Car Detailing Equipment
The car detailing equipment you buy will be dependent on the type of business you have. If you’re a mobile business owner, you will have to consider space and power restrictions. But for a physical location, you want to use the space best. And your main goal, either way, should be efficiency. So that means investing in car detailing equipment that can help with multiple tasks.
Here are the detailing tools every professional should consider for their auto detailing kit
Technical Car Detailing Equipment
- Mechanical Polisher and Sander: While detailing can be done by hand, a mechanical polisher is one of the first investments you’ll want to consider. A good random orbital polisher will produce amazing results. (Polishing Machine)
- Foam Pads: To use your polisher, you’ll also require a selection of foam pad attachments. Some suppliers offer the polisher and pads as a kit, but you can also buy them separately. Alternative pad attachments can be used for different tasks, like polishing or cleaning. (suggested; Pads)
- Paint Thickness Gauge: A paint thickness gauge can be especially useful when detailing older vehicles. It gives you a reading so you can be extra careful on previously damaged or fragile paintwork. (suggested; Nexdiag)
- Headlight Restoration Kits: Headlight restoration kits are not a necessity but they can help you restore the lights with dullness or discoloration. And it’s a more cost-effective option than replacing them, but leaves them looking like new. (Headlight Polish Kit)
Basic Car Detailing Tools
- Detailing Towels: You need a selection of towels in your arsenal for cleaning, polishing, drying, and more. Microfiber towels are the most popular option on the market because of their versatility. You can buy different variations depending on your needs. (TMS Microfibers)
- Car Towel Detergent: To keep your towels lasting longer, use a specialist car towel detergent to remove oil and dirt.
- Wash Bucket: Wash buckets can be picked up relatively easily, but not all buckets are created equally
- Dirt Filter: Insert a dirt filter into your bucket so that any grit or debris falls to the bottom of your bucket instead of in your towel or sponge. (Even a tiny grain of sand can cause damage to the paintwork, so a filter is a good idea.)
- Sprayer Bottles: Any professional detailer needs durable spray bottles designed for use with detailing chemicals. A compression sprayer can be used for products that foam.
Interior Car Detailing Equipment
- Vacuum Cleaner: Another staple of your professional car detailing kit is your vacuum cleaner. Using different attachments and settings you can vacuum, blow, inflate and dry using one machine.
- Carpet and Upholstery Extractors: A professional extractor can transform carpets and upholstery to look like new. One of the more expensive items in your auto detailing kit.
- Detailing Steamer: A steamer can be a very useful detailing tool for a multitude of tasks. It will clean and disinfect headliners, dashboards, and cup holders. It can also be used for spot-treating the upholstery or even removing chewing gum! Portable options are available if you’ve got a mobile business.
- Ozone Generator: An ozone generator is not essential, but it can be a useful piece of car detailing equipment. Hooked up to the dashboard it can permanently remove stubborn odors, including smoke or mold, in a few hours.
Car Detailing Chemicals
In addition to the tools, the chemicals are a key part of your car detailing equipment. Some detailing suppliers offer training so that you can feel confident in which products you need and how to use them.
Exterior Car Detailing Chemicals
- Car Wash Soap: Unlike regular household cleaning detergents, car wash soap has been designed to clean and protect the vehicle’s paintwork. There are many different options on the market, so it comes down to your budget and preference.
- Waterless Car Wash: Waterless car wash is an eco-friendly option that allows you to clean a vehicle with less requirement for water.
- Paint Cleaners: Paint cleaners are designed for auto detailing and so can remove tough stains without damaging the paintwork. You can also buy specific cleaners for the bug, tar, bird poop, and tree sap removal. Note that matte or satin paintwork will require a separate specialist cleaner.
- Clay Bars: Clay bars can be used before the wax to remove bonded contaminants from the vehicle’s paintwork.
- Degreasers: Degreasers are used mainly for cleaning engines, but some can be diluted and used on other areas, like the wheels.
- Compounds: Compounds can be used to remove marks from sanding.
- Polishes and Glazes: Polish and glazes are used to give the paintwork a high-gloss shine. Some polishes can also cleaned.
- Waxes and Sealants: Waxes come in a variety of formats, including liquids, pastes, or sprays. They give a polished finish but can also act as a sealant on the paintwork.
Interior Car Detailing Chemicals
- Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners: Can be used throughout the car’s interior or for spot cleaning. Some can even remove stains in coffee.
- Leather Cleaners: Specialist auto leather cleaners can be used to clean, condition, and protect leather interiors without causing damage.
Get in touch with us at The Microfiber Shop for a free consult anytime.