What Do Car Dealers Use to Shine Cars and How You Can Do It Too?

Do you love that fresh out-of-the-showroom car shine? Are you craving to get it on your used car as well? Are the process and costs hindering you from getting the glossy surface back on your car of late? If the answer to all these questions is a yes, then you are on the right page!

As car owners, we often worry about what car dealers use to shine cars, right? And why not? The fresh out of the showroom shine is so adorable and attractive that every car owner would thrive to keep it lasting for long! But alas, it does not seem to last for a more extended period, and as we keep using the car, it starts fading slowly.

what do car dealers use to shine cars
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So, the question of how do car dealers make cars so shiny still remains unanswered! Well, they use a lot of products to keep the vehicle shine intact for a more extended time (or at least till the car is sold out!), and thus, if you want to have that professional glow on your old car too, you also have to use some of these professional products.

Some of the products that are used in making the car shine brighter include carnauba wax, tire shine, rim shine spray, etc. And if you are thriving to get such a glow, worry not! In this article, we will divulge the details of such auto detailing secrets of the experts that help in maintaining the glossy shine of the car surface for a while.

Keep reading through the lines…

What Do Car Dealers Use to Shine Cars and How You Can Do It Too?

The basic purpose of you visiting this page is obviously to know how to make your car shine, isn’t it? So, do not waste time and start reading the following section to understand all the necessary steps of keeping your car cleaner and shinier, just like the car dealers, but at the comfort of your home. Here are 12 such methods that you can apply for this purpose! Keep reading….

Rinse the Car to remove Loose Dirt and Debris

To know how car dealers keep the shine of the car intact, you must first understand how car dealerships keep cars clean! Well, unless your vehicle is free from dust and debris of all kinds, it would be challenging for you (or anyone else) to use the shining products on the car’s surface. As most of these products work the best on a cleaner and smoother car surface, it is advised that you take the cleaning process very seriously before opting for the application of any kind of shining product. When your car is cleaned right, it will also shine bright!

If you are looking for suggestions on how to clean or rinse dirt and debris from your car, here are some solutions. Use at least 2-4 buckets of water (more if it is dirtier) to get rid of dirt and debris of all kinds! It would be better if you could use the hosepipe for washing as it would clean up the surface pretty well. If there is any kind of loose dirt or debris in your car surface, then it may lead to mixing up with the car paint detailing, which may not look good otherwise.

Use the Right Car Wash Soap

When you are washing the car thoroughly, one of the most significant things that come into your mind is using the right car wash detergent (car washing soap or car wash shampoo). If the car wash is not good enough, then the outcome might not be quite effective. So, if you get car cleaning tips from dealers, the first thing they would suggest is to get your hands on the suitable car wash soap.

There are many such soaps available in the market which would promise you amazing cleaning experiences. And that will confuse you too! Thus, we have zeroed in on two such car washing soaps that have fantastic cleaning effectiveness and are quite affordable as well. You can check out the Meguiar’s G7101FFP Gold Class Car Wash and Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wash & Wax available on the market right now.

These are not only effective in cleaning the dust and debris off your car but are also a light on the pocket. These are easy to use, comes in an abundance of pack sizes, and provide a radiant look on the car surface even before you are done with waxing it. So, do not delay and buy one for washing your car now!

Use a Microfiber Mitt and Microfiber Towel

If you are a GenY car owner, then you must surely know what a microfiber revolution means for your car! We are living in an era where every minute car detailing is modified, and thus a mere washing or cleaning of a vehicle also has a certain level of significance that needs even more significant products. And one such product that the detailers use for cleaning or washing their cars is the microfiber mitt and microfiber towel.

So, if you have been thinking about what do car dealers use to detail cars, then you know the answer now! These microfiber mitts and towels are used for proper wash treatment of the vehicles. They have the efficiency of better washing by reducing friction or scratching, easier rinsing, and effective drying of the car surface before you head for applying the wax or sealant coatings. There are various microfiber mitts and towels available in the market that might confuse you! But worry not!

