Wash Mitt or Sponge
 

We use mitts because they hold more cleaning solution and you get a better "feel" of the surface. If you use a sponge, use a natural sponge instead of a synthetic sponge. With sponges, the bigger the better, because the bigger sponge holds more cleaning solution and you can cover a wider area. Never use a kitchen sponge with a rough, abrasive pad. The pad can scratch paint, chrome and trim parts.

You can get natural leather or synthetic chamois. Be careful with a leather chamois since it can pull oils from the paint and remove the wax. A high-quality leather chamois will be tanned with natural oils.

A non-leather product with genuine chamois performance. Dries any surface without leaving streaks, spots, or watermarks. Guaranteed to always remain soft.

If you use towels to remove wax, change them often so they don't load up with dried wax. Check the label of the towel to make sure it is 100% Cotton since polyester or other synthetic fibers can scratch the car's finish. since common towels have seams and other rough edges.

Many detailers use soft, cotton tee-shirts because of the texture of the fabric. There's something fitting about using a Ralph Lauren Polo tee-shirt on your BMW ... you can say it's the quality of the fabric!

There are so many types of brushes you can use; there are brushes for cleaning carpet, for upholstery, tires, wheels, etc. Like towels, make sure the brush won't scratch or scuff the surface they're intended to clean. One of our favorite brushes is a small, soft paintbrush cut in half. This stiff, gentle brush is great for detail work and crevices.

When using a squeegee, don't use too much force. Let the rubber edge glide across the glass. Then use a towel to wipe the squeegee following each stroke, and wipe off any glass-cleaning solution from the top and bottom of the squeegee trail.

The disadvantage of the squeegee is that, used improperly, it can etch the glass by pushing dirt particles into the surface of the glass.

Clean your windshield and windows with ease. Use the built-in sponge side to wash away bugs, dirt, and grime, then use the other side to squeegee away water leaving a spot free and clean window.

Buffer/Polisher
 

Just be careful if you lack experience with a buffer since it's too easy to make mistakes. Some mistakes are simple ones, like getting liquid wax all over your clothes instead of your car. Learn more about buffing...

Paint Tools

These paint tools allow you to determine the condition of your car's paint beyond what you can achieve by simply looking at the surface. These tools are used extensively by finish detailing professionals during buffing and polishing.

Looking at the surface of the paint is very important since visual inspection helps you understand what a particular paint job requires. You should inspect the vehicle in both bright sunshine as well as under fluorescent light. These two extreme lighting conditions will reveal different types of damage. You should also feel the surface with your finger to check for shape, depth and roughness.

Used by photographers and jewelers, a loupe is a simple and inexpensive tool to aid your visual inspection. You can also use a lighted magnifier, which allows you to look at a lighted portion of the paint surface at about 30x.

Paint thickness can be measured using non-powered thickness gauges or electronic thickness meters.

Gloss meters measure the distinctness of image gloss. They can be as simple as a sheet of paper with a graduated scale of thin black lines that you hold up to the paint finish, or as complex as an expensive electronic viewing box.

A surface heat gauge can assist high-speed buffing by checking the temperature of the surface while you work. This device can help prevent "burning" the

If you are just starting out in finish detailing, you could get the lighted magnifier, inexpensive paint thickness gauge, and a surface heat gauge, and add to your toolbox later. More tools...