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Car Detailing Supplies And Detailing Equipment
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The types of Car Detailing Supplies and automotive detailing equipment you will need for your mobile car wash and detailing business will be determined largely by the nature of services you plan to provide. The types of tools you use will also be determined by your anticipated service volume.
When it comes to auto detailing equipment, we recommend buying one model above your planned needs if you can afford it. You never know when you will need the extra capacity, power or features. If you have some room to grow into your equipment, you will end up spending much less over the long haul since you will have to upgrade your equipment less frequently.
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As you purchase your car detailing supplies and equipment, keep in mind that your more expensive equipment, like your detailing trailer, must be depreciated over time. Your accountant can help you with this.
At the very basic level, you will need the following car detailing supplies:
Car Detailing Supplies
| - Air fresheners |
- High quality sponges |
| - All purpose cleaning solution |
- Labeled plastic spray bottles |
| - Assortment of small brushes |
- Leather conditioner |
| - Assortment of waxes and polishes |
- Metal polish |
| - Buffing and polishing bonnets |
- Micro fiber towels |
| - Bug and tree sap remover |
- Odor eliminators |
| - Bumper renewal |
- Paint sealer |
| - Carpet cleaner / stain remover |
- Q-Tips and cotton swabs |
| - Chamois |
- Surface protection solutions |
| - Compressed canned air |
- Tire cleaner |
| - Degreasing solvent |
- Tire dressing |
| - Detailing and scrub brushes |
- Upholstery cleaner / stain remover |
| - Detailing clay |
- Variety of rags and towels |
| - Detailing clay applicators |
- Water for washing |
| - Environmental car wash solution |
- Wax and polish applicators |
| - Extension cords |
- Wheel cleaner and polish |
| - Glass cleaner and polish |
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Some suppliers sell complete packages that include all of the car washing supplies you will need to get started in one complete kit. This is a great option for beginners as these kits also typically come with training videos.
Learn the application tolerances of your cleaning supplies. Use just enough to get the job done and nothing more. Being conservative will still allow you to do just as high quality of a job and you will save a lot of money over the long haul.
To keep things interesting we'd now like to contradict ourselves somewhat and discuss the importance of being liberal with towels, sponges and bonnets. Use more than enough of these items when cleaning and detailing. The last thing you need is to scratch the paint by using a sponge that was previously used to clean debris and dirt out of the wheels.
With your auto detailing supplies in check, let's now focus our attention on higher ticket items you may need. Again, your exact equipment inventory will entirely depend on the types of services you plan to offer as well as your anticipated service volume.
Automotive Detailing Equipment
| - Air compressor |
- Power generator |
| - Car, truck or van |
- Random orbital polishers
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| - Fluid recapture devices |
- Steam / carpet cleaner |
| - Hoses for water and air |
- Wash and detailing trailer * |
| - Hot water extractor |
- Wet / dry vacuum cleaner |
| - Popup tent (for shade) |
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* Some mobile car wash and detailing business choose to start smaller and purchase their washing and detailing equipment separately. While a standalone pressure washer may be okay in the short term, you will probably limit your business. Detailing trailers are not that expensive and you will be able to recover the costs rather quickly. Detailing trailers also provide you with more capacity so you can handle more jobs in the field.
Purchase your equipment from reputable vendors and always take the time to train yourself and your employees on the proper, safe use of your washing and detailing tools. When just getting started, ask the vendors if they provide any lease options for the equipment. Leasing your automotive detailing equipment is a great way to lower your startup capital requirements and is an option well worth consideration.
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