Inventory:

• Large bucket
• Two wash mitts
• Scrub brush for tires w/handle
• Wheel & Wheel-well brushes
• Hose with multiple setting nozzle
• Synthetic Chamois

• Car shampoo (not dishwashing detergent or other household chemical)
• Wheel cleaner
• Tire cleaner
• Bug/Tar/Sap remover

Bucket
Your bucket should be at least a 2.5 gallon version which allows for plenty of water and shampoo. 5 gallon is best. Make sure that it is clean each time and there is no residual dirt in the bottom from the last wash. Any dirt will be transferred to the paint during the wash and will scratch the paint. Never let the mitt lay in the bucket. Always rest it on the edge to ensure that it doesn't mix with the dirt that settles on the bottom of the bucket.
Recommendation: The bucket which comes with our Starter Kit is a perfectly sized 3.5 Gallon bucket with a replaceable lid.

Wash Mitts
Two wash mitts are essential. These should be marked for clean and dirty. The clean one is used on all upper surfaces on your car. The Dirty mitt is used on all lower surfaces and wheels, wheel wells etc.. I normally use the Clean mitt all the way down to the door bottoms. At that point the dirty one takes over and is used for the areas that wrap under the car, wheels and wheel wells. Those are the most heavily soiled areas of the car and even though you rinse out your mitt after use there will still be micro particles that would scratch the "show" surfaces of the car. As I advocate washing the wheel wells on a regular basis you might want a separate one for that. Just make sure that you mark it as such so you don't mix them up. Always rinse your mitts after each wash. Machine washing between uses will also help remove small particulate matter that can scratch your paint.
Recommendation: The P&S Wash Mitt is specifically designed to not scratch your paint. Foam and other types of sponges are much too harsh for your cars paint.

Scrub Brushes
A handled scrub brush gives you leverage to clean your tires thoroughly. You may also want to have other handled brushes on hand for cleaning your wheel wells if they get dirty on a regular basis. Depending on the type of wheels you have you will probably want to have a wheel brush on hand for getting into the nooks and crannies. Soft brush bristles are recommended to prevent damage to polished surfaces.

Hose/Nozzle
Your hose should be of sufficient length to reach all the way around your car easily. If you have severely hard water you may want to consider adding a small water softener in line to help buffer the water. Most home supply stores will offer something.
A multi setting nozzle is a must. Strong settings can be used on the undersurfaces of the car (wheel wells etc.) while a "shower" setting is used on the painted and upper surfaces.

Synthetic Chamois
This is one of the best ways to dry your car without scratching the surface or removing wax. Most come in their own container which keeps it moist. Make sure not to drop it during use as it will pick up dust and dirt and you will scratch your paint if you use it.
Recommendation: The Water Sprite Synthetic Chamois is made form the highest quality materials and actually acts like a sponge to dry your car much quicker without as many waterspots as cheaper alternatives.

Car Shampoo
Your car shampoo should be specifically designed for the purpose of washing cars. They are buffered to help reduce harshness of water as well as to not strip the wax. Household dishwashing liquids etc. are not suitable as they are much too harsh. I remember one saying a long time ago advocating the use of dishwashing detergent since it made your plate good enough to eat off of. Well, I don't eat off of my car nor do I wax my plates so the difference in use is fairly obvious.
Recommendation: Wash & Wax is highly concentrated, PH balanced and biodegradeable to safely reomove dirt without stripping the wax from your paint.

Wheel Cleaner
There are many wheels cleaners on the market. Some will destroy the finish on your wheels if you aren't careful. Choose one that is appropriate for your wheels. True chrome wheels can take acid style cleaners while clear coated wheels will have the clear coat burned right off by such harsh chemicals. Primarily you want to make sure that the cleaner will loosen brake dust and other grime easily so that you can effectively use your brush without having to scrub too much. Test the cleaner first on a small section to make sure that it won't damage the finish.
Recommendation: Brake Buster works like an acid but is completely safe for all wheel finishes.

Tire Cleaner
Tires are fairly durable and you want to get a product that will create a nice clean surface for your tires to shine when you add a tire dressing later. Tire dressing is not there to hide dirt and will actually turn your tires brown if you don't use a cleaner that is strong enough.
Recommendation: Enviroclean Degreaser diluted 10:1 works excellently to remove accumulated dirt from your tires. For stubbord dirt you can increase the concentration.

Bug/Tar/Sap Remover
It is important to try this product on a small hidden portion of your paintwork to make sure there are no adverse effects or that it is overly harsh. Can also be used on your wheels if you have tar on them. You want to use it in a dabbing manner rather than a rubbing manner to avoid scratching the paint.
Recommendation: Remove All Solvent is a medium duty solvent that will loosen stubborn, stuck on bugs and foreign material on your paint.

Vehicle washing is probably the most important step in properly detailing a vehicle. A good washing can save both time and money by eliminating procedures during the detailing process. If the time is taken to wash your car properly, the majority of contaminants on the exterior of the vehicle will be removed. So, wash your car right the first time!

Precautions

• Make sure that the exterior surfaces of the vehicle are cool to the touch
• If you have moved the vehicle in from direct sunlight either allow time for paint to cool or cool surfaces down by applying cool water
• If at all possible do not wash vehicle in direct sunlight
• Dilute Soap Properly

9. Wet down entire exterior surfaces of vehicle using water hose (or pressure washer if you have one)
Use water hose or pressure washer to rinse down the entire vehicle prior to beginning the actuall wash process. The goal is to rinse away as much dirt as possible prior to washing to elliminate scratching. Be agressive and rinse thoroughly.