We have handpicked certain products for your convenience. The Rag Company Cyclone Wash Mitt is the Best Microfiber Mitt, and Meguiar’s Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel are the Best Microfiber Towel for drying your car. These are effective and affordable solutions to take on the microfiber revolution without any hindrances!

Fix Deep Paint Scratches and Dents on Car

After washing the car properly and drying it with microfiber mitts and towels, the next step you take to prepare your car for a shinier surface is to fix its deep paint scratches and dents. Unless you fix the dents or paint scratches, it would be difficult to bring out the original shine in the car body, no matter how many detailing products you use.

Sometimes, if the dents or scratches are very deep, then you may need professional intervention. But if they are in a position that can be fixed by applying the scratch fixing products, you can easily fix them at home. Are you wondering what do dealerships use to clean cars and get rid of paint scratches and dents? Well, you may love using the Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound, and Chemical Guys Scratch and Swirl Remover that is available in the market for removing car paint scratches effectively.

These are made with advanced technology that ensures every deep detailing of the car is well taken care of! Moreover, these are easy to apply and are very affordable also. So, if you are looking for a professional car paint scratch remover at the ease of your home, you know what to buy!

Use the Clay Bar to Remove Dirt from the Paintwork

Now that you are done with detailing the car paint scratches and dents and have also washed the car properly, the next step that is a very significant one is to use a clay bar to get rid of dirt in the paintwork. The secret to a shiny car surface is already out, and it all lies in the waxing and polishing of the car! But if there is dirt in the pre-existing paint of the vehicle, then wax coating it might be problematic.

So, do not break your head on how to make dull paint shine on a car without realizing about cleaning the car’s paintwork properly. Well, as the headline suggests, using clay bars to remove dirt work from car paint surfaces is a tried and tested method by the auto detailers for serving the purpose. The clay bars are helpful in dealing with the surface contaminants and thereby making the paint smoother and shinier.

And if you are looking for suggestions for some grey clay bars to detail your car’s paintwork, in that case, you can check out the Mothers California Gold Clay Bar System and Chemical Guys Clay Bar and Luber Synthetic Lubricant Kit for removing dirt from your car paintwork. These are super easy to use, run longer, and are very effective and affordable at the same time.

Polish the Car Before Waxing

A majority of car owners often get confused between polishing the cars and waxing them. And that is one of the car cleaning tricks dealers don’t want you to know! Polishing the car simply means removing the car paint imperfections, whereas waxing it means making it shinier. So, before you start with the waxing process, it is highly recommended that you go for proper polishing of the car surface.

It is easy to do with Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish and 3D Speed All in One Polish. Car owners highly prefer these products for their constant effect on removing any kind of paint imperfections on the car, beyond the scratches and dents. The products are effortless to use. You just need to pour a few drops of the solution into a buffing pad, rub it across the car paint surface and you are done!

It takes a few minutes to accomplish a shinier and glossier car paint when you use these products for serving the purpose. They come with optimum quantities that can be used repeatedly or in multiple cars also. One of the prime benefits of these products is that they are very affordable. So, if you were confused between waxing and polishing, we hope it is clear for you now!

Use a High-Quality Car Wax (Carnauba Wax)

When you are done Polishing the car surface, the next thing that you must do is to take precautions to protect the paint polish. And the best way to do it is to apply a wax coating over the car paint surface. Most automobile experts suggest using carnauba wax for better finishing.

When you put the carnauba wax in the car paint coating, it would not only make the car shine brighter, but it would also make the car paint shine longer. For best results, using high-quality car wax is recommended. And if you are looking for recommendations, you can go for P21S Carnauba Wax, and Pinnacle Signature Series II Carnauba Paste Wax, as these are the best wax products available in the market right now.

So, if you have been thinking about how to make your car showroom shine without getting professional help, then you can trust the waxing procedure without any doubt! Both these waxing products are lightweight, easy to apply, last longer, and quite affordable as well. You just need to take a minimal quantity on a buffing pad, buff it on the entire car paint surface, and you are done. It’s easy and time-saving as well.

Use a Dual Action Polisher for Polishing and Waxing

Sometimes the best way to make your car shine depends a lot on the products you are using to carry out the polishing or waxing process. Therefore, a dual-action polisher works wonderfully well both for polishing and waxing the car surface. These dual-action machines come in handy with a polisher and pressure gauge to make the polishing and wax application easier.

