order of cleaning...

A.P.A.D.

A.P.A.D.

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tomorrow i am doing two clay/wax/interior jobs.

when detailing a car, what is your prefered order of cleaning? interior first then exterior? visversa?

typically i:
1. clean wheels, tires, wheel wells first.
2. new buckets and soap(of course) for washing the actual car.
3. dry the car.
4. wipe out the door jams.
5. interior: wipedown, vacuum, and then scrub vinyls/plastics with apc and brushs. dressings
6. clay
7. wax
8. window(in and out)
9. tire dressing

im thinking about changing my order tomorrow to do the interior first so that i can go straight from washing to claying, thus saving a drying step. thus saving time.

what order of cleaning do u guys follow?Feed back please
 
I do the interior first, that way all of the carpets have time to start drying while I do the exterior. Windows are my final step.
 
Exterior:
1. Wheel wells
2. Tires
3. Calipers
4. Wheels
5. Grilles
6. Wash
7. Clay
8. Dry
9. Wax
10. Wheel well/tire dressing

Interior:
1. Windows
2. Plastics/vinyl
3. Seats
4. Carpets
5. Mats
6. Jambs

I do Jambs last because getting in and out of the car they will get dirty. Makes no sense to do them before you're done with the interior IMO. Personally I wouldn't clay without polishing, but if that's what the customer wants then by all means.
 
1. Interior
2. Carpets
3. Door Jams
4. Top to bottom paint (dry wash)
5. Finishing touches (seals/bumbers/tires/rims)
6.windows
7.Eat a sandwich and smile :dblthumb2:
 
Interior

I do the entire interior first. Once this is complete it stays closed so no additional cleaning won't be necessary.

Wheel wells

Power-wash these areas thoroughly so all dirt and debris is removed

Tires & Wheels

These are second on the list as I don't want stronger chemicals contaminating the finish. Once they're cleaned I cover them.

Engine Compartment

Clean and detail all areas of the engine compartment. Treat plastic and rubber components.

Paint

This is third.

  1. Wash
  2. Clay
  3. Polish
  4. Wipe
  5. Sealant
  6. Wax
Exterior Glass

Clean all glass

Trim

Treat all plastic and rubber trim

Tires & Wheels

Seal and wax wheels
Tire treatment
 
Typically I like doing the inside first. It seems to also make things go faster on DD's.
 
I always try my best to follow this order;
Stilt it, stretch it, sanitize... Basically, drive the car on 1x6 planks, open all doors and remove floor mats, and saitize interior vinyl using tornador.

After cleaning, I vacuum or shampoo if necessary, and I Always, Always finish off the interior with the windows.

With the exterior, I start with wells, tires and wheels.
After that, I go on the the wash itself.

If I'm claying the car I do so now prior to vehicle drying. Following clay vehicle washed and dried, wax/sealant applied.

Man, what ever you choose to do, find you a systematic approach,
master it and do your best to stick to it my man.

Oh yea, I also always finish the exterior with the windows...
 
M.P. Cobra Fan said:
I do the interior first, that way all of the carpets have time to start drying while I do the exterior. Windows are my final step.
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that sounds like a better plan than what i have been doing. im always trying to improve my techiques:xyxthumbs:

Irish said:
I do Jambs last because getting in and out of the car they will get dirty. Makes no sense to do them before you're done with the interior IMO. Personally I wouldn't clay without polishing, but if that's what the customer wants then by all means.
Click to expand...

doing the jams last makes complete sense! thanks for the tip! :xyxthumbs:

why would u not clay unless doing a polish as well?! of course in my case, clay and wax is what the client is paying for, so that is what they get ;)

B&B Tennessee said:
7.Eat a sandwich and smile :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

sounds good to me!! lol

Southern Stang said:
Typically I like doing the inside first. It seems to also make things go faster on DD's.
Click to expand...

maybe a silly ?? but what is a DD?
 
Exterior:

1. 2 bucket-method wash
2. Wheels and wheel wells
3. Clay
4. Rinse off
5. Dry/door jambs
6. Tape
7. Paint correction
8. Re-wash (if needed)
9. Trim/tire dressing
10. Sealant/wax

Interior:

1. Brushes on vents, crevices, etc.
2. Vacuum everything
3. Take out floor mats and clean them
4. Clean carpets
5. APC all applicable spots
6. Dress entire interior
7. Glass

Occasional engine clean if wanted.
 
why would u not clay unless doing a polish as well?!
Click to expand...

Out of all the "gentle" or "ultra fine" grade clays that I've used I've yet to see one that doesn't leave any sort of marring. Not saying I've used them all by any means though.
 
