{"id":9135,"date":"2020-04-22T10:29:59","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T17:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=9135"},"modified":"2024-07-18T20:04:34","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T03:04:34","slug":"how-to-detail-your-car-exterior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-detail-your-car-exterior\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Detail Your Car\u2019s Exterior: Get a Showroom Shine with These Key Detailing Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_b1615a-52{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_b1615a-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_b1615a-52 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-76c196  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-e1141d\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_311bd9-8b\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_311bd9-8b\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_311bd9-8b\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_311bd9-8b summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_311bd9-8b\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>To detail your car the right way, you should use the right supplies and follow the correct procedures when it comes to washing and drying.<\/li><li>Using wax and clay bars can help remove dirt and grime buildup and give your vehicle&nbsp; that extra shine. Don&rsquo;t forget to spend time cleaning parts like the lights and wheels.<\/li><li>The most important advice of all is to take your time while detailing your car. Patience, dedication, and elbow grease are what it takes to achieve a show car shine.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>National Car Care Month, which is celebrated every April, acts as a reminder to take care of all aspects of your vehicle&mdash;including the exterior. Although many owners think a quick wash and wax are all a car&rsquo;s exterior needs, there&rsquo;s a lot more to it than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because I&rsquo;ve been detailing cars since I was a teenager, I know how to make an exterior shine. My skills came in handy when, in my mid-20s, I decided to purchase a 1987 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/chevrolet\/cavalier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Chevy Cavalier\">Chevy Cavalier<\/a>Z24 off of Craigslist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24.jpg 1296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>1987 Chevy Cavalier Z24 purchased on Craigslist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It took me more than six hours to properly detail the weather-worn, 24-year-old car, but the results were well worth the effort. When I was done, the finish displayed a glossy shine, despite being far from perfect. The car looked great from a distance&mdash;and that was good enough for me.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-full-image.jpg\" alt=\"black 1987 chevy cavalier Z24\" class=\"wp-image-9136\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-full-image.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-full-image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/1987-chevy-cavalier-Z24-full-image-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\"><figcaption>24-year old Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 after a 6-hour car detailing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you really want to make your car shine, the way I did with my Z24, you need to do more than just wash and wax the exterior. The amount of effort you put into detailing will determine how good your car looks while cruising down the street.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Detail Your Car&rsquo;s Exterior the Right Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you jump in and start detailing your car, be sure to gather the necessary supplies. Here&rsquo;s what I recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Bucket<\/li><li>Car wash sponge or wash mitten<\/li><li>Car wash soap<\/li><li>Clay bar kit that includes polish and wax<\/li><li>Exterior trim cleaner\/detailer<\/li><li>Hose with a spray nozzle attachment<\/li><li>Microfiber towels (it&rsquo;s good to buy a multi-pack)<\/li><li>Plastic cleaner\/polish<\/li><li>Tire shine<\/li><li>Water spot remover (optional)<\/li><li>Wax applicator pads<\/li><li>Wheel cleaner<\/li><li>Wheel polish<\/li><li>Now that you&rsquo;ve got all the supplies together, it&rsquo;s time to get to work and make your car shine.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wash and dry<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/car-cleaning-1-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"man cleaning a car\" class=\"wp-image-9143\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/car-cleaning-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/car-cleaning-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/car-cleaning-1-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/car-cleaning-1-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/car-cleaning-1.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Wash your car using soap, water, and a sponge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Before you whip out wax or any other detailing product, you need to wash and dry your car first. Here is the process I use at home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Use a hose with a spray nozzle attachment to rinse off the car.<\/li><li>Mix soap (the type designed for washing cars) and water in a clean bucket.<\/li><li>While the car is still wet, use either a sponge or wash mitten to apply the soapy mixture to the exterior.<\/li><li>Dry the car using a couple of microfiber towels.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A word of caution: Microfiber towels can easily trap dirt and debris that might scratch your car&rsquo;s finish. If you accidentally drop your towel on the ground, consider swapping it out for a fresh one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, microfiber towels can pick up grime from regular use. That&rsquo;s why, when it comes to cleaning and detailing exterior finishes, I only use my towels one time each. Then, I relegate the used ones to cleaning other aspects of the car, such as the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/wheel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"wheels\">wheels<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The towels eventually end up as shop rags after being used to detail several vehicles.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clean the finish with a water spot remover (optional)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car has been exposed to the elements for a long time, the way my Cavalier had, you might want to consider cleaning the exterior with a water spot remover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, because most high-quality water spot removers are corrosive in nature, they can be difficult to locate. You may need to try a few, professional-grade products before you find one that delivers decent results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use a clay bar to remove dirt and grime buildup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A clay bar is made up of a resin mixture that helps remove contaminants from a vehicle&rsquo;s finish. If you apply wax without using a clay bar first, you run the risk of rubbing those contaminants into your car&rsquo;s paint job&mdash;and that&rsquo;s bad news.