Detail starting point

[GaryW]

Just trying to get a idea on where everyone starts with their detailing job. If you are doing a job, the whole car, where do you start. The engine bay area? The inside?

I usually do the inside first, then onto the engine area if I am doing that. Then wash. Depending on if I am running the PC on the car will determine what my next step would be. Just looking for some general ideas others might have.

[Skywalker]

interior, door jambs, trunk.

 

engine bay if necessary

 

wheels/tires/wheel wells, exhaust

 

wash

 

A really good reason to start with the interior, is the door jambs. I use an APC/soap mixture and I have a small pressure sprayer to flush the jambs clean before drying/sealing them.

 

I wouldn't want the dirt, grease, APC, soap, etc to run over the freshly cleaned/polished/sealed paint of the rockers or doors.

[GaryW]

1.) Interior

 

2.) Tires and Wheels

 

3.) Blast Car with Water

 

4.) Foam Car

 

5.) Blast Car with Water

 

6.) Wash it in sections with pads

 

7.) Blast with Water

 

8.) Force Air Dry x Detail Spray wipe down with two gwdt's

 

9.) Dress the tires

 

10.) Clean windows

 

did it a couple of hours ago

 

Sweet ride, nice color

[Court M3]

1. Interior

2. Wheels & tires

3. Exterior

 

Done son!

[goodmanXX3]

1.) Interior

 

2.) Tires and Wheels

 

3.) Blast Car with Water

 

4.) Foam Car

 

5.) Blast Car with Water

 

6.) Wash it in sections with pads

 

7.) Blast with Water

 

8.) Force Air Dry x Detail Spray wipe down with two gwdt's

 

9.) Dress the tires

 

10.) Clean windows

 

did it a couple of hours ago

[Odds and Ends]

I usually do interiors while the sealer is curing. Gotta do something to pass the time and I like to at least try and be efficient!

 

- Darryl

[GaryW]

I always start off with:

1. The interior
   
2. Wheels and Tires
   
3. Wash the Exterior
   

 

 

Thats what I have been doing. Then I dress all the trim and tires last.. But thinking maybe dressing the trim first,, makes easier to remove polish or wax residue off the SVRT.

[BlueGenCoupe]

I always start off with:

1. The interior
   
2. Wheels and Tires
   
3. Wash the Exterior
   

[Doug123]

If it is too hot or sunny (no shade) to do the exterior, you can do the interior, esp. if you are going to clean the mats, which gives them time to dry in the sun. You can do windows and the interior in the sun, which includes SVRT on the door gaskets.

 

After that, door jambs and sills (&trunk openings etc.) with WW and microfiber (or your chosen approach, depending on the level of dirt)

 

When the shade comes, you can do the engine compartment, and then the exterior. I use a Metro Sidekick, so blowing off the engine and water holding spots waits until after the exterior wash, during the drying cycle. After this, SVRT all the exterior plastic and rubber.

 

For me, I would never try and do all of this in one day. But it all depends on time and energy.

[GerryC]

I wipe the door jambs down with waterless wash and a waffle towel before putting water on the car. Same with the hood/trunk surrounds.

[GerryC]

interior, door jambs, trunk.

 

engine bay if necessary

 

wheels/tires/wheel wells, exhaust

 

wash

[Elias101a]

so is it best to do the interior first?

[mc2hill]

I rarely to anything to the engine bay, so it depends on how long I have the car. If I have it overnight, I would polish and apply MSS first, then do the interior as I wait on my 12 hour window. It could also depend on where the shade is! My driveway is shaded in the morning and late afternoon, so I try to do the paint while it is shaded. If I got it in the afternoon, I would the interior first, then the paint when the shade returned.

[bigaudiofanatic]

I do interior first, the last thing I want to do is stir up dust to land on perfect paint.

[GaryW]

Good Info. look for the most efficient way of doing it. Not that I do it all the time, but when you do a car with alot of work to hit,, which is the best way

 

[DaveVY]

For me this will depend on how bad the interior is and if I am getting carpets wet with cleaning.

 

But typically (if no polishing):

1) Interior - remove floor mats

2) Interior - vacuum interior seats and carpets (don't want to vac after the outside of car is done then have dust blowing around)

3) Interior - Spot treat any spills/stains in carpets

4) Interior - Clean floor mats (they will have time to dry while exterior of car is being washed

5) Engine Bay

6) Exterior - Wheels/wheel wells/tires

7) A THOROUGH wash down with fire hose, this is not just a "get the car wet, but a "blast off all loose contaminants"

8) If I am in the mood, will foam the car, but honestly, this is just a fun factor for me

9) 2 bucket wash

10) Leaf Blower for crevices, wheels, wheel wells and tires

11) Detail spray mist entire car

12) Dry car and mist as needed

13) Open Hood and Use Leaf Blower to dry

14) Remove any drops that blew out of engine compartment onto window or front of car

15) Wipe down engine compartment and dress

16) Open trunk, all doors and clean door jambs

17) Clean windows, inside and out

18) Finish interior cleaning (console, steering wheel, seats)

 

[Marylander]

I always do the exterior first, then the interior every other time. I seldom do the engine area.