Show-Prep Checklist

If you've been to a car show, cars and coffee or a detailing meet, there's a good chance you've seen us there. The Detailers Products team is at shows all the time, and people always ask how we get cars looking so clean. Here's the answer: every time we prep for a show, this is our process.

It's a simple, repeatable car detailing routine you can do in your driveway the night before or the morning of the event. Wheels and tires come first, then a foam contact wash, a scratch-free dry, a satin tire shine and a quick detailer for that final gloss. Use it as your car show prep checklist and roll in show-ready.

Before you start: Work in the shade on cool surfaces. Follow product-label directions and test each product in an inconspicuous area on the relevant wheel, paint, trim or tire finish. Never let soap or cleaner dry on the vehicle. Keep wheel brushes, towels and wash media separate from paint tools.

  1. Wise Guy and Cool Guy wheel cleaners foaming on a dirty truck wheel and tire during car show prepClean wheels and tires first: Wise Guy - Tire and Wheel Cleaner. Rinse to remove loose dirt and cool the surface. Dilute according to the label, agitate with dedicated wheel and tire tools, and rinse completely before moving to the next wheel. Test compatibility first: do not use on anodized or polished aluminum. The product guidance also directs ceramic-coated wheels to a different cleaner. Confirm compatibility if the finish is unknown.

    Heavier brake dust? For really dirty wheels, add Cool Guy - Wheel Cleaner. It's an acid-free, pH-balanced iron remover that turns purple as it dissolves embedded brake dust, so you can watch the contamination bleed out. When it stops running purple, the wheel is decontaminated. Rinse thoroughly.

  2. Porsche covered in thick Hot Shot foam during a car show prep foam washHot Shot car wash foam soapFlat Out wash pads, 4 pack
    Foam and contact wash: Hot Shot - Car Wash Foam Soap and Flat Out Wash Pad - 4 pack. Rinse loose grit off the body, then cover it in Hot Shot foam and let it dwell briefly while keeping panels wet. With the foam on, wash from the top down using clean, lubricated Flat Out pads. Switch to a fresh pad for each quarter of the vehicle, rinse frequently, and keep heavily soiled lower-panel media separate. Rinse the body thoroughly. For coated, PPF or wrapped vehicles, check compatibility first: the product guidance recommends Hot Shot for occasional deep cleaning rather than routine maintenance.

  3. Dreadnought MAX XL drying towelDry the body: Dreadnought MAX XL - 20 in. x 40 in., 1400gsm. Use the absorbent twist-pile towel to gently pull-dry freshly rinsed panels before water dries into spots. Keep it clean and free of grit. Reserve separate towels for wheels, tires and dressing.

  4. Applying Decked Out tire dressing with The Feather soft detail brush for a satin tire finishDecked Out tire dressing spray bottleThe Feather soft detail brush
    Finish with satin tires: Decked Out - Tire Dressing and The Feather - Soft Detail Brush. Apply to clean, dry sidewalls after washing and drying are complete. Follow the bottle's satin-finish dilution directions, then use The Feather to work the dressing evenly into the sidewall and level any excess for a uniform finish. Allow the dressing to absorb before driving. Keep dressing off tread, brakes and driving contact surfaces.

    Wheel and tire, start to finish: This 4Runner TRD wheel and tire was cleaned with Wise Guy and rinsed. Once dry, we protected the wheel with Clutch - Ceramic Spray Sealant, worked in with the Detail Factory Curveball brush, enriching the finish and leaving the wheel protected. The tire was finished with Decked Out and The Feather.

    Dirty truck wheel and all-terrain tire before car show prep
    Before
    Truck wheel and tire being cleaned with Wise Guy tire and wheel cleaner
    Cleaning
    Finished 4Runner TRD wheel protected with Clutch ceramic spray sealant and tire dressed with Decked Out
    Finished

  5. Ride Shine carnauba detail sprayIgnition ceramic waterless wash and detail sprayEagle Edgeless 500 microfiber towels, 4 pack
    Final gloss with a quick detailer: Pick the one that matches your paint.

    • Non-coated paint: Ride Shine - Carnauba Detail Spray. True carnauba for that freshly waxed depth and wet look. It boosts the wax or sealant already on the car and wipes off streak-free, even in direct sun.

    • Ceramic-coated paint: Ignition - Ceramic Waterless Wash. SiO2-infused, so it adds slickness and water beading on top of your coating while it picks up any last dust.

    Mist a panel, wipe with an Eagle Edgeless 500 16" x 16" 4 Pack towel, then flip to a dry side to buff. The ultra-soft, high-pile edgeless towels are paint-safe for final wipe-downs. Keep a bottle and a fresh Eagle Edgeless in the trunk for touch-ups once you're parked at the show.

Final walk-around: Check mirrors, badges and panel gaps for drips, wheels for missed residue, and tires for excess dressing. Pack clean, separate towels for arrival. Never wipe road grit across dry paint.