Ask Justin the Supply Guy – What Detailing Supplies would You Use?

As is often the case, I had a mobile detailer get on the truck this last week and ask “ok wow, so what do I actually need?” The answer to that question depends on a lot of things, but lets start with some of the basics.

The Compact Mobile Detailing Solution

In some cases, we are not necessarily looking for just the best product, but a solution that is easy to carry, cost-effective, and doesn’t break the bank. So while I go into greater detail below, if you are looking for something simple, grab a gallon of Super Degreaser, Super Pre-Soak, Super Citrus APC, and Super Soap from 3D. Add a gallon of your favorite dressing like Car Brite Wet and you are on your way.

Interior Cleaners

Like all things in this industry, the interior cleaner I recommend is highly dependent on you and your customer. I do have three favorites though.

Xpress Interior – Xpress Interior from P&S is an affordable, relatively strong interior cleaner that is intended for leather, vinyl, and plastic but can also be used on headliners and fabrics. It smells good, is ready to use, and is strong enough for most applications.

3D LVP – 3D LVP, which stands for leather, vinyl, and plastic, is one of my all-time favorite interior cleaners. Just as effective as Xpress Interior, 3D LVP works well diluted 1:4 and costs roughly the same as Xpress Interior. This means I get 5x the cleaning solution for about the same money.

Car Brite Blue Max – Blue Max is a dealership favorite. It is an inexpensive degreaser that, diluted 1:10, makes an outstanding interior cleaner that can clean almost any interior surface. I find this product to be best for fixed locations, preferably with a proportioner installed — a system that automatically dilutes your chemicals.

Interior Dressings

Interior dressings are based on personal preference and, more importantly, the preference of your customer. Personally, I don’t care for a dressed interior. I prefer a clean interior that has been properly conditioned.

P&S Natural Dressing – As the name implies, P&S Natural Dressing is an outstanding option for keeping the natural look while still having an interior that is dressed and finished. It very simply is the only true dressing I would use on my own vehicle.

3D LVP Conditioner – Yes please! This is not a dressing. It is a conditioner. It restores my leather, plastic, and vinyl while making them look finished.

Car Brite Special Protect All – My car dealerships and even some of my high-end dealerships love Protect-All. It’s flexible, dilutable, and leaves a nice semi-gloss finish without too much grease.

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning System

The problem with the average carpet cleaning system is it leaves you with a wet rear end, a musty smell, and in some cases a rough-feeling interior. I highly suggest you master the P&S three-step carpet cleaning system consisting of Terminator, Carpet Bomber, and Finisher.

Xtract Power – If I am going to use a Mytee extractor or equivalent, I really like Xtract Power from PRO. While there are several reasons for this, the most important one is it does not damage my extractor.

Car Brite Brite Spot – For those detailing jobs none of us want, Car Brite Brite Spot is the ultimate enzyme for protein stains. What is a protein stain? Anything that comes out of an animal. From milk to vomit and from exploded diapers to seafood spills, Brite Spot has the specialized cleaning power you need.

Odor Removal

There is no list for this one. After a proper interior detail, I am using Bio-Bombs for odor removal. Period. Hard stop. The Bio-Bombs system offers a vehicle deodorization kit and minis for your steamer or extractor.

Exterior Pre-Wash

3D Wheel Kleen – 3D Wheel Kleen is my favorite wheel cleaner. I use it in an IK ALK foaming sprayer. If the situation calls for it, I may upgrade to BDX for excessive brake dust.

3D Bug Remover – I use 3D Bug Remover at the same time I use Wheel Kleen. If I was a mobile detailer working in the sun, I would use PRO Bug Remover because it tends to stay wet. 3D Bug Remover is a fast-acting enzyme that you could not pry out of my cold dead hands.

3D Super Pre Soak or P&S Frostbite – For a high-alkaline prewash, 3D Super Pre Soak is my go-to. If I am getting ready to do a ceramic coating, I may opt for P&S Frostbite instead. They both work very well as a contactless wash before starting my main car washing procedure.

P&S Crystal Wash – Crystal Wash is an organic acid that I like better for fallout removal than traditional fallout removers. That said, if I have purple spots on a white car or if I am getting ready to do a ceramic coating, I will likely use both Crystal Wash and a traditional fallout remover. Crystal Wash excels at removing various forms of fallout where products like BDX just remove metallic fallout.