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To use a clay bar, simply follow the instructions on the package. The clay bar kit will come with polish that you apply during the procedure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember to work one body panel at a time and plan on spending at least an hour to complete the entire process.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And oh yeah, if you drop the clay bar on the ground, be sure to throw it away. Otherwise, the bar might pick up stones and debris that could scratch your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Put trim detailer on the plastic and rubber exterior components<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you wax your car, use a clean rag to apply a trim detailer\/protectant to the black plastic and rubber exterior components (e.g., window trim, cowl, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The detailer removes contaminants from these trim parts while also helping to restore their shine. Plus, the product helps protect against the wax residue you&rsquo;re likely to encounter during the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apply wax to the paint job<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/waxing-car-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"waxing a car\" class=\"wp-image-9144\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/waxing-car-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/waxing-car-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/waxing-car-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/waxing-car-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/waxing-car.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Apply wax to your car once done washing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Most clay bar kits come with wax. To apply the wax to your car&rsquo;s finish, first, dip an applicator pad into clean water. Then dab some wax onto the pad while it&rsquo;s still damp. Apply the wax, wait for it to dry to a haze, then remove it with a clean microfiber towel. You should repeat the process on each of your car&rsquo;s body panels, being sure to work only one panel at a time.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clean and polish the exterior lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people forget to detail their car&rsquo;s exterior lights. But applying a cleaner\/polish to the headlamps and taillamps can help remove contaminants and protect against oxidation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To detail your car&rsquo;s outside lights, use a clean cloth and follow the instructions on the cleaner\/polish product.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clean and polish the wheels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After you&rsquo;re finished detailing the body of your car, you can move on to the wheels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you&rsquo;ll want to clean the wheels using a dedicated cleaner. Follow the instructions on the product, then afterward, use a clean rag to wipe away any remaining brake dust or road grime. Once everything is clean, apply wheel polish to each wheel, following the instructions on the package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Add tire shine to the tires<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The final step is to apply a shine or gloss product to the sidewall of each tire. There are many different types of tire shine on the market, but I prefer the foam spray; it&rsquo;s easy to apply and yields good results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To apply shine to your car&rsquo;s tires, simply follow the instructions on your product of choice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Most Importantly: Take Your Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the most important advice of all is to take your time while detailing your car. To really get your vehicle to shine, you need to apply TLC to every inch of the exterior, from bumper to bumper. Patience, dedication, and elbow grease are what it takes to achieve a &ldquo;show car&rdquo; shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though I don&rsquo;t have the free time I had as a teenager, I still put in the effort to ensure my Z24 looks its best when spring rolls around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To celebrate National Car Care Month, I encourage you to do the same with your vehicle.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Professional-Grade Car Care Products Online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cleaning your vehicle&rsquo;s paint job is a good way of protecting your paint and making its shiny surface last for years to come. To do this, you&rsquo;ll need to have the right car care products that can effectively get rid of road grime and clean various surfaces. Luckily, CarParts.com allows you to browse a selection of top products and get them from the comfort of your own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here at <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>, ordering online is a breeze. Thanks to our fast shipping, we can deliver your package to your door in as fast as two business days. We even offer some of the best deals online with our price match and lifetime replacement guarantees. If you have any questions at all, feel free to chat with our friendly customer care representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&rsquo;t let contaminants ruin your vehicle&rsquo;s finish. Order top <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/chemicalguys23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"car care products\">car care products<\/a> from CarParts.com now!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>National Car Care Month, which is celebrated every April, acts as a reminder to take care of all aspects of&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-detail-your-car-exterior\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":9142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3746,52,3950,4042,4038],"tags":[4032],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-9135","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-car-body","8":"category-diy","9":"category-for-the-car-owner","10":"category-look-better","11":"category-performance-articles","12":"tag-clay-bar-2","13":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Detail Your Car\u2019s Exterior: Get a Showroom Shine with These Key Detailing Tips - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re like most drivers, you lack the knowledge to detail your car&#039;s exterior correctly. Here&#039;s what you need to know to restore that showroom shine.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-detail-your-car-exterior\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Detail Your Car\u2019s Exterior: Get a Showroom Shine with These Key Detailing Tips - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you\u2019re like most drivers, you lack the knowledge to detail your car&#039;s exterior correctly. Here&#039;s what you need to know to restore that showroom shine.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-detail-your-car-exterior\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-04-22T17:29:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-07-19T03:04:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/cleaning-a-red-car-1.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1001\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-detail-your-car-exterior\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-detail-your-car-exterior\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"29\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. 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