Auto Detailing Checklists Your Team Can Use Today

The full exterior wash procedure from pre-rinse to drying — the foundation of every detail.

• Pre-rinse the entire vehicle top to bottom with a pressure washer. Knock off loose dirt and debris before anything touches the paint. Never start with a mitt on a dry, dirty car.
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• Apply foam cannon soap and let it dwell for 2-3 minutes. The foam does the heavy lifting — it loosens and encapsulates dirt so your wash mitt doesn't grind it into the paint.
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• Two-bucket wash: one bucket with soap solution, one with clean rinse water and a grit guard. Wash top to bottom in straight lines — never circles. Rinse the mitt in the clean bucket before reloading with soap.
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• Wheels and tires: use a dedicated wheel brush and wheel-safe cleaner. Never use your paint mitt on wheels — brake dust is abrasive and will contaminate your mitt. Clean lug nut holes, behind spokes, and tire sidewalls.
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• Rinse the entire vehicle thoroughly. Remove all soap — any residue left behind will show up after drying, especially on dark paint.
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• Clay bar treatment (if included in service): spray clay lubricant on one panel at a time, glide the clay bar in straight lines. Feel the surface — when it goes from rough to glass-smooth, that panel is done. Fold and re-knead the clay frequently.
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• Final rinse with filtered water if available. Dry immediately with clean microfiber drying towels — pat and drag technique, not circular rubbing. Air blower for crevices, mirrors, and emblems where water hides.
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The complete interior procedure that customers actually notice and talk about.

• Remove all floor mats. Shake out loose debris, then scrub with all-purpose cleaner and a brush. Set aside to dry while you work on the rest of the interior.
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• Vacuum everything: seats, carpets, trunk, between and under seats, door pockets, center console, cup holders. Use crevice tools for tight spots. If you can see it, vacuum it.
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• Leather seats: apply leather cleaner with a soft brush, agitate gently in small sections, wipe clean with a microfiber. Follow with leather conditioner — this prevents cracking and keeps the leather supple.
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• Fabric seats: spray upholstery cleaner, agitate with a brush, extract with a hot water extractor. Work in sections and don't oversaturate — seats that stay wet too long develop mildew.
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• Dashboard, console, and trim: wipe all surfaces with interior detailer and a microfiber. Use detailing brushes for air vents, buttons, knobs, and seams where dust collects. No heavy silicone dressings — they attract dust and look greasy.
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• Glass: clean all interior glass with automotive glass cleaner and a clean microfiber. Wipe in one direction, then buff in the perpendicular direction. Check from the driver's seat angle — streaks show up at eye level in direct sunlight.
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• Replace floor mats. Apply a light interior fragrance if the customer requested it — never without asking. Final walkthrough: sit in every seat position and look around. Would you hand this car back to a customer?
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The multi-step paint correction process for swirl removal and gloss restoration.

• Inspect the paint under proper lighting — use a detailing inspection light or LED panel. Mark problem areas with painter's tape. You can't correct what you can't see.
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• Tape off trim, rubber, and any areas you don't want polish residue on. Plastic trim absorbs polish and turns white — prevention is easier than correction.
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• Start with a test spot in an inconspicuous area. Try the least aggressive combination first — medium pad with finishing polish. Only step up to a cutting compound if needed.
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• Work one panel at a time. Apply 3-4 pea-sized dots of polish to the pad. Spread at low speed, then work at medium speed in overlapping passes. Keep the machine moving — dwelling in one spot generates heat and can burn through clear coat.
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• Wipe off residue with a clean microfiber and inspect under the light. Compare the corrected area to the uncorrected area. Repeat the pass if swirls remain. Move to the next panel only when you're satisfied.
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• After all panels are corrected, do a final wipe-down with an IPA (isopropyl alcohol) solution to remove polish oils. This reveals the true condition of the paint — oils can temporarily fill swirls and hide them.
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• Apply sealant or wax to protect the corrected paint. Document with before/after photos for the customer and your portfolio.
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The final check before any vehicle leaves your shop — catches mistakes before the customer does.

• Walk around the entire vehicle slowly. Check every panel for water spots, missed polish residue, or fingerprints. Check under door handles — polish residue hides there.
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• Open all four doors. Check door jambs are clean. Check sill plates. Check the inside edges of the doors where overspray and dirt collect.
  Notes: _______________________________________________
• Sit in the driver's seat. Look at the windshield at eye level — any streaks? Check the rearview mirror for smudges. Run your eyes across the dash and console.
  Notes: _______________________________________________
• Check the trunk: vacuumed, no tools or trash left behind, trunk jamb wiped clean.
  Notes: _______________________________________________
• Tires and wheels: dressing applied evenly to all four tires (no sling on the paint), wheels clean including behind the spokes, lug nuts free of polish residue.
  Notes: _______________________________________________
• Final items: mirrors folded back to normal position, seats and mirrors in the same position as when the customer dropped off, radio and climate left as-is, no personal items misplaced.
  Notes: _______________________________________________
• Take completion photos. Stage the car in a clean area if possible — how it looks when the customer arrives is the impression they keep.
  Notes: _______________________________________________