When it comes to detailing, one of the biggest lessons that can save you time, money, and headaches is the idea that “less is more.” Whether you’re new to the world of detailing or just starting to improve your skills, embracing this approach will make you a more efficient, thoughtful, and results-driven detailer.
As I always say, and you’ll hear me preach this often: “Use the least aggressive method that still accomplishes the task.” It’s not just a motto — it’s a mindset that ensures you work smarter, protect the surfaces you’re caring for, and avoid unnecessary risks or damage. Let’s dive into the heart of this concept and talk about how applying “less is more” can make a big difference in your detailing game.
Why the “Less is More” Concept Works
Detailing isn’t just about using the most potent chemicals, the stiffest brushes, or the lowest dilution ratios with your cleaning solutions. Quite the opposite, actually. Being thoughtful with your methods, tools, and products will take you much farther, and it’ll help you deliver high-quality results while maintaining the integrity of your customer’s (or your own) vehicle.
Here’s why this approach matters:
- Preservation of Surfaces: Over-aggressive techniques can strip protective coatings, mar paintwork, or weaken sensitive surfaces over time. Starting mild and working up only if necessary protects the vehicle for the long haul.
- Better Results: Methodical use of just the right amount of product, pressure, or aggressiveness often leads to a more refined, polished, and better result.
- Fewer Costs: Want to save money on chemicals? Use them efficiently! Overuse is easy when you think “more = better,” but with detailing, that’s rarely the case.
- Avoiding Damage: It’s easy to assume that “stronger” is better, especially for beginners, but that mindset can lead to costly mistakes—from dulling the finish to outright damage.
In short, “Less is more” in detailing because it helps you get where you want to go with the least risk, time, and resources.
The Myth of Higher Concentrations: Dilution Ratios Matter
Here’s a trap many new detailers fall into: thinking that using a product at a higher concentration (a lower dilution ratio) will yield better or faster results. It’s a common assumption, but it’s often incorrect — and it can be downright harmful. Detailers, many times, are far too impatient. They want instant transformative results. They want the satisfaction of that one wipe clean. It’s just not practical, efficient, or safe.
Take, for example, rinseless washes. When working with a product like this, there’s a recommended dilution ratio provided by the manufacturer for a reason. If the label says you need 256:1 (which is 1/2 ounce of solution for each gallon of water), then that’s the optimal formula for performance, lubricity, and safety on paint surfaces. Beginners sometimes think, “Well, if 1/2 ounce is good, 1-2 ounces must be better, right?” Nope!
Here’s why this idea can backfire:
- Over-Concentration Can Cause Streaking or Residue: More product doesn’t always mean it works better. In fact, with rinseless washes, too much solution can leave behind a gummy film on the surface or require extra effort to wipe away properly. Instead of making life easier, it makes your job harder.
- Dilution Affects Chemical Balance: Detailing products are carefully formulated to achieve a specific balance at their recommended dilution. Using them at a much stronger ratio can throw that balance off, leading to undesirable side effects — like etching, smearing, or excessive foaming when you don’t need it.
- Increases the Potential for Damage: Certain cleaners, especially all-purpose cleaners (APCs) or degreasers, can become EXTREMELY aggressive if not appropriately diluted. This can dull plastics, stain sensitive materials, or damage clear coat finishes. Always follow the dilution chart. If in doubt, start with the weakest solution. (or even weaker)
As a best practice: Resist the urge to overdo it with products and stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Test in small, lightly diluted concentrations first before jumping to full strength when needed.
How This Applies Across Detailing Tasks
The concept of “less is more” doesn’t just apply to dilution ratios. It applies to nearly every tool or method you’ll use as a detailer. Let’s break it down a little further:
- Washing: Do you think you need the heaviest foam cannon load (shaving cream thick) and stiffest wash mitt to clean a vehicle? Nope. A proper pre-soak followed by a pre-contact wash rinsing paired with a balanced pH shampoo at the right dilution—or yes, a Rinseless wash—will safely lift dirt without needing unnecessarily aggressive tools, chemicals, or techniques.
- Polishing: Have some light swirl marks in the paint? Don’t reach for the most aggressive cutting pad and compound immediately. Instead, start with the least abrasive polish and pad you can. If that doesn’t yield the result you want, then step up incrementally. Using heavy abrasives unnecessarily can thin the clear coat or create micro-scratching that requires extra correction down the line.
- Interior Detailing: Don’t blast an APC at full strength onto sensitive plastics or delicate leathers. (In fact avoid APC altogether.) Instead, start with rinseless wash (yes, I know here Bobby goes again with rinseless nonsense) or a weaker interior cleaning solution and safer tools like soft brushes or microfiber, and only escalate if needed.
- Dressings and Protectants: More product doesn’t equal better protection — it just creates mess and waste. A thin, even application yields the best results and avoids greasy spots or streaks.
Practical Steps to Embrace “Less is More”
If you’re ready to make this principle part of your detailing routine, here are a few tips to implement right away:
- Always Read the Instructions: Manufacturers design products with intention. Follow their recommended dilution ratios and usage instructions before experimenting. If you’re going to experiment at all, I suggest trying higher dilution ratios vs lower dilution ratios to start. I’ve saved a lot of money and headaches over the years with this approach.
- Start Mild: Whether you’re using a tool, product, or technique — start gentle. You can always step up if you need more power, but you can’t undo avoidable damage.
- Test First: Before applying a product (especially an uknown one to you) to a large area, test in an inconspicuous place. This ensures the solution you’re using is safe and effective for the material at hand.
- Use Quality Tools: A high-quality microfiber, for example, often requires less product to achieve a great result than cheap alternatives. The same goes for brushes, applicators, and machines.
- Less Product, Better Technique: For example, on a panel wipe or drying aid, start with two or three sprays on your towel and adjust only if absolutely necessary. Dial in your technique instead of overloading the product.
Final Thoughts: Be Smart, Be Safe, and Keep Learning
Detailing is a craft that rewards patience, precision, and thoughtfulness. By embracing the “less is more” mentality and sticking to the motto of using “the least aggressive method that still accomplishes the task,” you’ll avoid common beginner mistakes, deliver better results, and feel more confident in your work.
Remember, detailing isn’t about brute force — it’s about finesse. And being more aggressive doesn’t lead to better efficiency. It’s about understanding the vehicle, the products, and the process, so you can work with the surfaces you’re caring for, not against them.
Take your time. Start small. And always remember: less is more.
–Bobby