$4.99 Shipping over $49 w/coupon DI499 | 2,950+ Products | 95 Brands | 12,000+ Reviews | 1,850+ Detailing Articles
Close Menu
Clean ⋅ Shine ⋅ Protect
Cookies are disabled in your web browser. To shop with Detailed Image, please turn cookies on and then refresh the page.

My complete list of items needed for a maintenance detail

by

So you want to know what you need to maintain your car after you have it reconditioned and corrected.  There are a TON of products on the market, so I will just give you the list of things that I carry with me on every single job I go to on a daily basis.  I would never want to be without any of these things, as each type of product has its use in different situations.  I get asked all the time after I do a correction job, so here is a brief breakdown of the category of product, and uses (some double up):

Car shampoo that will not strip protection
Quick detailer with protection ability – door jambs, wheels, paint
Quality micro fiber towels for drying, QD, glass, door jambs, wheels
Glass cleaner – glass, sap deposits if fresh, clean paint prior to wax
Wheel cleaner
Tire Dressing with applicator pad – some used on trim as well
Upholstery cleaner
Leather conditioner
APC – interior, tires, wheel wells
Degreaser – tires, wheel wells, pre-soak prior to wash (Dont let it dry, and rinse very thoroughly)
Trim dressing – some used for tires as well
Metal polish – exhaust tips, grills, window trim, door handles, water spots
Carnauba wax with applicator – paint and wheels
Wheel and interior brushes
Vacuum – interior obviously, but under the hood as well
Interior protectant – can be used on trim on the exterior as well sometimes

So let’s say you have me come out and correct the car, get it looking like new, and you want to maintain it yourself between polishings from me.  Quite honestly, that is the best idea other than having me out every month like some of my clients to always make sure the car is spic and span for those weekend cruises up the coast, or carting your potential clients around town!  The above list will allow you to wash your car weekly, and wax the car monthly.  This way, your car will always be protected, and washings will become easier and easier over time because you will be in a routine and the car will not stay dirty, therefore requiring less work in the end!

I could list certain products, but there are so many personal preferences, it would be hard to do…smell of each product, order size, level of shine, budget, etc.  If there is something you might like to know about, ask away!

Eric Schuster Envious Detailing
Eric Schuster
Envious Detailing
Orange County, CA

8 comments on My complete list of items needed for a maintenance detail

  1. Mike Williamson says:

    Nice list , Thanks.
    Mike

  2. Jon says:

    Eric,

    Thanks for this consolidated post. Could you please clarify “Glass cleaner – glass, sap deposits if fresh, clean paint prior to wax”? Are you saying glass cleaner can be used on paint?

    Jon

  3. Eric says:

    you can use glass in place of IPA. I do it sometimes when its softer paint as the IPA is pretty harsh on it, and is more likely to dry and scratch the finish when wiping away 105. Keep in mind, as I dont know about the rest of the glass cleaners, but I use meguiars glass cleaner concentrate at 10:1. At that point, I find it has enough to remove the polishing oils without drying the paint out so much. I was out of IPA one day and had to try something else to remove fresh sap from a hood of a porsche….glass cleaner worked like a charm and wiped it right off with 2 applications! of course, re wax the area after use

  4. Jon says:

    Eric,

    Thanks for the reply; I did not know Meg’s GC at 10:1 could be used in place of an IPA. My jet black 328i is what I beleive is considered ‘soft’ paint. Again – good advice.

    My plan was to use either Meg’s APC+@ 20:1 or perhaps p21s TAW on sap or grime that needs a helping hand, then wash and re-wax/seal the area. I had not realized \Meg’s GC at 10:1 would come in handy there either.

    Great advice!

    -Jon

  5. Alex Boyce says:

    Great list, I use just about everything in your list but I find myself using a lot of spray wax/sealants after the wash instead of a full wax/sealant.

    I’m really interested in the glass cleaner working as a polish remover. I’ve used some glass cleaner on some parts of paint with no problems but no benefits.

    Again great list!

    Alex

  6. ZHAP says:

    What wheeling pads, compunds and polishes do you recommend for high speed wheeling?

  7. James says:

    Hmmm vacuuming under the hood I really haven’t thought out that. I will try that out! What is your favorite trim dressing and what about a favorite tire dressing other than TUF Shine Tire Shine?? Thanks Eric and of course another informative article. Thanks.

  8. Right here is the perfect blog for everyone who really wants to find out about this topic.

    You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).
    You certainly put a brand new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for ages.
    Great stuff, just wonderful!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Commenting Rules

  • Try to keep your comments as relevant as possible.
  • Don't be abusive: no personal attacks or any other nastiness.
  • Feel free to express your opinion, but do so in an eloquent way.

If you do not respect these rules your comments may be edited or even deleted.

My Offers
25 Off Spring Sale
Big Discounts While Supplies Last - Clearance Items - Shop Now
Free Stuff
Quantity Discounts - Buy More, Save More!
Close overlay