Irish said:
Out of all the "gentle" or "ultra fine" grade clays that I've used I've yet to see one that doesn't leave any sort of marring. Not saying I've used them all by any means though.
Click to expand...

Have you ever used Megs aggresive? Been thinking about picking some up.
 
I've had my fair share of detailing. I ALWAYS do the interior first. That is after a prep wash of course. It gives the carpets time to dry.

Plus, when you're in the interior spraying chemicals, and dressings...it's easy to get over spray on the exterior. I'll do the engine dressing, and the tire shine before the paint. Windows are always last for me. :xyxthumbs:
 
First - Windows for sure!
Second - interior
Third - oops, got overspray on windows - so windows again
fourth - carpets
fifth - oops, lost control of carpet extractor - so windows again
6th - top to bottom paint
7th - overspray on window - do them again
8th - finishing touches
9th - im sick of this overspray on these nice windows - taking a break
10th - windows
11th - rims and tires
12th - HOW DID I GET TIRE SHINE OVERSPRAY ON THE WINDOWS:bash:!!!!!
13th - final window wipedown!!!
 
B&B Tennessee said:
First - Windows for sure!
Second - interior
Third - oops, got overspray on windows - so windows again
fourth - carpets
fifth - oops, lost control of carpet extractor - so windows again
6th - top to bottom paint
7th - overspray on window - do them again
8th - finishing touches
9th - im sick of this overspray on these nice windows - taking a break
10th - windows
11th - rims and tires
12th - HOW DID I GET TIRE SHINE OVERSPRAY ON THE WINDOWS:bash:!!!!!
13th - final window wipedown!!!
Click to expand...

haha! That's funny cause I had a guy come work for me once. Said he's been detailing for YEARS. So I let him come in...cause I needed some help. He did the outside windows right after he washed!! He had no clue, I kept having to correct him on everything.

At the end of the day, he asked if I thought I could use him some more. I told him "honestly, I'm probably gonna keep looking". He looked puzzled, and goes..."why, cause of the window thing?!". It was so much more than that, but I said "Yeah man, the windows are pretty important." He was upset, ha.

You should have seen him trying to buff! lol. Once I saw how awkward he was with the buffer. I straight up asked him if he ever buffed before. He actually said this "Of course I have, I'm just not used to this Makita". Yeah...that's what it was...my Makita. Cause you know, the other buffers are so drastically different in shape, ha. Peace out!!!:bat:
 
Kristopher1129 said:
haha! That's funny cause I had a guy come work for me once. Said he's been detailing for YEARS. So I let him come in...cause I needed some help. He did the outside windows right after he washed!! He had no clue, I kept having to correct him on everything.

At the end of the day, he asked if I thought I could use him some more. I told him "honestly, I'm probably gonna keep looking". He looked puzzled, and goes..."why, cause of the window thing?!". It was so much more than that, but I said "Yeah man, the windows are pretty important." He was upset, ha.

You should have seen him trying to buff! lol. Once I saw how awkward he was with the buffer. I straight up asked him if he ever buffed before. He actually said this "Of course I have, I'm just not used to this Makita". Yeah...that's what it was...my Makita. Cause you know, the other buffers are so drastically different in shape, ha. Peace out!!!:bat:
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LOL - that's got me cracking up!!! I've known so many guys in the past lie their ways into jobs and actually make it work - but I don't think it would fly in this business lol!
 
B&B Tennessee said:
LOL - that's got me cracking up!!! I've known so many guys in the past lie their ways into jobs and actually make it work - but I don't think it would fly in this business lol!
Click to expand...

There's too many detailers that have more ego than skills out there, ha.
 
Kristopher1129 said:
I've had my fair share of detailing. I ALWAYS do the interior first. That is after a prep wash of course. It gives the carpets time to dry.

Plus, when you're in the interior spraying chemicals, and dressings...it's easy to get over spray on the exterior. I'll do the engine dressing, and the tire shine before the paint. Windows are always last for me. :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

Whooo Hoo!! I am in good company!!!!! LOL

B&B Tennessee said:
First - Windows for sure!
Second - interior
Third - oops, got overspray on windows - so windows again
fourth - carpets
fifth - oops, lost control of carpet extractor - so windows again
6th - top to bottom paint
7th - overspray on window - do them again
8th - finishing touches
9th - im sick of this overspray on these nice windows - taking a break
10th - windows
11th - rims and tires
12th - HOW DID I GET TIRE SHINE OVERSPRAY ON THE WINDOWS:bash:!!!!!
13th - final window wipedown!!!
Click to expand...

That's some funny stuff. I read your first step and went WTF is he thinking? He should know better then that!

Kristopher1129 said:
There's too many detailers that have more ego than skills out there, ha.
Click to expand...

Who needs skill when you have a beautiful ego like me! :)
 
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