pareto's principle

Pareto's principle states that 80% of the output/results, come from 20% of the input. In other words, 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients. In this case, I believe that 80% of the cleaning results come from 20% of the detailing tools. So lets take a look at what I consider to be the 20% essential detailing tools that you should have to start out detailing your car.

Note that there are tons and tons more of detailing products and the more you buy the more flexibility you'll have in choosing your methods to detail. 

One time purchases

These are the items that you'll purchase once, and as long as you maintain them, you'll be fine not having to buy them again. At least for a few years. These are the bare minimum that'll get you started on detailing:

1. Wet and Dry shop vacuum- amazing for interior cleanings. A decent one should cost around $50 from your home improvement store.
2. Wash Buckets- to prevent cross contamination. I recommend getting three of them. One is for the main wash where you will have the car shampoo and water to be used with your wash mitt. The second one is for rinsing your mitt with water. The third one is for the wheels. The wheel bucket should only be used for cleaning the wheels and exhaust- and nothing else. I like to mark them with tape so that I know which bucket is what. They are available for less than $3/each from your home improvement store.
3. Grit Guard- This amazing product goes in your rinse bucket. If you can afford, get a grit guard for all three buckets. This device helps dislodge dirt from your wash mitt and traps it at the bottom of the bucket so that it doesn't contaminate the water. They cost about $10/each.
4. Wheel Woolies- There are several sizes available, but get the one that you are comfortable with (preferably on the larger side). This will be very useful to wash the wheels and the wheel barrel. A set of three runs for about $40.
5. Interior Brush- This brush will be very helpful in dislodging dirt from seats, air vents, gear selectors, and multiple other crevices. A boar hair brush will cost about $10 or less.

consumables

These are the products that have a limited life span. You'll use them, but their effectiveness will go down over time and you'll have to replace them.

1. Towels - These are going to be the top consumables. There are various kinds of towels for detailing, but here are the ones that you need to start out with:
   • Waffle Weave- this is a drying towel. Get the biggest size you can afford. They hold water up to 5 times their weight. You can get them for about $15 for one.
   • Plush Microfiber- this is mostly a buffing/product application towel. Get at least 2 of these. You can use it to apply a quick detailer, a sealant, or use it to buff out wax. A set of 3 will cost about $20.
   • Basic Microfiber- These are very disposable- you can buy 100 of these for $15 at your member only store or another big box store. You will use these to clean/dry wheels, wheel wells, interior, engine bay, door jambs, fuel filler area, footwells, and other such areas. Never use these towels on the paint, especially if they have already been used in another area (such as wheels or engine bay).
2.  Clay Bar- Get an ultra fine grade clay bar. Clay bar use should be very limited, as using them usually causes marring on the paint, but we will get into that later. It does help a lot in removing contaminants such as tree sap, industrial fallout, tar, and other embedded particles that won't come off with soap and water. A decent one will cost you about $10 ($20 for 2 pack, which I recommend).
3. Wash Mitt- One of the most important part of car washing. You will need at least 2 different kinds. One will be exclusively for the paint- get the best one you can afford. A decent sheep skin wash mitt will cost you $30, but it will be worth it. You will also need another economical one for your wheels and exhaust tips. Remember to keep these two separate to avoid cross contamination (even after washing). Wash mitts do wear out very frequently.

supplies

Now the products that work with your consumables and equipment to get the job done. There are million versions of these products, so choosing them could get complicated.

1. Car Wash Shampoo- Pretty self explanatory. Use a good kind that doesn't dry out rubber seals or strip out existing wax or sealant. Never use dish or hand soap to wash cars- they will dry out the seals over time. A decent one will cost about $6.
2. Quick Detailer- This is to use after every wash to bring out the gloss in the car, or to use in between washes to remove bird dropping, tree sap, or other dirt. A good quick detailer will have some cleaning properties along with sealants to protect the paint and improve the glossiness. A good one will run about $10.
3. Wax / Sealant / Coating- This product will help give an extra gloss to the car- provided it has been washed and prepped properly. But more than that, it adds a protection layer so that eggs, bird droppings, tar, and other harmful stuff don't bond to the paint. Having a good layer of wax / sealant / coating will make washing and maintaining your car much easier. These can run from $10-$300+.
4. Leather and Interior Cleaner- a basic ph balanced cleaner for your upholstery and carpet. A good one will not be glossy and sticky to the touch. It will clean and dry out leaving a nice matte finish. A good carpet cleaner will cost about $12. A good leather cleaner will cost about the same too.
5. Glass Cleaner- For your windshield and windows. Get one that won't dry out seals and cause streaking. Make sure never to use glass cleaner on your paint- these usually are very strong and abrasive that could erode your sealant and cause marring. You can get decent ones for $5.