order of cleaning...

[fancyfootwork]

Exterior:

1. 2 bucket-method wash
2. Wheels and wheel wells
3. Clay
4. Rinse off
5. Dry/door jambs
6. Tape
7. Paint correction
8. Re-wash (if needed)
9. Trim/tire dressing
10. Sealant/wax

Interior:

1. Brushes on vents, crevices, etc.
2. Vacuum everything
3. Take out floor mats and clean them
4. Clean carpets
5. APC all applicable spots
6. Dress entire interior
7. Glass

Occasional engine clean if wanted.

[Irish]

why would u not clay unless doing a polish as well?!

Out of all the "gentle" or "ultra fine" grade clays that I've used I've yet to see one that doesn't leave any sort of marring. Not saying I've used them all by any means though.

[fancyfootwork]

Out of all the "gentle" or "ultra fine" grade clays that I've used I've yet to see one that doesn't leave any sort of marring. Not saying I've used them all by any means though.

Have you ever used Megs aggresive? Been thinking about picking some up.

[Kristopher1129]

I've had my fair share of detailing. I ALWAYS do the interior first. That is after a prep wash of course. It gives the carpets time to dry.

Plus, when you're in the interior spraying chemicals, and dressings...it's easy to get over spray on the exterior. I'll do the engine dressing, and the tire shine before the paint. Windows are always last for me.

[Bates Detailing]

First - Windows for sure!
Second - interior
Third - oops, got overspray on windows - so windows again
fourth - carpets
fifth - oops, lost control of carpet extractor - so windows again
6th - top to bottom paint
7th - overspray on window - do them again
8th - finishing touches
9th - im sick of this overspray on these nice windows - taking a break
10th - windows
11th - rims and tires
12th - HOW DID I GET TIRE SHINE OVERSPRAY ON THE WINDOWS!!!!!
13th - final window wipedown!!!

[Kristopher1129]

First - Windows for sure!
Second - interior
Third - oops, got overspray on windows - so windows again
fourth - carpets
fifth - oops, lost control of carpet extractor - so windows again
6th - top to bottom paint
7th - overspray on window - do them again
8th - finishing touches
9th - im sick of this overspray on these nice windows - taking a break
10th - windows
11th - rims and tires
12th - HOW DID I GET TIRE SHINE OVERSPRAY ON THE WINDOWS!!!!!
13th - final window wipedown!!!

haha! That's funny cause I had a guy come work for me once. Said he's been detailing for YEARS. So I let him come in...cause I needed some help. He did the outside windows right after he washed!! He had no clue, I kept having to correct him on everything.

At the end of the day, he asked if I thought I could use him some more. I told him "honestly, I'm probably gonna keep looking". He looked puzzled, and goes..."why, cause of the window thing?!". It was so much more than that, but I said "Yeah man, the windows are pretty important." He was upset, ha.

You should have seen him trying to buff! lol. Once I saw how awkward he was with the buffer. I straight up asked him if he ever buffed before. He actually said this "Of course I have, I'm just not used to this Makita". Yeah...that's what it was...my Makita. Cause you know, the other buffers are so drastically different in shape, ha. Peace out!!!

[Bates Detailing]

haha! That's funny cause I had a guy come work for me once. Said he's been detailing for YEARS. So I let him come in...cause I needed some help. He did the outside windows right after he washed!! He had no clue, I kept having to correct him on everything.

At the end of the day, he asked if I thought I could use him some more. I told him "honestly, I'm probably gonna keep looking". He looked puzzled, and goes..."why, cause of the window thing?!". It was so much more than that, but I said "Yeah man, the windows are pretty important." He was upset, ha.

You should have seen him trying to buff! lol. Once I saw how awkward he was with the buffer. I straight up asked him if he ever buffed before. He actually said this "Of course I have, I'm just not used to this Makita". Yeah...that's what it was...my Makita. Cause you know, the other buffers are so drastically different in shape, ha. Peace out!!!

LOL - that's got me cracking up!!! I've known so many guys in the past lie their ways into jobs and actually make it work - but I don't think it would fly in this business lol!

[Kristopher1129]

LOL - that's got me cracking up!!! I've known so many guys in the past lie their ways into jobs and actually make it work - but I don't think it would fly in this business lol!

There's too many detailers that have more ego than skills out there, ha.

[Bates Detailing]

There's too many detailers that have more ego than skills out there, ha.

I agree - Sadly, I am one of them

[James K]

I've had my fair share of detailing. I ALWAYS do the interior first. That is after a prep wash of course. It gives the carpets time to dry.

Plus, when you're in the interior spraying chemicals, and dressings...it's easy to get over spray on the exterior. I'll do the engine dressing, and the tire shine before the paint. Windows are always last for me.

Whooo Hoo!! I am in good company!!!!! LOL

First - Windows for sure!
Second - interior
Third - oops, got overspray on windows - so windows again
fourth - carpets
fifth - oops, lost control of carpet extractor - so windows again
6th - top to bottom paint
7th - overspray on window - do them again
8th - finishing touches
9th - im sick of this overspray on these nice windows - taking a break
10th - windows
11th - rims and tires
12th - HOW DID I GET TIRE SHINE OVERSPRAY ON THE WINDOWS!!!!!
13th - final window wipedown!!!

That's some funny stuff. I read your first step and went ### is he thinking? He should know better then that!

There's too many detailers that have more ego than skills out there, ha.

Who needs skill when you have a beautiful ego like me!