You just need to switch on these electric machines and start polishing without having any prior knowledge of them. There are many such dual action polishers available in the market that are pretty useful, out of which we have shortlisted a few that are wonderful! These are the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher and Chemical Guys TORQX Random Orbital Polisher.

Both these items have been proved to be amazing dual-action performers, which help enhance the paint shine of the car and keep it intact for a more extended period. The porter cable dual action polisher is made of fine lambs wool, features 2 position settings, and is designed for a variety of surfaces, whereas the Chemical Guys polisher adds more professional touch to the car paint due to its heavyweight application. Overall both these products are good enough for serving dual purposes!

Clean and Polish the Windshield and Window Glass

Now that you are done with waxing and polishing the car paint surface, you know how car dealers make cars so shiny and clean! But even if you use waxing and polishing products on the paint surface, the car might not look entirely attractive like it remains in the dealership showrooms. Wondering why? Well, the car paint surface not only comprises its looks, but the entire car does! So, it would be best if you also considered the windshield and window class to match the car’s shine.

You need to clean and polish the car windshield and window glass at par with the car body. And the best available products to carry out the purpose are certainly the Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaning Kit and Meguiar’s Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner. These are incredibly effective car window glass cleaners that make the windshield and glass shine brighter.

They come in trigger spray enclosures that are suitable for use even in hard-to-reach corners. These are very affordable and easy to apply products. You also get a combo kit with one of these products to ensure the application procedure is executed right! Overall, these are amazingly affordable and effective car window glass cleaners that you can rely upon for a shinier finish!

Apply the Rim Cleaner Spray to Restore the Shine

After you are done waxing and polishing the car surface and the window glasses, your car may not still look as appealing as it does inside a showroom! Well, that’s quite normal as you do not know what car dealers use to shine tires, right? And the car tires are one of the most important parts of the car, and without shining them, the car cannot have a fresh out of the showroom look.

So, therefore, the car rim cleaner spray is one significant product that you must buy to make the wheel rims and tires shine brighter. There are lots of rim cleaners available in the market that are quite effective. Out of which, we have selected a few that serve the purpose best and also go light on the pocket.

These are the TriNova Wheel Cleaner Rim Cleaning Spray and Adam’s Wheel Cleaner. Both these products have an amazing advanced formula that enhances the rim cleaning procedure. These are safe for usage and provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. These are easy to use and can be applied in a few minutes. You get the optimum quantity of spray bottles that you can choose from, depending upon your requirement. Both are not much costly, and you can get one at as low as $13 approximately.

Use the Best Tire Shine that Doesn’t Sling

The rim cleaner will make your car wheel rim shine brighter, but what about the car wheels? When you want a showroom-like glaze on your old car, you ought to use all the products that the car dealerships use to make it glow. But what do car dealers use to shine cars and pickup trucks? Well, for all other parts, the products required are already mentioned. But for making the tires glow like new, you need to buy the tire shine that doesn’t sling.

Yes, a non-sling tire shine product is the need of the hour for all car owners who want their car to shine like a new car. And the best picks in the category are the Carfidant Ultimate Tire Shine Spray and Aero Cosmetics Tire Dressing. As the name suggests, these are car tire shine sprays meant for shining your car tires and make them new-like. These can be applied efficiently because of the spray form. There are 2-3 available sizes from which you can choose the right one for you. The minimum price starts from $11 approx, which is not too heavy on the pocket as well. Overall, these are good products to be used for making your car tire shine brighter.

Use a Top-Quality Car Interior Cleaner and Protectant

All this while we discussed making the car exterior surface cleaner and shinier. But we did not discuss much on protecting the car interior to match the car exterior and add new-like attractiveness. So, what do car dealers use to clean the interior surface of the cars? There are certain products that ensure the car interior also remains protected, and the shine inside matches the shine outside as well.

When we are talking about the car interiors, we generally point at the car Dashboard, Car Seats, Upholstery, Leather, Plastic, and Vinyl, etc., as these are the most used spaces inside the car and are more prone to get dirty as well. So, what is the best product to keep these interiors cleaner and shinier?

