Car Exterior Detailing and Cleaning

How to Clean the Exterior of Your Car Like the Pros

1. Clean the Wheels and Tires
Spray SRB Wheel & Tire Cleaner D08 onto wheels and tires directly to dissolve brake dust and dirt.

2. Degrease the Engine Bay
Before beginning, hose down the entire engine bay to remove any large debris. Always work from top to bottom, applying SRB Engine degreaser S17 to the underside of the car hood and working your way down to the actual engine bay. Follow product instructions for any necessary dwell time and agitate with a soft bristle brush if soils require scrubbing. Finally, rinse away all degreaser, dirt, and any remaining residue to reveal a clean, shiny engine.

3. Protect the Engine Bay Surfaces
Once clean and dry, protect engine surfaces with a compatible dressing SRB engine coating C90.  Apply a thin, even coat of dressing and do a wipe-down with a clean microfiber cloth to remove any excess.

4. Decontaminate the Vehicle Paint
For contaminants such as road soils, oil, wax, sealants, silicone, underbody compounds, and asphalt, we recommend SRB Tar Plus Glue Remover S8. For bug impacts and splatters, we recommend SRB Bug Remover S16.Simply spray the area to be treated with S16. Let it dwell for one to two minutes, but don't let it dry completely. Wipe bugs off with a sponge and then rinse the surface. If any debris remains after rinsing, repeat as necessary.

5. Wash the Painted Surfaces

Proceed to vertical surfaces, like door panels, working from top to bottom. Employ proper wash techniques to avoid adding swirl marks. When you’re finished washing, dry the vehicle with a clean chamois, wetting it with clean water and using broad strokes. Our preferred car wash soap, SRB Citrus Wash & Gloss  S3, is a high-foaming formula that clings to surfaces. It removes dirt, road film, and salt quickly and efficiently without removing any existing wax.

6. Protect the Painted Surfaces

If you want to knock out washing and protecting painted surfaces in one step, choose a wash and wax, like Waterless Wash & Wax S5. With this type of wash, you are cleaning the surface and adding a layer of protection.

If you used a traditional car wash, you can now add the protection of your choice. Use wax to enhance shine and add durability, or install a ceramic coating for deeper gloss and longer-lasting protection. For car waxes, follow label instructions for safe and proper application with a pad, buffing machine, or even a microfiber towel. If you choose to apply a ceramic coating, attention to label instructions is even more critical. Coating application requires a high level of care. If you are not comfortable installing one by yourself, we recommend seeking the services of professional detailers.

For a quicker ceramic application, use a ceramic booster or spray, like Ceramic Quick Detailer S11. This spray-on ceramic boosts existing ceramic coatings or can be used on its own to provide shine and protection.

7. Clean your Windows
Spray SRB Glass Clean & Protector  S9onto the window surface, ensuring complete coverage. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the inside of the glass in either an up-and-down or side-to-side motion. Continue by wiping your cleaner onto the other side of the glass in the opposite direction. This will ensure that you can determine on which side of the glass any remaining marks or smudges exist. If there are stubborn spots or residue, a second round of cleaning may be necessary.

8. Protect the Tires
As the final step to your exterior detail, add protection and restore shine to your tires with a fresh coat of dressing.  You can apply SRB Black Wet Look Tire Shine  S6 with an applicator pad, a brush, or directly with a spray bottle, depending on application instructions and preference. Distribute the dressing across the tire surface in a thin, even coat and allow sufficient time to dry before driving to avoid sling.