Why Simplifying Matters
If you have ever looked at the world of detailing products, you know it can feel overwhelming. There are products for every surface and every, single detailing step.
But here is the truth, you do not need dozens of products to achieve professional quality results. Building a high quality detailing kit with a few carefully chosen products, will allow you to only save time but you will still be able to achieve that flawless finish. Whether you are a beginner, a busy home detailer, or just someone who wants to build a strong foundation before adding specialty products later, this kit is the perfect starting point.
The Non Negotiable(s)
Think of these as your base products. The products you want to always keep around and the products needed to thoroughly clean your paint, with some protection. With that said, we are streamlining these kits, so we are choosing items that allow for use on various different areas. For example, you will not see a paint coating in this kit, instead a shampoo with protection as it not only combines steps, but can be used on all exterior surfaces.
1. All Purpose Cleaner (APC)
An All Purpose Cleaner (APC) is the Swiss Army knife of your detailing kit. With the right dilution, it can tackle:
- Interior plastics and vinyl without leaving a greasy finish.
- Upholstery and carpet spot-cleaning when spills or stains pop up.
- Engine bays and wheel wells where dirt and grime love to hide.
- Exterior dirt and grime (dust, dirt, road film, tar, etc.).
Instead of buying a dedicated interior cleaner, fabric cleaner, engine degreaser, etc. a single high quality APC replaces all of them. That is fewer bottles, less confusion, and more space in your garage.
The only con, making sure you are diluting to the correct strength as APCs are strong and can cause damage if not used properly on some surfaces.
2. Shampoo
A good shampoo is needed, but the one that combines the most steps is the one that doesn’t just clean, it protects it as well. Your shampoo should be:
- Safe for waxes and coatings so you are not stripping protection with every wash.
- Multipurpose so it can be used in a foam cannon, wash bucket, or even diluted for gentle surface cleaning.
- Bonus protection if you want to combine detailing steps even further
Cheaper soaps may clean, but often leave residues or strip protection. By investing in a quality shampoo, you are setting up every wash to be both safe and effective.
3. Microfiber Towels & Wash Mitt
The right towels & wash mitts will make or break your detail. Investing in quality products reduces the risk of scratches and delivers better results.
- Drying towels replace chamois or old cotton towels that can damage paint.
- Plush edgeless towels are safe for buffing sealants and polishes.
- All-purpose microfiber handles interiors, glass, and door jambs.
- Pair these with a microfiber wash mitt, and you have safe, reusable, and high quality products.
4. Wheel & Tire Cleaner
Wheels and tires are often the dirtiest part of the car, and while APCs can help, a dedicated wheel and tire cleaner saves time and effort.
- Breaks down brake dust and road grime more effectively than general cleaners.
- Restores tire rubber for a deep-clean look before dressing.
- Prevents staining on delicate wheel finishes.
This one product beats trying to use multiple weaker cleaners as they simply work at a much higher level.
4. Dressing for Tires, Rubber & Trim
One of the most overlooked products in a detail is a good dressing. Not only does it improve the look of your car, but it also helps protect against UV fading and cracking.
- Restores deep, rich color to faded plastic trim.
- Adds contrast and satin sheen to tires without leaving them greasy.
- Protects rubber and plastic against UV rays, keeping them from drying out.
Instead of buying separate dressings for tires, interior plastics, and exterior trim, a high quality multi surface dressing can handle it all, making this a key product in a minimalist kit.
5. Tools
The chemicals listed above are great, but do not forget to streamline the tools you have on hand to help you achieve the results you are looking for. Some of the most important tools are:
- Brushes, find ones that can be used in various areas. Keep a few different sizes and shapes on hand so you are never left without.
- Buckets, I always recommend keeping 2-3 on hand and having one for wash, one for Rinse, and another for wheels.
- Grab a few Grit Guards as well to help keep dirt and grime at the bottom of each bucket, reducing any possible imperfections during the wash process.
The Negotiable(s)
The big difference here is adding polishing into your detailing steps, along with tweaking your washing step and adding a stand alone protection product. The Non Negotiable(s) tackle all of the basics, but if you want to remove imperfections before protecting the paint, these basic additions are recommended.
6. Clay Alternative (Clay Mitt or Sponge)
Instead of traditional clay bars, which are slow and easily dropped, a clay mitt or sponge makes the decontamination process faster and safer.
- Removes embedded contaminants with ease
- Reusable and washable, unlike clay that must be tossed if it hits the ground.
- Much faster coverage, saving time on large panels.
7. One-Step Polish
Here is where your detail jumps from “clean” to “showroom”. A one-step (light) polish is designed to correct light to moderate paint defects while also refining gloss in one go.
- Removes swirls, light scratches, and oxidation for a clear, crisp finish.
- Polishes and finishes in one pass, saving time compared to multi-step compounds and polishes.
- Works on most paint types, making it beginner friendly.
Instead of juggling separate compound and finishing polishes (and trying to figure out which pads to use for each), one quality all in one polish delivers professional looking correction without the complexity.
8. SiO2 Spray Sealant
Protection doesn’t have to be complicated. A SiO2 spray sealant gives professional level durability with beginner level application. The big change here, your shampoo is now designed to just clean, so you can protect with your spray.
- Paint protection that lasts for weeks, or even months, adding gloss and slickness.
- Hydrophobic properties that keep your car cleaner for longer and make drying easier.
- Versatility, works on paint, glass, and wheels.
Rather than juggling separate waxes, glass sealants, and wheel coatings, this one product does it all in less time. While the Non Negotiable(s) pair a shampoo with protection, taking your detailing to the next level will separate these steps for more gloss and a more durable layer of protection.
The Streamlined Shopping Guide
To make things simple, here are some ready to go kits, built with the exact products we recommend. Think of the Non Negotiable(s) as your kit for your base high end wash and protection. Want to add in polishing? This is where your Negotiable(s) Kit comes into play, making it the perfect addition to your Non Negotiable(s) Kit.
- All Purpose Cleaner: Gtechniq W5 Citrus All Purpose Cleaner
- Shampoo with Protection: Gtechniq W3 Ceramic G Wash
- Microfiber Towels: Autofiber Amphibian Drying Towel, The Rag Company Eagle Edgeless 500, The Rag Company Edgeless 300 Microfiber Towel & Gtechniq WM2 Microfibre Wash Mitt
- Wheel & Tire Cleaner: P&S Brake Buster
- Dressing: CarPro PERL
- Tools: Detail Factory Ultra Soft Detail Brush Synthetic Gray – Set, Detail Factory ProGrip Tire Brush – Standard, DI Brushes Pro Series Wheel Brush – Soft, Detailer Bucket, Grit Guard
Buy the Non Negotiable(s) Kit
- Shampoo & Pre-wash: Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam & Bilt Hamber Touch-Less
- Clay Alternative: NanoSkin AutoScrub Sponge – Fine Grade & Glide
- One-Step Polish: Sonax Perfect Finish
- SiO2 Spray Sealant: Gtechniq C2
- Tools: Lake Country White Polishing Pad, Griot’s Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher
Add the Negotiable(s) Kit
Remember, the Non Negotiable Kit is non-negotiable and the Negotiable Kit can be added to take your detailing to the next level!