The truth is, your car needs to be detailed once in a while to keep it looking new. You will find that your vehicle lasts for more years because of the steps done to keep it fit and clean. Here are the basic guidelines. Do It Yourself You can start detailing your car on your own by researching on the internet, reading books, pamphlets and magazines and talking to the experts. Clean It First You should first clean your vehicle thoroughly by bringing it to a carwash or just washing it yourself. This will get rid of the dirt and dust that can hinder the shine during the polishing. The dirt on the paint will also scratch the paint if you do not clean the car properly. If you are using a mechanical buffer, you might increase the chances of developing blemishes and scratches unless you get your car washed. Waxing is relatively easy and you do not need to pay hundreds of dollars to get the look you want. Choose the Right Wax You first need to visit an automotive detailing store or your local hardware to look for the right wax to use for your vehicle. There is now a wide variety of products available depending on the type of look you need and the condition of your vehicle. Clay bars will help rid the exterior of dirt. This cannot usually be taken out by weekly washing. Correcting describes the mechanical polishing done by hand or with the use of a machine. There are also special polishing pads that take out a thin layer of clearcoat from the vehicle to take out small scratches and paint swirls that may have appeared from improper washing or drying. Engine Bay Car show fanatics recommend cleaning the engine bay first to get much of the grease and dirt before you proceed to more delicate work. Engine bay needs a great deal of work. Apply degreaser to remove thoroughly the grease then add a metal polish to shine the material. Use soft cloths to cover the fenders in front to prevent the paint job from any drop of grease or degreaser chemical. You may need to learn how to disassemble a spray gun, and learn how to put them back together again in order to ensure that all its small parts are clean and intact. Avoid forcing these parts together as it could ruin the spray gun. Sand Finish Before actually applying the paint, you need to make sure that you remove any imperfections that your car s finish may have, as well as remove the original paint job that is on your car s surface.