Exterior Wash

Absolute Rinseless – I used to hate rinseless washing. Now it is my wash method of choice. But I can’t take the credit; I learned this system from SBG the Detailer. I use it in combination with P&S Bead Maker and a RESET clay sponge.

Car Brite Car Soap – If I am at a dealership or working with a high-volume detailer, this stuff rocks. Super strong, yet safe. Car Brite Car Soap is hands down one of my favorites — so much so I don’t sell much Cherry Bomb anymore.

3D Pink – The price point on this is insane and it works amazing. We stock and sell pallets of this pH-neutral car wash soap.

P&S Body Wash – This one is new to me. If you use an automated system to dilute your soap, this is my new wash soap of choice.

Bead Maker and a 3D G-44 Drying Towel – If I am not polishing or doing a gloss enhancement, Bead Maker is a drying agent, protectant, and all-around kick-butt way to finish off a vehicle. After my wash and rinse, or after cleaning with Absolute, while the vehicle is wet, I will mist on Bead Maker, clay with a perforated clay sponge, and dry with a 3D G-44 Drying Towel.

Exterior Dressings

P&S Dynamic Dressing – This stuff isn’t cheap. Or is it? At over $100 a gallon, sticker shock is common. BUT. I take mine and add it to three gallons of water. I premix it in an empty 5-gallon jug. This is my everything dressing — from tire shine to trim and engine bays. I love this stuff. Most of the time I do not even need to wipe. It can be used inside, but it smells like bananas, and in the Western Colorado heat, I just can’t take that smell!

GR8 Dressing – If your customer base calls for a high-gloss dressing, GR8 from PRO is hard to beat. That said, Car Brite Wet is also outstanding and arguably more dilutable and cost-effective.

Car Brite Wet – This is a high-end, highly dilutable dressing that everyone loves.

Solvent Based Tire Dressing – Truth first. With new VOC laws, dressing is not what it used to be. We can’t sell heptane-based products. Pro Blue and Quest from Car Brite are two outstanding choices. You will need to experiment with a brush, trigger bottle, and applicator to get the desired outcome.

Waxes and Sealants

3D Speed – For a polisher-applied wax that protects and removes swirls, you simply can’t beat Speed.

Poxy – For a true wax, Poxy is a montan wax that outperforms carnauba wax and is easier to apply.

P&S Defender – If I am not doing a coating, this is what I use. P&S Defender is a high SiO₂ sealant that beads like crazy and offers UV protection. Other companies would call it a ceramic, but P&S is not like other companies.

Bead Maker – As previously mentioned, for a wash, clay, seal, this is my go-to.

Ceramic Coatings

Nasiol NL272 – This is my go-to ceramic coating. It outshines, out-beads, and outlasts anything I have ever used and has warranty options that actually cover real-world situations. It applies in a single layer and outperforms the multi-layer systems from so-called industry leaders. Nasiol makes their products from the ground up. P&S Stout is incredibly effective as well and a very close second.

Nasiol ZR53 – If you’re looking for budget-friendly, this is it. Similar properties and performance to the flagship NL272 at half the price. But for me the cost of ceramic is the labor, so I still prefer NL272.

Metal Coat – This is a spray-on ceramic coating with measurable (7H) hardness. I sell this as an upgrade to a detail and a precursor to ceramic coatings for that customer who can’t afford it yet. This is a one-year max coating that sprays on. It does not offer near the performance of ZR53 or NL272 but far exceeds SiO₂ sprays and waxes. Sell it as a detailing upgrade, not a coating.

Glass

Let’s face it, cleaning glass is “everyone’s favorite”. The system with glass is more important than the product. Use less product. Apply it to a melamine sponge on exterior glass with no film, box it in, fill in the middle, and dry with a good glass towel. Interior glass you can use the melamine sponge if there is no tint; otherwise use an applicator.

3D 901 Glass Cleaner – For a ready-to-use, on-the-go glass cleaner, this is hands down the best. I will often reach for P&S Reflect to finish off the glass, but 3D 901 Glass Cleaner is the best way to remove the grime.

Car Brite Klearly Orange – If you are running a dilution system at the shop, this product smells good and works great. Tru View from P&S is the only other product that comes close.