azmcs
FIA World Rally Car Champion
- Location
- Arizona, USA
I will preface this by saying this is a complete copy of agranger’s detailing process as he posted on North American Motoring (MINI Cooper website). I have copied it here because it is how I started out in the detailing thing and it has only gone crazy from here. Though this may be sensory overload for some, it is a truly great resource for products, techniques and hints on how to get the best appearance out of your car.
I have appended the word document to this post so you can download it, print it out and use it at your convienence. Here is the outline of what I do. The details are in the word documner.
Good luck and have fun, let me know if you have questions or comments. Most of all enjoy your ride!
My semi-annual program (maybe annual if the car is garaged at work and at home)
1. Engine Detailing (see engine detailing procedures below)
2. Wash car with a quality automotive shampoo (I use the Zaino Z7 shampoo, but almost any name brand auto shampoo that you can buy in bulk at Wal-mart should be fine)
3. Clay-bar the entire car (see claying process below). (Note from BradB: I “spot” clay the car several times a year as needed. It’s a continual process for me. I hate grit! I inspect at each wash and take care of issues as they happen. I prefer Zaino, Mothers and ClayMagic Clay. The Only one I really dislike is Meguiars. It leaves too much sticky residue.)
4. Wash with auto shampoo (see wash process below)
5. Polish paint (see polishing process below)
6. Polish glass (see glass polishing process below
7. Wash with auto shampoo
8. Seal with Zaino (see Zaino process below)
9. Quick Detail (see quick detail procedures below)
10. Treat wiper blades with 303 Wiper Blade Treatment.
11. Care for Rubber Seals (see seal protection procedures below)
12. Wax the wheels inside and out.
My Monthly routine
1. Glass – I use a glass microfiber towel and Stoner’s Invisible Glass Spray on the interior glass. Because I Zaino the exterior glass, I just use a polishing microfiber towel and Zaino Z6 quick detailing spray on the outside. This yields a highly reflective shine that doesn’t degrade the performance of wiper blades like Rain-X. Note from BradB: I clay my windshield bi-monthly. I clean exterior glass with glass cleaner after every car wash. (I am never satisfied with the ever-present streaks that any chamois or even microfiber drying towel leaves on the windshield after washing) My favorite glass cleaner is Einszett. Stoners Invisible Glass and Eagle 20/20 are standby’s. The new Sonus cleaner is quite good as well.
I polish the windshield glass monthly with Einszett (superfine) or Autoglym (slightly more abrasive) polish. Both work fast and have almost no residue.
2. Leather care – I use the Zaino leather cleaner, which seems to work just fine. I love the smell of the Zaino leather conditioner, which you apply after the cleaner has dried. BradB also recommends Mothers Leather Dressing.
3. Quick touch-up of the engine compartment – I wipe down the engine compartment with an old washcloth dampened with 303 Aerospace cleaner. I might use a bit of 303 Aerospace Protectant on the rubber or plastic.
My weekend routine
1. Wash
2. Quick Detail (BradB: I do this as needed sometimes daily. I hate dust!)
3. Tires and exterior rubber: I generally use the Zaino plastic and rubber treatment for the exterior plastic bits. BradB also uses Zaino, but also likes Eagle One Concours Satin Shine. He dislikes messy sprays and absolutely hates gels.
4. Interior – Vacuum floor and dust/treat dash. I frequently use the Zaino treatment inside, but also like 303 Aerospace Protectant.
Mid week touch-up (on weekend as well if the roads have been clean/dry)
1. Dust exterior – If it hasn’t rained, I use the Oxo Car duster. BradB says that he has a California Car Duster but only uses it occasionally… he tends to wash first.
2. Dust interior – I run a Swiffer duster over the dash to knock down the dust a bit. BradB has one of those tiny California Interior Car Dusters, but I might have converted him to Swiffers.
3. Quick Detail
I have appended the word document to this post so you can download it, print it out and use it at your convienence. Here is the outline of what I do. The details are in the word documner.
Good luck and have fun, let me know if you have questions or comments. Most of all enjoy your ride!
My semi-annual program (maybe annual if the car is garaged at work and at home)
1. Engine Detailing (see engine detailing procedures below)
2. Wash car with a quality automotive shampoo (I use the Zaino Z7 shampoo, but almost any name brand auto shampoo that you can buy in bulk at Wal-mart should be fine)
3. Clay-bar the entire car (see claying process below). (Note from BradB: I “spot” clay the car several times a year as needed. It’s a continual process for me. I hate grit! I inspect at each wash and take care of issues as they happen. I prefer Zaino, Mothers and ClayMagic Clay. The Only one I really dislike is Meguiars. It leaves too much sticky residue.)
4. Wash with auto shampoo (see wash process below)
5. Polish paint (see polishing process below)
6. Polish glass (see glass polishing process below
7. Wash with auto shampoo
8. Seal with Zaino (see Zaino process below)
9. Quick Detail (see quick detail procedures below)
10. Treat wiper blades with 303 Wiper Blade Treatment.
11. Care for Rubber Seals (see seal protection procedures below)
12. Wax the wheels inside and out.
My Monthly routine
1. Glass – I use a glass microfiber towel and Stoner’s Invisible Glass Spray on the interior glass. Because I Zaino the exterior glass, I just use a polishing microfiber towel and Zaino Z6 quick detailing spray on the outside. This yields a highly reflective shine that doesn’t degrade the performance of wiper blades like Rain-X. Note from BradB: I clay my windshield bi-monthly. I clean exterior glass with glass cleaner after every car wash. (I am never satisfied with the ever-present streaks that any chamois or even microfiber drying towel leaves on the windshield after washing) My favorite glass cleaner is Einszett. Stoners Invisible Glass and Eagle 20/20 are standby’s. The new Sonus cleaner is quite good as well.
I polish the windshield glass monthly with Einszett (superfine) or Autoglym (slightly more abrasive) polish. Both work fast and have almost no residue.
2. Leather care – I use the Zaino leather cleaner, which seems to work just fine. I love the smell of the Zaino leather conditioner, which you apply after the cleaner has dried. BradB also recommends Mothers Leather Dressing.
3. Quick touch-up of the engine compartment – I wipe down the engine compartment with an old washcloth dampened with 303 Aerospace cleaner. I might use a bit of 303 Aerospace Protectant on the rubber or plastic.
My weekend routine
1. Wash
2. Quick Detail (BradB: I do this as needed sometimes daily. I hate dust!)
3. Tires and exterior rubber: I generally use the Zaino plastic and rubber treatment for the exterior plastic bits. BradB also uses Zaino, but also likes Eagle One Concours Satin Shine. He dislikes messy sprays and absolutely hates gels.
4. Interior – Vacuum floor and dust/treat dash. I frequently use the Zaino treatment inside, but also like 303 Aerospace Protectant.
Mid week touch-up (on weekend as well if the roads have been clean/dry)
1. Dust exterior – If it hasn’t rained, I use the Oxo Car duster. BradB says that he has a California Car Duster but only uses it occasionally… he tends to wash first.
2. Dust interior – I run a Swiffer duster over the dash to knock down the dust a bit. BradB has one of those tiny California Interior Car Dusters, but I might have converted him to Swiffers.
3. Quick Detail