Any store carrying automotive detailing products are what we refer to as Over the Counter Detailing Products. You can walk in, buy and walk out. No need to purchase online or wait for product. But where do you start? You can find shelves of products – a bit overwhelming for some.
Let’s first see common brand names available over the counter:
- Mothers
- Meguiars
- 3M
- Eagle
- Turtle Wax
- Armor All
- Simoniz (at Canadian Tire)
No doubt you will find some other brands in certain stores, but these are the most commonly found ones. If anything the two most common products would be from Mothers or Meguiars. Most stages of detailing will have products by these two major manufacturers.
Let’s go over the different types of detailing products.
Car Interior Detailing Products:
For your Windows:
- Glass Cleaner
- Interior Anti-Fog Protectant
- Rain-X Rain Repellant
- Liquid Glass Polish
- RainX Exterior Glass Wax
- Microfiber Towels
Interior Dashboard:
- Swifter Dust Cleaner
- Vinyl Protectant
- Plastic Cleaner (for older plastic dashes)
Interior Plastics:
- Hard Plastic Polish
- Plastic Cleaner
Leather (mainly for seats):
- Leather Cleaner
- Leather Conditioner
Carpets (floor and trunk):
- Odor Eliminator
- Stain Remover
- Carpet Cleaner
Miscellaneous Exterior Detailing Products
Exterior Plastic Trim
- Plastic Polish
- Plastic Restorative Agents
- Plastic Protectant
Headlights and Taillights Plastic
- Plastic Polish
- Polishing Pad
Body Cleaning:
- Car Wash Soap
- Wash mitts
- Bug and Tar Remover
- Scratch Remover
- Clay bar
- Swirl remover
- Paint Polish
- Sealer & Glaze
- Car Wax
- Quick Detailing Spray
- Various Polishing and Waxing Applicator pads
- Microfiber Towels
While this may all feel like information overload you will quickly become to know all these products and when to use them. Just keep checking back on our blog for more detailing info (and for anyone who may be thinking — why are you writing this — everyone knows this already – you’ll be surprised with most people knowledge of wash and wax as the only products needed).