Well, you can readily choose from either the Chemical Guys Total Interior Cleaner & Protectant or the Meguiar’s Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner. Both have the efficacy to provide protection to the car interiors and make them look classy and attractive. These are long-lasting and are not too pricey as well. These are easy to apply, you just need to spray a few drops on the surface, rub it with a soft cloth or rubbing pad and leave it to dry and you are done!

How Do Car Dealers Make Cars So Shiny? [FAQs]:

Sometimes, even though you are aware of all the details about something, there are still some leftover questions that must be answered. Like in the case of making cars shine like the auto detailers, you may be thinking are automatic car washes bad for your car or which is the best car wash product for your car and several other such questions. And to answer these queries, the following FAQs section is formed. So, let’s take a look!

How Often Should I Wax My Car?

As waxing the car is one of the essential parts of clinching on to the shine of the car for a more extended period, you may be asking yourself- how frequently should I wax my car? While most car owners understand the condition of their cars well and plan the schedule for waxing henceforth, the automobile experts suggest sticking to the once per 3 months formula of waxing the cars to enhance the shine for a more extended time. If at all you cannot make time for a 3-month frequent waxing, do not delay it for more than 6 months so that you do not lose out on the auto detailer shine anyway!

Which Is Better Carnauba or Synthetic Wax?

There is a long-standing battle to prove which is better carnauba or synthetic wax to enhance the cars’ shine. While some car owners prefer to use carnauba wax to enhance the glow, some prefer using synthetic wax for the same purpose! But what do the auto experts suggest? Well, both have their own values. The carnauba wax is suitable for those who want ultimate shine without a long-lasting effect, whereas the synthetic wax is good for those who look for a long-lasting effect, even if the shine is not as loud as the carnauba waxed surface. If you are looking for suggestions, the P21S Carnauba Wax is a good Carnauba Wax to rely on, whereas the Mothers California Gold Synthetic Wax is the Best Synthetic Wax that serves the purpose well!

Are Automatic Car Washes Bad for Your Car?

It is the era of evolution, and thus, when it comes to washing cars, handless washes are considered a thing! But sometimes the car owner might think- can a touchless car wash damage your car paint? Or are they bad for keeping up with the shine of the car? Well, if you want the shine of your car to remain intact, it is advised to not go for automatic car washing. The reason behind this is that the force, the brush, and the method used for the wash is not at all suitable for the car shine. Moreover, it may also damage the car’s surface with dents and scars of all kinds! So, it is recommended that you go for regular hand washes!

What Do Car Dealerships Use to Make Cars Shine?

If you have reached this part of the article, it is evident that you have got a distinctive knowledge about what do car dealerships use to make cars shine. There are lots of products available on the market that help in keeping up with the shine of the vehicle in the long term. Although automobile experts use professional products to make the car shine, if you are planning for the same shine at home with your old car, you do not have to worry much as the given products in this article are good enough for the same.

Now, when it comes to choosing the best ways to make your car shine as car dealerships do, you may be confused amongst the given options. It might not always be possible for you to apply all the car cleaning techniques or use all the car washing products to make your car shine, and that is why some expert recommendation is needed as to which few methods or products are best suited for the purpose.

According to my understanding, I found these five steps to be the most effective to make my car shine like new. These are:

  • Washing the Car with Right Car Wash Soap or shampoo
  • Fixing Deep Paint Scratches and Dents on Car
  • Using a High-Quality Carnauba Wax for Impeccable Shine
  • Using a Dual Action Polisher for Polishing and Waxing
  • Applying the Rim Cleaner Spray to Restore the Shine

Though all the 12 methods mentioned in the article can be considered the auto detailer’s secrets to keep up the shine of the car, in my opinion, these three can be very effective too, if at all you do not have time to apply them all! But then, it’s your choice to pick the best solution to make your car shine like the auto dealers!

About Amy Cuban

I am an automotive enthusiast who loves to be around cars. I enjoy working on cars in my spare time and love anything related to automobiles. I like using different types of car accessories, car gadgets, and innovative car care products.

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