What detailing tools do you really need to clean your car?

The right car detailing products can only take you so far. To really get a showroom shine at home, you also need the best tools for the job. Here are the tools you need to thoroughly clean your car inside and out.

Car detailing buckets

Ah, the humble bucket. While you may have spare buckets sitting in the garden shed, we implore you not to use them to wash your car. Instead, buy two separate buckets (big 17L ones are great) that you solemnly swear to use for car washing only.

Why two buckets? You’ll need one for washing, and one for rinsing. Use the same bucket for the same job each time. You can also buy a third bucket dedicated to wheel washing if you really want. The two-bucket method helps prevent contamination during the cleaning process and reduces streaks and swirls in your paintwork.

Grit guards

Another easy way to upgrade your toolkit is to invest in some bucket grit guards. These guards prevent dirt and debris from getting into your mitt and scratching your paint.

Buying separate buckets for each job (and some bucket guards) will prevent dirt stains, water swirls and paint scratches the next time you clean your exterior. Trust us, it’s an instant, easy and affordable way to upgrade your next car clean.

Microfibre hand mitts

Now is the time to throw away that yellow sponge you don’t remember buying but use anyway. Your car deserves a scratch-free clean. Sponges may look soft, but they trap dirt easily which results in tiny and annoying scratches on your paintwork. Car wash mitts should be soft, squishy and super absorbent.

Instead of sponge, try a microfibre mitt. Microfibre car wash mitts are inexpensive and are an efficient tool for cleaning your car. They hold more water and soap which means less time spent returning to your beloved buckets.

Hand mitts also do a great job of capturing dirt and grime and are more effective at lifting dirt off your paintwork. This helps prevent scratches and swirls from appearing in your clear coat. Some people prefer to use a separate wash mitt for their wheels and bodywork.

Drying towels

Investing in a good drying towel will remove excess water and eliminate even the smallest droplets from your paintwork. This not only helps to reduce swirl marks and scratches, but also reduces the chance of rust from developing.

Upgrade your regular drying chamois to a microfibre towel. These are designed to suck water from the surface of your car. You should notice a visible decrease in scratches of swirl marks in your finish. They require minimal work to remove water.

Auto detailing brushes

A detailing brush set can take your at-home car cleaning to the next level. Rubber bristled brushes are useful for removing pet hair from your car's interior. Brushes with tough nylon bristles are effective at cleaning dirt from mats and carpets, as well as car pedals. You can even get small detailing brushes designed to remove dust from inside your air vents.

If there’s one brush you should add to your at-home car detailing kit, make it a wheel cleaning brush. They take the grunt work out of cleaning brake dust off your wheels and will cut your cleaning time down considerably (especially when paired with a decontamination product like CarPro X.

Multi-purpose scrub pads

Multi-purpose pads are useful for detailing the interior of your vehicle. These pads come with a coarse side and a smooth side making it easy to clean everything from plastic and vinyl to upholstery. The bristles on one side can scrub away stains and grime while the smooth side can be used to polish up your interior.

A handheld vacuum with multiple attachments

Investing in a handheld vacuum is a gamechanger when it comes to cleaning the interior of your car. Without one, it’s almost impossible to clean all the nooks and crannies like behind your seats, and in between the seats and door.

A handheld vacuum will allow you to get behind the seats, remove dust from your dash and clean any crumbs from your cupholders without getting tangled. The small attachments are perfect for cleaning car mats as well as the interior.

It only takes a few professional tools to achieve a showroom finish at home. For more information or advice, contact the team at Detail Depot or shop our store here.