Car detailing is more than just washing your vehicle—it’s about maintaining its pristine condition, protecting its surfaces, and ensuring it looks as good as new for as long as possible. While high-quality shampoos, waxes, and sealants are essential, the right accessories make all the difference. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best accessories for every stage of the detailing process, helping you achieve professional results at home or on the job.
Wheels – The First Step to a Flawless Detail
Wheels are the first part of the car you should clean, as they tend to be the dirtiest. With the right tools, you can remove stubborn brake dust, road grime, and other contaminants effectively. Here’s what you need:
Barrel Brushes – Deep Clean Behind the Spokes
Starting from the inside and working our way out, first up we have the barrel brushes. These come in various shapes and sizes. Cleaning a wheel properly means getting behind the spokes or face of the wheel, and especially the area where the brakes are. There’s sharp stuff in there you could potentially cut your hands on - enter the barrel brush. The barrel brush gets in behind the face of the wheel and scrubs away the build-up of brake dust and road grime. It has flexible bristles that are strong enough to clean the barrels without scratching them, leaving a spotless rim.
Feather-Tip Brushes & Wheel Mitts – Precision Cleaning for the Face of the Wheel
The face of the wheel is just as important as the barrel, and a combination of a feather-tip brush and a dedicated wheel mitt can ensure a thorough clean. The feather-tip brush is perfect for tight areas, such as wheel nut holes, while the mitt ensures that no dirt is left behind.
Tyre Scrubber – Preparing for the Perfect Tyre Shine
The tyres need as much attention as the wheels themselves. A tyre scrubber is designed with stiff bristles and chemical-resistant materials to remove dirt, mud, and old tyre dressings. Using an all-purpose cleaner or dedicated tyre cleaner, a back-and-forth scrubbing motion ensures that all contaminants are removed before applying a new dressing.
Tyre & Trim Applicator – The Finishing Touch
A freshly cleaned tyre deserves a finishing touch. The tyre & trim applicator features a curved foam design that glides effortlessly over the rubber, ensuring an even coat of tyre dressing. This small but essential tool enhances the final look of any detail by providing a deep, rich gloss that lasts.
The Contact Wash – Essential Tools for a Safe and Effective Clean
The second phase of any clean is the contact wash. This is where we need our essential accessories. Wash mitt and bucket, you can’t do without. But the other extras make it a better-quality result too.
Microfibre Noodle Wash Mitt – The Ultimate Washing Tool
Let's start with the mitt. It’s the most needed piece of equipment and there's no wash without it. The microfibre noodle mitt is the perfect tool. It is mega absorbent, holding 5 times its own weight in soapy shampoo, which means you take more water from the bucket to the car to lubricate your wash. The fibres trap any dirt they lift off so you don’t re-apply the grime to the car. They are machine washable and last for ages. Once a sponge is dirty it need to go in the bin, so mitts really are the better option.
Bucket & Grit Guard – A Simple Way to Prevent Swirls
The second thing we cant do without is a bucket. Cupping water in your hands isn’t an option. A decent sized 20L bucket is the best way to go. Add in the grit guard which stops grit floating around in your water, trapping it to the bottom, and you’ve got the safest way to wash a car. Grit guards help prevent swirls and scratches being put on the paint when washing, so for the cost of one, it’s a no brainer.
Bucket Caddy & Dolly – Convenience and Efficiency
For those additional tools you use during the detail, there is the caddy. It’s a storage tub that sits over the edge of your bucket giving you space to store those brushes and mitts when not in use, making them easy to access instead of rummaging around the bottom of a bucket filled with soapy water. The perfect companion for anyone who uses more than the standard bucket and mitt.
Another tool that can make life easier is the dolly. This is basically a set of wheels for your bucket. No more lifting a heavy bucket around the car with you. Simply drop your bucket in the dolly, twist the bucket holder screws in place and push it around the car on wheels. Ideal for those who really don’t want to be carrying a bucket around when you could just slide it. The wheels lock for when you reach your destination or are on a slight incline too! The dolly is the epitome of working smarter, not harder.
Bucket Lid – More Than Just a Cover
A bucket lid is a small but practical addition. It keeps your water free from debris, allows you to transport soapy water safely (ideal for mobile detailers), and even doubles as a seat when working on lower parts of the vehicle.
