Summer Pro Detailing Tips.
Summer is the perfect season to give your car some extra love and attention. The warm weather and longer days create an ideal opportunity to detail your vehicle, but it also comes with unique challenges like intense sunlight and heat. In this blog, I’ll share my top tips for cleaning and detailing your car in summer, focusing on best practices to avoid common pitfalls like water spots and dried-on products. I’ll also highlight some standout processes and products— including our very own lineup—that will keep your car looking showroom-ready all season long. Let’s dive in!
Why Summer Detailing Requires Extra Care
Summer brings sunshine, road trips, and plenty of dust, bugs, and grime that can cling to your car. While the warm weather can make certain tasks easier (hello, faster-drying interiors!), it also means you need to be strategic. Direct sunlight can cause water and cleaning products to dry too quickly, leaving behind streaks, spots, or even damage to your paint. With the right approach and tools, though, you can achieve a flawless finish and protect your car from the elements.
Here are my top tips and best practices for summer car detailing, along with some product recommendations to make the job easier and more effective.
Tip 1: Avoid Direct Sunlight
Why It Matters
Washing or detailing your car under the blazing summer sun is a recipe for frustration. Heat speeds up evaporation, causing water and cleaning solutions to dry before you can rinse or wipe them off. This can lead to water spots on your paint and streaks on your glass.
Best Practice
Work in the shade: Park your car under a tree, in a garage, or use a canopy to shield it from direct sunlight.
Time it right: Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal when temperatures are cooler and the sun isn’t at its peak.
Keep it wet: If you’re stuck working outside, mist your car with water periodically to prevent drying while you clean.
Tip 2: Don’t Let Products Dry on the Surface
Why It Matters
In summer heat, products like shampoos, snow foams, or wheel cleaners can dry onto your car’s surface if left too long. This not only makes them harder to rinse off but can also leave residue or even etch into your paint.
Best Practice
Work in sections: Clean one panel or area at a time—rinse and move on before the product has a chance to dry.
Rinse quickly: Have a hose or pressure washer ready to blast off solutions as soon as they’ve done their job.
Use our FOMO Snowfoam: This thick, clingy snow foam is perfect for summer pre-washing. Apply it with a foam lance, let it dwell for a few minutes to lift dirt, and rinse it off before it dries. It’s gentle on wax and tough on grime—ideal for hot days.
Tip 3: Prevent Water Spots
Why It Matters
Water spots form when mineral-heavy water evaporates on your car’s surface, leaving unsightly marks. In summer, this happens faster, especially on dark-colored cars where they’re more noticeable.
Best Practice
Use a microfiber drying towel: After rinsing, dry your car immediately with a plush microfiber towel to soak up water before it evaporates.
Finish with QUIK+ Ceramic Detailer Spray: Our QUIK+ spray adds a hydrophobic layer that repels water, reducing the chance of spots. Just spritz it on after washing and buff it off for a glossy, protected finish.
Soft water if possible: If your tap water is hard, consider using a water filter or distilled water for the final rinse.
Tip 4: Use Natural Wax for Depth and Shine
Why It Matters
Summer sun can fade your car’s paint if it’s not properly protected. A natural wax not only shields against UV rays but also adds a deep, warm shine that synthetic sealants can’t quite match.
Best Practice
Apply in the shade: After washing and drying, use a natural carnauba wax to give your paint that rich, wet-look glow.
How to do it: Apply a thin layer with a foam applicator, let it haze (about 5-10 minutes), then buff it off with a clean microfiber cloth.
Why it’s great for summer: Natural wax enhances depth and provides a sacrificial layer against UV damage, bugs, and tree sap—common summer culprits.
Tip 5: Wet Vacuum the Interior on Warm Days
Why It Matters
Summer is the best time to deep-clean your car’s interior. Warm temperatures help wet-vacuumed carpets and upholstery dry faster, preventing mold or musty odors.
Best Practice
Process: Start by vacuuming loose dirt, then use a wet vac with an upholstery cleaner to scrub carpets and fabric seats. Extract the dirty water and let the interior air out in the warm breeze.
Pro tip: Open all doors and windows on a sunny day to speed up drying—your interior will be fresh and dry in no time.
Summer bonus: Pair this with a UV protectant on your dashboard and trim to shield against sun damage.
Tip 6: Tackle Wheels and Iron Contamination
Why It Matters
Summer driving kicks up brake dust, road grime, and iron particles that can bond to your wheels and paint. These contaminants thrive in warm weather and can cause long-term damage if ignored.
Best Practice
Clean wheels first: Use our BLAST Wheels Cleaner to break down stubborn grime and brake dust. Spray it on, agitate with a wheel brush, and rinse off quickly before it dries.
Decontaminate paint: Follow up with LEAN Iron Fallout Remover on your wheels and bodywork. It turns purple as it dissolves iron particles—rinse it off promptly to avoid drying in the heat.
Why summer’s perfect: Warm weather accelerates the chemical reaction, making these products even more effective.
Tip 7: Opt for a Gentle, Effective Shampoo
Why It Matters
A good shampoo cleans without stripping existing wax or sealants, which is crucial in summer when you’re washing more often to combat dust and bugs.
Best Practice
Use SWIPE Shampoo: Our pH-neutral SWIPE is safe for all finishes and won’t dry out in the heat if you work fast. Mix it in a bucket with a grit guard, use a microfiber mitt, and rinse each section as you go.
Two-bucket method: One bucket for soapy water, one for rinsing your mitt—keeps dirt off your paint and reduces scratches.
Summer Detailing Process Rundown
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to detail your car like a pro this summer:
1. Pre-Wash: Spray FOMO Snowfoam all over the car to lift dirt. Rinse off before it dries.
2. Wheels Hit them with BLAST Wheels Cleaner, scrub, and rinse.
3. Decontamination: Apply LEAN Iron Fallout Remover to wheels and paint, rinse quickly.
4. Wash: Use SWIPE Shampoo with the two-bucket method in the shade.
5. Dry: Wipe down with a microfiber towel to avoid water spots.
6. Wax: Apply a natural carnauba wax for shine and protection.
7. Finish: Spray QUIK+ Ceramic Detailer Spray for extra gloss and water repellency.
8. Interior: Wet vac carpets and seats, air out in the warm weather, and protect trim.
Final Thoughts
Detailing your car in summer can be a breeze with the right techniques and products. By avoiding direct sunlight, working quickly to prevent drying, and using tools like our FOMO Snowfoam, BLAST Wheels Cleaner, SWIPE Shampoo, LEAN Iron Fallout Remover, and QUIK+ Ceramic Detailer Spray, you’ll keep your ride looking pristine all season. Plus, processes like wet vacuuming take full advantage of warm days for faster drying and a fresher interior.
