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How To: Indoor Wash & Show Car Detail
Some vehicles require a more specialised approach. We frequently encounter enthusiasts who need to detail their prized machines with minimal water, often indoors where a hose and pressure washer simply aren’t available.
It could be a car driven to a show, a unique vehicle that doesn’t suit a traditional pre-wash and contact wash, or simply a quick, low-effort maintenance for that cherished car in your garage—the one that’s never seen a drop of rain. Or perhaps your pride and joy doesn’t need a full soak to achieve a show-stopping shine, since it’s just not that dirty. Whatever the reason, we’ve got you covered.
The truth is, achieving an effective wash and finish with minimal water is quite simple. While this method isn’t recommended for heavily soiled vehicles—or those needing a full detail, decontamination, and correction—many enthusiast-owned specialty cars rarely reach that level of dirtiness in the first place.
Here’s how you can achieve a flawless, show-ready finish with minimal water and just a few of our essential detailing products…
As with any car detailing, the wash stage is crucial for maintaining swirl-free paintwork. Keep in mind that this minimal-water wash method isn’t suitable for heavily soiled vehicles, as it doesn’t involve a full pre-wash to safely loosen grit and grime. For this approach, you’ll only need a single bucket—if your car seems to require a two-bucket wash, it’s likely too dirty for this method. However, for light dust, road film, and minimal dirt, using the right products allows dust and contaminants to be gently lifted from surfaces with a very low risk of marring.
Finale is more than just an excellent quick detailer and drying aid—it’s also an impressive lubricant. Adding around 50ml to every litre of fresh water in a clean bucket creates a slick solution that helps form a protective barrier between contaminants and the paintwork. This added lubrication allows grime to be easily wiped away with your wash mitt, minimising the risk of surface marring.
In contrast to a traditional contact wash—where you aim to create ample suds to help dirt flow off the surface—this method requires just enough moisture on your mitt to allow it to glide smoothly without squeezing or wringing it out on the vehicle. The key here is to wash one panel at a time, immediately following with an Aqua Deluxe Drying Towel to absorb any remaining solution. To prevent streaks and water marks, make sure not to leave the panel so long that the solution begins to air dry.
Begin with the cleanest sections—the "top half" and upward-facing panels—before moving to the lower areas. Start at the front, then proceed to the sides, and finish with the rear. For the wheels, save these for last and use the same solution with a detailing brush to carefully clean them.
This stage will always vary based on the specific application. However, there are a few essential items we recommend keeping in your mobile kit to handle any situation effortlessly...
Light paintwork imperfections can often be more noticeable under indoor lighting, but Tripple, our popular all-in-one cleaner and polish, can easily take care of them. Applying Tripple with a microfibre Polish Pad allows you to focus on specific areas, effectively removing light scratches and drying marks. After polishing, be sure to reapply any protective layers or gloss enhancers for the best results.
Once again, personal preference plays a significant role in how you finish your paintwork. Your choice of products, the amount of time you have, the colour of your car, the level of protection you're seeking, and the gloss finish you want all influence the final decision.
Naturally, the Morgan we brought in is a bit of a standout, so we treated it to a couple of layers of our premium hard wax, Desire. However, there are plenty of other fantastic products you can use to achieve that show-winning shine, including Ultra Glaze, Glisten Spray Wax, Radiance Carnauba Crème, or any of our other exceptional hard waxes. And don’t forget, Finale is also perfect for its original purpose as a quick detailer, helping to enhance gloss and eliminate any fingerprints you may have left behind during the process.
For cars with light use, the interior is likely already in great condition, but that doesn't mean you can't elevate it further with our incredibly popular interior dressing, Spritz. Simply spray it directly onto plastic, vinyl, and rubber surfaces, then wipe away to reveal a sleek matte finish. For those harder-to-reach areas, apply it to a fresh microfibre cloth and touch up the details for a flawless result.
If cleaning is required, a powerful combination of our Total Interior Cleaner and Wipe Out Interior Disinfectant is hard to beat. For leather seats, we’ve got you covered with our Hide Leather Cleanser and Hide Leather Conditioner to keep them in top condition.
No perfectly detailed car is complete without those final touches. Start with the glass, effortlessly removing smudges and fingerprints using our Crystal Glass Cleaner. Then, give your tyres some attention—after all, every wheel and tyre set deserves a sleek, fresh finish with a layer of our Satin Tyre Dressing.
Lastly, a touch of Mercury Metal Polish will work wonders on exhaust tips and other metal accents. Of course, if you're dealing with a host of shiny under-bonnet parts, or a Morgan Three-Wheeler featuring a chrome S&S V-twin engine, expect the polishing process to take a bit longer to achieve that perfect shine.
