Washing a car isn't complicated.

But washing one properly makes all the difference.

Swirls, scratches and dull paint aren't just caused by years of driving — a huge amount of damage can be introduced during the wash itself.

So we've put together our Definitive Car Wash Guide, breaking down the exact process we've used at Auto Finesse since 1999.

From wheels and pre-wash, through to snow foam, the two-bucket contact wash and safe drying — it's the complete process, step-by-step.

You'll learn:

How to remove as much dirt as possible before touching the paint.

Why your pre-wash and snow foam stages matter.

The correct order to wash each part of the car.

How to dramatically reduce the risk of swirl marks.

And the small details that separate a quick wash from a proper detail.

Whether you're just getting into detailing or you've been doing it for years, getting the fundamentals right changes everything.

Because great detailing doesn't start with polishing.

It starts with washing properly.