Method to the madness.....

[DENALI]

I was curious as to where one starts and in what order you guys clean/detail a vehicle first.

wash
clay
wax
wheel wells
wheels/tires
interior
carpet
etc
etc
etc

Just curious as to how everyone works their way through a complete detail thanks.

[gto_don]

Re: Method to the madness.....

I was curious as to where one starts and in what order you guys clean/detail a vehicle first.

wash (3)
blow out crevices (compressed air) (4)
wipe with damp MF cloth and MF towel dry (5)
clay (6) if needed/wanted
polish (7) if needed/wanted
wax (8)
wheel wells (1)
wheels/tires (2)
interior (10)
carpet (9)
etc (11)
etc (12)
etc (13)

Just curious as to how everyone works their way through a complete detail thanks.

see my numbers above. Added a couple of "my steps"...

[Cat]

Re: Method to the madness.....

This is a great list. I like the blowing out of the crevices. It drives me nuts to get the car totally dried off and then you have small streaks of water coming from the mirror and door handles.

Cat : x

[truffles]

Re: Method to the madness.....

I usually open up all the doors, trunk, hood, gas tank area - and dry out all the spaces in between. Blowing out the crevices sounds easier though :P

[FinalTouchDetail]

Re: Method to the madness.....

This is my order from start to finish on an exterior detail:

1) Wheels/Tires/Wheel Wells Cleaned and Scrubeed
2) Car Washed
3) Car Clayed (Still Wet)
4) Car Rinsed (I actually rinse as I finish Claying a Section)
5) Car Dried (Two Waffle Weaves for the Car and one Dedicated Waffle Weave for Wheels)
6) Polish (single step or multiple step polish)
7) Sealant/Wax Applied
8) Tires and Plastic Trim Dressed as well as wheel wells
9) Windows/Mirrors Cleaned
10) Sealant/Wax Removed
11) Final Wipedown with Detail Spray in sun to insure no wax residue remains

[Ravi_1992]

Re: Method to the madness.....

Heres Mine ... Full detail

Engine Bay before any if needed


Exterior

1) Wheel Wells / Tires / Rims
2) Clean trim with apc and soft brush
3) Wash
4) Clay
5) Rinse again
6) Dry Body and Rims ( compressor in cracks and crevices )
7) Clean door jams and dry
8) Tape off and ready to polish
9) M105 with PC if needed (or something less aggressive)
10) M205 with PC
11) Dust with QD and MF towel
12) M07 with PC
13) Seal with two coats of NXT or gold class ( or both )
14) Remove tape
15) Clean any tape residue and Dress trim
16) Dress tires and WW's

* Head lights first if needed

Interior

1) Remove Mats and garbage
2) Brush all debris in main carpet in a pile
3) Vacuum thoroughly.... Carpet, seats, crevices, etc etc
4) APC 10:1 wipe down with MF or brush if needed .... on dash, doors, center counsel, leather etc etc
5) Dress Dash and all vinyl plastic and rubber
6) Condition leather
7) Cleans windows in and out
8) Final Dust
9) Vacuum floor mats and put back

* Shampoo would be step 4 if needed

I go slow and take a lot of breaks

I probably forgot a few things

[DENALI]

Re: Method to the madness.....

Thanks for the reply guys. Keep them coming I enjoy seeing how everyone else tackles their detail jobs.

[DetailFreak517]

Re: Method to the madness.....

One thing to consider, I always do the interior first before even washing the outside. I figure that way I'm not risking dragging particulates from the interior out onto the freshly cleaned exterior.

[All of 75]

Re: Method to the madness.....

3. wash
4. clay
5. wax
2. wheel wells
1. wheels/tires cleaning
6. (while the wax is drying) interior
7. leather cleaning etc.
8. carpet
9. underhood cleaning
10. tire dressing

[RogueGypsy]

Re: Method to the madness.....

This is my order from start to finish on an exterior detail:

1) Wheels/Tires/Wheel Wells Cleaned and Scrubeed
2) Car Washed
3) Car Clayed (Still Wet)
4) Car Rinsed (I actually rinse as I finish Claying a Section)
5) Car Dried (Two Waffle Weaves for the Car and one Dedicated Waffle Weave for Wheels)
6) Polish (single step or multiple step polish)
7) Sealant/Wax Applied
8) Tires and Plastic Trim Dressed as well as wheel wells
9) Windows/Mirrors Cleaned
10) Sealant/Wax Removed
11) Final Wipedown with Detail Spray in sun to insure no wax residue remains

My order is almost the same as this, except I do #8 before #6. I'm too lazy to tape off the whole car and any sling from the rotary (polish or wax) comes off rubber and plastic a lot easier if it has a coat of ASD on it first.

Oh and #11, I do nothing in the sun.

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