the paintwork. By doing this, you're effectively unclogging the pores and creating a smoother surface. Not only does this help any LSPs (Last Step Products) last longer, but it also enables water to flow off the surface more easily. Plus, it’s the perfect preparation for any correction processes that may follow. That’s why we always clay the entire car to ensure the surface is ready for whatever comes next. For some, claying is the defining step that elevates a valet to a full detail.

When claying, it’s crucial to use Glide Clay Lube. This helps the clay glide smoothly across surfaces, preventing marring and enhancing the clay’s performance.

While our traditional Clay Bar is always an option, we also offer Clay Pads. Paired with our ergonomic Handi Puck Applicator, these reusable pads make the claying process quicker and easier. Simply spritz a generous amount of Glide over the surface and gently move the Clay Pad back and forth with light to medium pressure. As you work, you'll feel the clay pulling contaminants from the surface, becoming smoother and easier to glide as the impurities are lifted. That's the magic of claying—you can feel the difference as it works!

Maximise The Benefits Of Your Wax

We've said it before, and we'll say it again – nothing compares to the stunning finish of a wax. That’s why we created our Signature Wax Collection, designed to elevate the appearance of nearly every type of paint.

However, to get the absolute best results from your wax, preparing the surface is key. That's where Rejuvenate Paintwork Cleanser comes in. This glaze-based abrasive not only deeply cleans your paint, removing oxidation and minor defects, but it’s also formulated to boost the performance and appearance of your wax. On top of that, it helps ensure maximum durability.

Applying Rejuvenate is simple – just a few drops on a Polish Pad or Microfibre Applicator will cover an area of about 18x18 inches. You can also use it with your machine polisher for even greater efficiency.

Now you know the secret behind that flawless deep gloss show cars achieve before applying their wax!

Add Some Ceramic Protection Right At The Wash Stage!

If waxing isn't what you're looking for with your daily driver, no worries – ceramic coating is a fantastic alternative for long-lasting protection. It shields your paint from dirt and grime, ensuring your paintwork stays safe and looking great. Despite what you might think, ceramic coatings aren’t just for brand-new cars or detailing professionals. This level of durable protection doesn’t have to be complicated, costly, or time-consuming.

Ceramic coatings are primarily composed of Silica (SiO2), the same material found in glass. This substance forms a molecular bond with surfaces, creating a tough, glass-like protective layer. Not only does it repel water, making it bead and run off the surface, but it also prevents grime from sticking, keeping your vehicle looking cleaner for longer.

For a simple and effective way to apply SiO2 protection, try Aqua Coat Hydrophobic Rinse Aid. This product delivers up to 3 months of durable protection on painted surfaces, glass, and trim. Simply spray it on while your car is still wet after washing, rinse off, and dry as usual. It’s that easy!

Avoid Water Spots

One of our easiest yet most effective tips is to always dry your vehicle after washing. It’s not just about the appearance – even if your wash water seems clean, it’s not pure like filtered or rainwater. Tap water contains minerals that, if left to dry naturally, will leave deposits on your car's surface, especially in hard water areas. In the best-case scenario, you’ll need to wipe down the car with a product like our Finale Quick Detailer to remove these marks; in the worst-case, you might need to spend extra time polishing.

To avoid this, use our Silk Drying Towel for a fast, scratch-free drying process. The key is absorption – rather than pushing moisture off the surface, the soft microfibre material literally draws the water off, leaving your vehicle with a swirl-free finish.

Finishing Your Glass Like a Pro

One thing's for sure: nothing spoils a perfect detail like streaky, smeared windows. The irony is, many people neglect their glass, even though achieving a crystal-clear finish is simple with the right product.

Crystal Glass Cleaner is a powerful, solvent-based formula that easily cuts through grime, fingerprints, and greasy films both inside and out. It’s also gentle enough for use on tinted or polycarbonate windows.

A quick spray and wipe on the outside, and a spritz onto a microfibre cloth for the inside, provides the perfect finishing touch to your detail. You can also use Crystal between washes to remove light dirt and enhance visibility. For the best results, pair it with our new Superior Waffle Glass Cleaning Towel – the ultimate tool for a spotless finish.

Nourish & Protect Your Tyres

When you think about it, the only parts of your car in direct contact with the road are the tyres. It's easy to overlook them after cleaning and protecting the rest of your vehicle, but tyres deserve just as much attention.

Satin Tyre Crème not only enhances the appearance of your tyres at the end of a detail, but its water-based, easily absorbed formula works deep within the rubber. It conditions and nourishes from the inside, helping to prevent cracking, browning, and UV damage, while also providing a protective barrier against the elements.

What makes Satin Tyre Crème even more special is its "layer-able" nature. This allows you to customize the finish to your preference. A single coat gives a subtle, natural matte look, while multiple layers build up a glossy, wet-look shine.

If you're aiming for the ultimate dripping wet, show-car shine, our Gloss Tyre Dressing offers a quick and easy "spray and walk away" solution.

Don't Forget To Clean Your Tyres First!

For the best results when dressing tyres, it's essential to ensure they're as clean as possible. This not only prevents grime from interfering with your dressing's finish but also provides the ideal surface for your chosen product to adhere to. Plus, properly prepared tyres will help your dressing last longer.

The good news is that getting your tyres clean is quick and simple. After cleaning your wheels, just apply a few spritzes of Tread Tyre Cleaner and give them a thorough scrub with our Rubber Scrubber Tyre Brush. Spray, scrub, rinse — and you're done!

Make Sure To Finish The Areas That Others Can't Reach

One of the most versatile products in our range is the almost magical Dressle All Purpose Dressing. We consider it a must-have in every kit, as this water-based formula makes achieving a flawless finish easier than ever.

Whether you're adding a deep, rich shine to your dashboard and interior trim (just spray and wipe) or reviving exterior plastic trim, Dressle is the perfect solution for getting the job done quickly. Some of its best uses include tackling areas that other dressings might miss, such as engine bays and inner wheel arches. After cleaning these areas, simply spritz Dressle liberally over the entire surface, and it will work its way into all the nooks and crannies. Once cured, you'll have the perfect finish with almost no effort at all. Ideal for shows, maintenance washes, or just about any occasion.