10. Thoroughly wash vehicle with Wash & Wax soap and hand wash mitt
Wash vehicle using a dilute solution of Wash & Wax soap. Dilute Wash & Wax 128 to 1 with water or 1 ounce of Wash & Wax to 1 gallon of water in wash bucket. Place the Wash Mitt in the bucket and allow mitt to become saturated with soap solution. Wash the vehicle systematically to ensure that you have completely washed all parts of the car. Begin by washing the vehicle from the top to bottom. It is always recommended to wash the vehicle in sections, washing each section twice. Start with the roof and windows. Rinse and then repeat. Washing each section twice allows stuck on dirt, sap etc. to be softened the first time and then removed the second time. Move to Hood, follow same procedure. Trunk, and then the sides, bumper etc.
If you accidentally drop the wash mitt on the ground rinse it thouroghly or even use a new mitt prior to placing it back in the wash bucket as dirt picked up from the ground could potentially scratch or damage the paint. Avoid allowing the soap to dry on the surface of the vehicle. If you are washing in the sun or in very dry conditions you may have to do smaller sections and rinse more often. If soap does dry on the vehicle it could lead to the dirt and road filem redepositing on the surface. If this happens simply wash the vehicle one more time.

11. Rinse throroughly with water
Begin by rinsing the roof and follow the same pattern completed in the washing process until you have completely rinsed the vehicle. Take time to check the other areas cleaned to ensure that they may have been properly rinsed. Use the "shower" setting to sheet the water on the paint surface. You can then see any major contaminants that may have been left on the paint so you need to rewash that surface.

12. Dry all exterior surfaces using chamois. Open doors and dry door jambs using towel or chamois
Use the Water Sprite Synthetic Chamois in a drawing motion. That is to mean, lay it down flat on the surface of the car and pull it towards you. Repeat for all major surfaces of the car. Wringing out the chamois as it becomes saturated. Keep drying the car diligently until all the surfaces are dry.
Once you have completed the exterior surfaces of the vehicle open the car doors and dry the door, trunk and engine jambs with a towel. Towels are preferred as there are parts in the door jambs that can snag the chamois and tear it. Also, grease will ruin your chamois and you should keep the surface chamois as clean as possible. Continue to drying the wheels and tires.

Cleaning the interior of a vhicle can be seen as somewhat of an art form. People that have mastered the process are looked upon as experts. This simple task can be easily completed by the novice but with expert advice (and practice) you can transform the interior from old to new.

Precautions

• Wear safety glasses and chemical resistant gloves as applicable
• Make sure you don't have any sharp objects like scrapers, screwdrivers etc. protruding from your pockets. They can quickly damage the interior.
• Make sure the interior is cool prior to cleaning.
• Apply cleaning solution onto a towel and then wipe down vinyl and other surfaces. Do not apply chemicals directly to surfaces.
• Do not use harsh chemicals on leather seats or trim.

13. Remove all loose items, garbage etc. from the interior
This is a good time to figure out what you actually need to keep in your car. Remember that anything loose in your car becomes a projectile in an accident.

14. If compressed air is available blow dirt from cracks, under seats, between seats, AC vents and around windows in front and rear.
Use your goggles for this step.

15. Vacuum all interior parts including the following: ash trays, floor mats, carpets, seats, under seats, glove box, door panels, hat shelf, headliner.
Use vacuum to vacuum all interior parts. Concentrate on thoroughly vacuuming carpet and upholstery to remove as much dirt as possible prior to the shampooing process. A high quality vacuum makes this step a lot easier. Dust Busters can't create enough suction to efficiently clean your interior. If you have the time remove your seats to really gain access to the carpet.

16. Wipe down and clean all vinyl surfaces using Enviro Clean (diluted 10 to 1 with water for interior cleaning).
Once you have removed all the trash, blown out and vacuumed the interior you may now proceed to the cleaning process. Prepare a dilute solution of Enviroclean. Dilute Enviro Clean 10 to 1 with water for interior cleaning. Diluted cleaning solutions are easier to work with on the interior. You can dilute it up to 20 to 1 if you prefer. Use a properly labeled safety bottle and apply the solution to a damp towel. Do not apply Enviro Clean directely to vinyl, plastic or other similar interior parts. Use the towel to wipe down all vinyl and plastic surfaces. Usa polishing motion to remove stubborn dirt. Once you have completely wiped down these parts follow with a towel damped with water. Do not use chemicals for this second step as it help remove any residue left behind.
For leather surfaces you can use a damp towel.

18. Shampoo carpets, seats, floor mats and door panels.
If you have an upholstery/carpet shampooer use that. For most of us that's not realistic so you use the Foaming Carpet Cleaner and Deoderizer. Spray the shampoo onto the carpet and using a damp towel wipe the carpet to clean. Depending on how dirty the carpet is this may take a couple of times. Vacuuming may be necessary as well to remove larger particles stirred up by the wiping motion. Be careful of using hard brstle brushes as they can damage the fibers on some carpets so that they will look matted. Also be careful of oversaturating the carpets as it can saturate the backing and they can take a long time to dry. Also the fibers can become stiff.
For seats and door panels use a 10 to 1 diluted solution of Enviro Clean as described for the Vinyl surfaces in step 16.