Best detailing tools that are not made for detailing

I use toothbrushes to get dirt out of small crevices. I also use small paint brushes with soft bristles to clean the creases in seat seams. Paint brushes are also very good at agitating any cleaner you let dwell while detailing engine bays.

lowes has mf applicators for about $1.25 a sponge (the small rectangle mf sponge applicators)

not a non detailing the the small carrand brush for interior detailing its short its like $2.50, very cheap, but works great and doesn't really lose its bristles, atleast so far, some of the carrand brushes lose a ton of bristles on every use aka junk

cotton swabs

stipple brushes made for arts and crafts = swissvax style brush...ethnic hair brush or a natural bristle nail brush for leather/vinyl/hard plastics

Might be a bit old school but here goes.
Green scrub pads for interior
Wd-40 for wheels
Distilled water for washing cars
Tide bleach stick for white walls on tires.

I'm not giving all my secrets out but there's a few. Lol

Mr clean eraser


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Beer cooler!

Swiffer duster, the original. Use it to remove light brake dust that's accumulated but never gotten wet.

I've been to Ikea a couple times and have bought these dusters that work AWESOME on cleaning the insides of the wheels. The duster part is very long as well as the handle, this way you get all the way in there after letting the wheel cleaner break things down for a bit. Once your done, rinse off with low pressure water and let dry on the ground standing it up, this way the weight doesn't pull down the duster and make it come off. Once its dry, just twist the handle and it fluffs itself out and its ready for cleaning next time.

The pink eraser, great for getting wax out of pourous areas and/or rubber, just erase like you would normally and it gets in there and goes away, follow up with your favorite dressing to make it look new again, BAM!

I know most people know about this but there's always someone who hasn't, so use WD40 to remove that grease/tar you sometimes pick up from the road, comes off SOOOOOOOO easy and doesn't hurt the finish (after cleaning, hit the area with some quick detailer anyways)

Armor All (noone uses it for automotive uses anymore, right!) This stuff does the trick when you want to make the wheelwells look shiney on your car or more importantly, your truck! It may not last the longest but its cheap and does the trick in there.

Great topic OP!

Qtips for applying dressing to rubber trim around windows and mirrors. Small cotton rounds used for cosmetics (saturate with waterless wash)to spot treat bird dropping and those little yellow spots that I've been told are insect droppings.

- brush for dentures
- Mr. Clean Magic Sponge
- Q-tips
- foam paint brushes

Peanut butter and a tooth brush for getting wax off of textured black trim

Foam applicators in the paint section at Wal Mart. They are 1.50 for a 12 pack of different sizes. They hare a little foam applicator on the tip of a small wooden stick. The pack comes with ones that range from 1/2" to 2" wide. They are the best thing I have used to apply dressing on all surfaces. Especially side mirrors, and also to apply interior protectant along the dash on it's curved surfaces.

From the super market: Sprayway glass cleaner, Dawn dish soap, distilled white vinegar, ziplock bags.

From HD: small garden pump sprayer, 3m tape, nitrile gloves

Other: Corrosion-X, blue shop towels, soft cooler for carrying products.

I've replaced Dawn with Ultra Gain, has on the bottle that it's a hand soap and a dishwashing liquid. It does better on washing dishes and it's
a buck cheaper at Dollar General where I'm at.

Garden Sprayer - for spraying just about any type of cleaner
Toilet Brush - Fender Wells, Wheels, Tires
Distiled Water - For diluting everything
White Vinegar - Microfiber Towel Rinsing

Wedge make up applicators used for applying trim dressing. They don't cake up or soak up much product. 3.00 for 50. I get my fiancé to pick them up wherever she gets her makeup.

Werner aluminum work platform for easily cleaning/waxing the roofs of vehicles. When I'm through with the roof, I use the work platform to set my buckets on so I don't bend over so much. Makes life easier. These things are lightweight and very sturdy. Don't know how I got by without it.

I like to use:

KIWI Leather Shine Sponge

as a tire gel applicator, AFTER it is used up as a shoe shine TOOL.

ezriderga said:

Werner aluminum work platform for easily cleaning/waxing the roofs of vehicles. When I'm through with the roof, I use the work platform to set my buckets on so I don't bend over so much. Makes life easier. These things are lightweight and very sturdy. Don't know how I got by without it.

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Same here, got one myself. Love it.