Car Detailing Guides & Advice
THE COMPLETE
CAR DETAILING GUIDE
Want professional results at home? Follow our complete 6-stage detailing guide to safely clean, decontaminate and protect your vehicle using the right techniques and products.
Learn. Detail. Shine.
Tap any stage to reveal our step-by-step instructions and recommended products.
01 Wheel & Tyre Cleaning Brake dust, road grime and tyre care +
Always start with your wheels and tyres. These collect brake dust, road grime and grease, making them some of the dirtiest areas of your vehicle.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Ensure wheels and brakes are completely cool.
- Rinse wheels, tyres and wheel arches thoroughly.
- Apply a wheel cleaner suitable for your wheel finish.
- Allow the cleaner to dwell according to its instructions.
- Agitate spokes, wheel barrels and wheel nuts with suitable brushes.
- Apply dedicated tyre cleaner and scrub the tyre sidewalls.
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all cleaning products.
GYEON Iron Wheel Cleaner Redefined, Bilt-Hamber Auto-Wheel, Autobrite Direct Wheel & Tyre Cleaner, GYEON Tire Cleaner and Maxshine Wheel Brushes.
02 Pre-Wash & Snow Foam Lift dirt before touching your paintwork +
Pre-washing is one of the most important stages of safe car cleaning. Removing loose dirt before contact washing helps reduce the risk of swirl marks and scratches.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Make sure the vehicle is cool and out of strong sunlight.
- Apply suitable citrus pre-wash to dirty lower panels, bumpers and road-grime areas.
- Allow the product to work for the recommended dwell time.
- Apply snow foam using a compatible foam cannon or pump foamer.
- Allow the foam to dwell, keeping it from drying on the surface.
- Rinse thoroughly using a pressure washer at a safe distance.
- Inspect the paintwork before proceeding to contact washing.
Stjärnagloss Först X, Stjärnagloss Snö X, Autobrite Direct Citrus Pre Wash, Autobrite Magifoam, Bilt-Hamber Touch-Less and Maxshine Snow Master Foam Cannon V2.
03 Contact Wash Safe shampoo washing and wash mitts +
After pre-washing, use a quality car shampoo and a soft wash mitt to remove remaining dirt safely from your vehicle.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Fill a clean wash bucket with water and suitable car shampoo.
- Use the manufacturer's recommended shampoo dilution.
- Prepare a separate rinse bucket if using the two-bucket method.
- Use a clean, soft microfibre or wool wash mitt.
- Begin washing the roof and upper panels.
- Work downwards using gentle straight passes without applying unnecessary pressure.
- Rinse your wash mitt frequently and leave the dirtiest lower panels until last.
- Rinse the whole vehicle thoroughly.
GYEON Bathe, Stjärnagloss Bubblor, Autobrite Direct Purple Velvet Shampoo, Koch-Chemie car shampoos, microfibre wash mitts, wash buckets and grit guards.
04 Paintwork Decontamination Tar, iron fallout and bonded dirt +
Even after washing, your paintwork may contain bonded contamination. Tar removers, iron fallout removers and clay products help remove deposits ordinary shampoo cannot tackle.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Wash and rinse the vehicle thoroughly.
- Inspect lower panels for visible tar deposits.
- Apply a suitable tar remover to affected areas according to its instructions.
- Remove or rinse the tar remover as directed.
- Apply a compatible iron fallout remover to the relevant surfaces.
- Allow the product to react for the recommended time without drying.
- Rinse thoroughly and inspect the paintwork.
- If necessary, use a clay towel or clay bar with suitable lubrication.
- Rinse or wash again before applying protection.
GYEON Iron Redefined, GYEON Tar Redefined, Bilt-Hamber Korrosol, Autobrite Direct Purple Rain, clay bars, clay towels and suitable clay lubricants.
05 Safe Vehicle Drying Drying towels and water spot prevention +
Drying your vehicle correctly helps prevent water spots and reduces the risk of introducing scratches after washing.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Ensure all cleaning chemicals and shampoo have been rinsed away.
- Use a clean, high-quality microfibre drying towel.
- Begin with the roof and upper body panels.
- Gently place and lift the towel or use light straight passes.
- Use a suitable drying aid if desired, following product instructions.
- Dry door shuts, mirrors, grilles and other water traps.
- Use a filtered air blower where appropriate to remove trapped water.
- Check the vehicle for remaining water streaks.
Stjärnagloss Torstig Drying Towels, Maxshine Premium Drying Towels, high-GSM microfibre drying towels and suitable drying aids.
06 Protection & Final Finishing Wax, ceramic coatings, tyre shine and glass +
Now your vehicle is clean, finish the detail by applying suitable protection to help maintain the appearance of the paintwork, wheels, tyres and glass.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Ensure the paintwork is clean and prepared for your chosen protection product.
- Select a suitable car wax, spray sealant or ceramic coating.
- Follow the manufacturer's preparation, application and curing instructions.
- Apply the product evenly in the recommended quantity.
- Buff, rinse or leave to cure according to the product instructions.
- Apply tyre dressing to clean tyre sidewalls, keeping it off the tyre tread.
- Dress suitable exterior plastics and trim.
- Clean glass and apply a dedicated rain repellent if desired.
- Inspect the vehicle for streaks, missed areas and product residue.
GYEON WetCoat, GYEON CanCoat EVO, Soft99 Fusso Coat, Stjärnagloss Pärla, GYEON Tire, Soft99 Glaco and premium microfibre finishing cloths.
