DIY Car Detailing

Close-up of a fingernail resting on a fine scratch in glossy dark blue car paint

Oct 19, 2026·3 min read

The Fingernail Test: When a Car Scratch Can't Be Buffed Out

If your fingernail catches in a car scratch, it's too deep to buff out. How to do the fingernail test and what to do when a scratch fails it.

Open driver door showing a black and gray door panel, with a white spray bottle and a blue microfiber towel on the seat

Oct 17, 2026·4 min read

Can You Use Degreaser on Car Interior? (Degreaser vs APC)

Can you use degreaser on car interior? Almost never. What's in a degreaser vs an APC, the damage it does, and the safer cleaners we use instead.

Illustration of a washing machine with its door open and three stacks of folded microfiber towels, blue, gray and yellow, on top beside a detergent jug

Oct 14, 2026·3 min read

How to Wash Microfiber Towels the Right Way (5 Simple Steps)

How to wash microfiber towels without ruining them: separate by job, the right detergent, warm water, no fabric softener and low or no heat to dry.

Illustration of a tan leather car seat with a spray bottle of cleaner and a soft detailing brush resting on it

Oct 14, 2026·2 min read

Can You Use All Purpose Cleaner on Leather Seats?

Generally, yes, you can use all purpose cleaner on leather seats if it's diluted properly, the seat isn't hot or in the sun and the leather isn't worn.

Illustration of a pressure washer wand rinsing the side of a dark blue car with a wide fan of water

Oct 14, 2026·2 min read

What PSI to Wash a Car? Why Low PSI and High GPM Win

What PSI to wash a car: almost any pressure washer is safe at the right distance. We recommend low PSI and high GPM because it rinses the car faster.

Illustration of a car floor mat that is half covered in dog hair and half clean, with a rubber scraper, a vacuum attachment, an air blow gun and a pumice stone on it

Oct 13, 2026·4 min read

Best Dog Hair Removal Tools for Cars

The best dog hair removal tools for cars, from a detailer who has used them all: what each does well, where it falls short, and how we use them together.

Illustration of a car wheel that is half covered in brake dust and half clean, with a spray bottle, a wheel brush and a detailing brush beside it

Oct 12, 2026·4 min read

How to Clean Brake Dust Off Wheels

How to clean brake dust off wheels: the cleaner and brushes we would use, the order to work in, and which wheel finishes need a gentler cleaner.