Detailing 101 Keep It Simple, Don’t Overthink It

If there’s one piece of advice I wish I’d learned earlier in my detailing journey, it’s this: don’t overcomplicate the process. As detailers, we have a tendency to obsess—about the tiniest specs of dust, water spots, swirls, or how to achieve absolute perfection with every single detail. Trust me, I get it. Many of us have that “OCD tendency,” and in some ways, it’s a super power that drives us to aim for excellence. But on the flip side, it can make us wildly inefficient. A friend of mine likes to keep me grounded with a simple phrase: “This isn’t rocket science. ”Scott Graves: And you know what? He’s right. At the heart of detailing, all we’re doing is making a car cleaner, shinier, and more protected than it was before. That’s it. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel or analyze every single step to death. So, let me share a few hard-earned lessons about keeping things simple and staying smart while doing excellent work. I hope this will help save you some time, stress, and effort on your journey as a detailer—or even just with detailing your own car. PERFECTION DOESN’T EQUAL EFFICIENCY

Here’s a truth bomb: the perfect detail doesn’t exist. Sure, we all want the car to look flawless, but sometimes, we spend hours chasing the tiniest imperfections that no client will ever notice—or worse, sacrificing our productivity because we can’t let go of a minor blemishor stain. This is one of the reasons I preach to you guys about determining and setting expectations with your customers before you even touch the vehicle. Let me give you an example. When I first started polishing cars, I was obsessed with chasing100% of the swirls—every single one—no matter the job. I’d spend countless hours pouring over every little micro-scratch, making pass after pass, even when it didn’t make sense for the clear coat. Over time, I realized two hard truths: first, most clients aren’t hiring you to inspect their paint under a microscope. Second, by chasing perfection, I was actually doing more harm than good—removing so much clear coat that it could compromise the longevity of the paint. Here’s the reality: most customers want their cars to look clean, shiny, and protected—not prepped for a show car event. You’re golden if you can stand two to three feet back, and the car looks great. That’s what 9 out of 10 customers care about: the big picture, not the close-up. Save yourself the headache (and the clear coat) by knowing when to stop. Drafting for perfection is admirable, but balancing efficiency with quality is what truly makes a top-tier detailer. Think of it this way: Your time is valuable. If you spend six hours obsessing over clearing up98% of the swirls versus three hours achieving an outstanding 85-90% correction with a proper finish, you’re losing money (and your sanity). Learn to prioritize, focus on what matters most, and work smarter—not harder. Your clients (and your wallet) will thank you. NOT EVERY TOOL OR PRODUCT IS AHOLY GRAILAs detailers, we love new tools, products, and techniques. A new polisher comes out, and we’re convinced it’ll revolutionize our work. A new ceramic coating hits the market, and we’re suddenly dumping what already works to try something that promises “10H strength” and “10-year durability”—only to find it’s a nightmare to apply or fails after a few months. I may catch Flac for saying this, but expecting any coating to last beyond 5yrs for the average customer isn’t going to happen. PERIOD! And claims otherwise, IMHO, are misleading at best…

I’ve learned that simple, solid tools and products—used properly—will usually outperform the latest fad. You don’t need to own every polisher, vacuum, or specialty tool out there. Instead, invest in a few quality options that work well for most jobs. For example, you don’t need three different kinds of interior cleaners—one that works efficiently will get the job done nearly every time. Before you spend your hard-earned money, ask yourself: Does this truly solve a problem, or am I just adding more complexity to my workflow? Keep your detailing arsenal streamlined, and rely on your skills, not gimmicks, or some fancy new “fad” tool or chemical. IT’S OKAY TO CUT CORNERS (WHEN IT MAKESSENSE)Now, I’m not saying to cut corners at the expense of quality. Not every car or job needs your whole detailing assault plan. For example, if you’re working on a daily driver with kids and pets, the owner probably doesn’t care if you don’t get every single minor stain out—it’s about restoring the overall cleanliness and look, not perfection under a magnifying glass. Learn to read your clients. (Or better still, discuss it with them to find out “Their” priorities before you start.) Some will want the complete works, while others want a solid cleanup without breaking the bank. Be efficient with your process and gear your efforts toward the job at hand…(Meeting your customers’ expectations, NOT YOURS) There’s no shame in simplifying your steps for the sake of practicality—it means you’re smart, not lazy. STOP OVERTHINKING EACH STEP This is where our obsessive tendencies can really hold us back: we think about things too much. What’s the “perfect” pad to pair with this polish? Is this the “best” order to tackle the interior? Should I use distilled water to dilute my detail sprays? Sound familiar? Yes, research and finding good techniques matter—but there’s a point where obsessing wastes too much time. Close enough really is good enough, most of the time. The car’s not judging you; if your client leaves happy, you’ve done your job.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, start. You can adjust your approach on the fly if needed. The car isn’t going to clean itself while you agonize over which tool, chemical, or technique to use for something in particular. THE BASICS STILL WORK The more you’re around detailing, the more tempted you’ll be to complicate things. But at the end of the day, detailing is rooted in basic principles: Wash, decontaminate, and prep thoroughly. Protect the surfaces to keep them looking better for longer. Invest in the process, not distractions. Focus on mastering the fundamentals. If you can confidently clean and protect a car without cutting corners or overthinking it, you’re already miles ahead of most beginners. The fancy stuff will come in time, but for now, keep the focus on the essentials. I’ve said this before, and I’ll repeat it. Give me some rinse less wash, a couple buckets, microfiber towels, and a vacuum, and I will get the job done, well !! FINAL THOUGHTS: BE SMART, BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Detailing doesn’t have to be an exhausting grind. When we stop overthinking and stick to proven methods, we can deliver incredible results without driving ourselves crazy. Sure, the OCD mindset can give us an edge if we channel it constructively, but it’s important not to get caught up in the pursuit of perfection. Remember: every car, every detail, every situation is different. Work strategically, avoid unnecessary complexity, and above all—enjoy the process. After all, at its core, detailing is incredibly rewarding. Trust me; your clients will love their cars just as much (if not more) when you simplify your process, focus on what’s important, and leave them with a ride that shines like new. And if you’re ever in doubt? Just remind yourself: “This isn’t rocket science “My2CentsWorth~Bobby

Is there anything you would do differently now if you could start over? Sound off in the commentsbelow—I’d love to hear your thoughts!Addendum:DrewandLisaCorlessis also another friend I should credit as inspiration forwriting this. If you guys ever need help with efficiency, optimizing your processes, andimproving workflow. This is something he is a master of. Reach out to him!