Car Detailing Questions Answered
Your UK car care advice centre.
From Scottish winter road salt to tar removal, ceramic coatings and safe washing, discover practical answers from your local independent detailing specialists.
❄️ Winter Road Salt & Grime
How do I safely remove winter road salt?
Road salt and winter grime build up on paintwork, wheels, wheel arches and underneath vehicles. Regular removal helps reduce corrosion risks.
- Rinse loose salt and grit thoroughly.
- Apply a suitable citrus pre-wash or traffic film remover.
- Allow the recommended dwell time. Never let chemicals dry.
- Rinse thoroughly, especially wheel arches and accessible lower areas.
- Follow with a safe contact wash.
Recommended: Stjärnagloss Först X, Autobrite Citrus Pre Wash and suitable pre-wash cleaners.
SHOP PRE-WASH PRODUCTS →How often should I wash my car in winter?
During heavily salted conditions, aim for weekly cleaning where practical, particularly after driving on treated roads.
Even a careful rinse can help remove loose salt when a full wash is not possible.
Always avoid rubbing salt-covered paintwork before removing grit and dirt.
Does ceramic coating protect against road salt?
A ceramic coating can help protect paintwork and make winter dirt easier to remove.
However, ceramic coatings do not eliminate corrosion risks or protect every exposed metal component.
Regular washing remains essential, including wheels, arches and suitable underbody areas.
🛣️ Tar & Paint Decontamination
What are the black spots on my paintwork?
Small black spots on lower doors, sills and rear panels are often road tar or bitumen.
They can be particularly noticeable on white and light-coloured vehicles.
Use a dedicated automotive tar remover rather than scraping or aggressive rubbing.
SHOP TAR REMOVERS →How do I remove tar without scratching paint?
- Wash and rinse the affected area.
- Check the product's surface compatibility.
- Apply tar remover as directed.
- Allow it to dissolve contamination without drying on the surface.
- Gently remove loosened residue.
- Rinse and wash again if instructed.
GYEON Q²M Tar REDEFINED is one option available from our range.
What is the difference between tar and iron remover?
Tar removers target sticky road tar and bitumen deposits.
Iron removers target ferrous contamination such as embedded brake dust and industrial fallout.
They perform different jobs and should not be treated as interchangeable products.
SHOP IRON REMOVERS →💎 Ceramic Coatings & Water Beading
Why has my ceramic coating stopped beading?
Don't panic! Your ceramic coating may not have failed.
Road salt, traffic film, tar, iron fallout and mineral deposits can mask the coating's water-repellent properties.
Try these steps:
- Thoroughly pre-wash the vehicle.
- Carry out a safe contact wash.
- Use a suitable ceramic maintenance shampoo such as GYEON RestartWash.
- Remove tar or iron contamination where necessary with compatible products.
- Rinse thoroughly and reassess the water behaviour.
If water behaviour returns, contamination was likely masking the surface.
If it does not, the coating may require further inspection or maintenance.
Can I use snow foam on ceramic coatings?
Yes. Use a snow foam suitable for coated vehicles and follow its instructions.
Regular pre-washing helps reduce the amount of dirt remaining before contact washing.
SHOP SNOW FOAM →How long does ceramic coating last?
Durability depends on the coating, surface preparation, application, mileage, storage and maintenance routine.
Always treat the manufacturer's quoted durability as conditional rather than a guarantee for every vehicle.
Regular safe washing and appropriate maintenance help preserve performance.
🚿 Safe Washing & Snow Foam
Is snow foam really necessary?
Snow foam can help soften and loosen dirt before contact washing, reducing the amount of contamination left on paintwork.
It is not a replacement for a proper contact wash, and foam thickness alone does not indicate cleaning strength.
SHOP SNOW FOAM →How do I avoid swirl marks when washing?
- Start with a thorough pre-wash.
- Rinse away loosened contamination.
- Use a clean, quality wash mitt.
- Use plenty of shampoo lubrication.
- Rinse the mitt regularly.
- Dry using a clean, soft drying towel.
Never use a dropped or contaminated wash mitt on your paintwork.
🛞 Wheel & Tyre Care
How often should I clean my wheels?
Weekly or fortnightly cleaning is useful for many vehicles, depending on mileage, brake dust and winter road conditions.
Use a wheel cleaner suitable for the wheel finish and avoid applying products to hot wheels.
SHOP WHEEL CARE →Can wheel cleaner damage alloy wheels?
Some strong cleaners can damage sensitive finishes when used incorrectly.
Always check compatibility, dilution, dwell time and manufacturer instructions, particularly for bare, polished, anodised or damaged wheel finishes.
🌧️ Glass & Wet Weather Driving
What does a windscreen rain repellent do?
A dedicated glass repellent helps water form droplets and run off treated glass.
Performance depends on speed, weather, application and windscreen condition.
Always prepare glass thoroughly and maintain functioning wipers.
SHOP GLASS PROTECTION →📦 Shopping & Store Information
Where is Protect & Shine Car Care located?
Visit our independent car detailing store in Portlethen, near Aberdeen.
We stock a wide range of professional car cleaning, detailing and paint protection products.
GET DIRECTIONS →Do you offer UK delivery?
Our advertised standard UK delivery is £3.99, with free delivery on qualifying orders over £60.
Please check the checkout and shipping policy for current rates and exclusions.