Drying & Protection – Achieving a Flawless Finish
The car is washed. What’s next? It needs drying.
Edgeless Drying Towels – Absorbent and Safe for Paintwork
Edgeless drying towels are perfect for drying. They are highly absorbent, no edges to mark the paintwork and most importantly, you can wring them out. Once they stop soaking up, give them a wring and carry on. Achieving a streak-free finish is a walk in the park with these.
Applicator Pads – Ensuring Even Product Application
Following on with a freshly cleaned and dried car, you can polish or wax. Regardless of what product you are using, we have the perfect package to help: the applicator set. These come in a 3-pack to cover all bases of cutting, polishing, sealants, or waxing. They even have a handy puck to stick on, giving you an easier, more even application of your product. Why struggle to find a suitable cloth to put your polish on when these are designed for the job? Washable and reusable too.
Foam Wax Applicator – Precision for a Perfect Shine
Specifically made for waxing cars, we have the foam applicator too. Slightly smaller and easy to use, this little accessory applies waxes with precision and safety. Having a dedicated wax applicator makes sense. For a tiny price, you can wax the car, clean the pad, and in most cases, store the foam pad in your tub of wax, keeping it clean and safe, ready for next time.
Microfibre Cloths – Versatile and Essential
An accessory with possibly the most uses is the edgeless microfibre cloth. These things can clean, wipe, remove polish, wax or even use with quick detailer for an in-between clean. Available in multiple sizes for a variety of applications or size of vehicle, the edgeless microfibre is a must-have. Safe on all surfaces, washable, reusable and built to last with dirt trapping capabilities and plush fibres giving a perfect result whatever you use it for.
Waffle Weave Glass Cloth – Streak-Free Glass Cleaning
Cleaning glass can be a massive pain, but get the right combo of cloth and product and you are on to a winner. The waffle weave glass cloth is perfect for cleaning glass in and out of the car. It’s absorbent, leaves a streak free finish and buffs up to perfection. This cloth can also be used to buff up the piano black trims and screens on the interior along side a small spritz of glass cleaner.
Pro Accessories – Taking Detailing to the Next Level
For professional detailers or enthusiasts looking for that extra edge, these pro-grade accessories can elevate your detailing game.
Firm Detailing Brushes – Tackling Tough Areas
First on this list is the firm detailing brushes. These are more of a niche accessory but very useful for the right job. The firm, chemical-resistant bristles are ideal for cleaning engine bays and greasy door shuts. The brushes can tackle the grease and grime build-up in an engine bay and then be rinsed to be used again. The long, stiff brush head will get into those tight nooks and crannies that other brushes struggle with. Alternatively, use these firm detailers on the interior, loosening dirt in the carpets, making hoovering up an easier task. In particular, down the sides of seats and in the seat rails, the brush can dislodge and flick the debris out that would otherwise be missed.
Pro Bottles – Dilution and Storage Made Easy
Another key detailing tool is the pro bottle. These 1L bottles with adjustable triggers can be used to hold chemicals bought in larger quantities, such as the 5Ls for those who prefer to bulk buy. Once again, the triggers are chemical-resistant, and the bottles themselves have measurement markings on the side to provide accurate dilution ratios if needed. Essential for getting the products used in an effective way.
Detailing Floor Mats – A Professional Touch
Adding disposable detailing floor mats to a freshly cleaned interior protects carpets and adds a professional touch. These heavy-duty paper mats keep the vehicle looking pristine before customer handover.
Machine Polishing Pads – The Key to Paint Perfection
Lastly for the accessories we come to the machine polishing pads. These come in 3 different styles. Heavy cut, medium cut and finishing. The three main types of pad needed for a full detail. Designed to fit on a 5” dual action machine polisher, they can remove scratches and swirls all the way up to applying a final glaze. These pads perfect all the hard prep work put in and can transform and vehicles paintwork to a glossy showroom standard. A must have, if reaching perfection is what you’re aiming for.
Elevate Your Detailing Game
With the right accessories, achieving professional results at home is easier than ever. From wheels to paintwork, glass to interior, every tool has a purpose in making your detailing process more effective, efficient, and enjoyable. Investing in high-quality accessories ensures that your car looks its best and is protected for the long run.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional detailer, having the best tools at your disposal makes all the difference. So why not take your detailing routine to the next level and experience the satisfaction of a perfectly cleaned and protected car?