My car was ‘completely filthy’ after a long winter – products to avoid and how to make it ‘immaculate’ in just an hour
A HUSBAND did a full detailing on his wife’s car just in time for spring while also advising on what products should be avoided if others wanted to do the same.
Driving in winter weather be harsh on cars, leaving them “completely filthy” when warm weather starts to roll around.
That’s what Larry Kosilla, a life-long car detailer, used to describe his wife’s 2018 Subaru Outback after it had spent the colder months being driven around.
Kosilla runs the YouTube channel Ammo NYC with more than 2.23 million subscribers.
In one of his videos, which sits at nearly 200,000 views at the time of writing, Kosilla explained the best detailing techniques and how to get a car looking like new in just an hour.
He explained the tools needed to start:
- Two buckets: one for wheels and one for the paint
- Five to 10 microfiber towels
- Two to three window towels
- A scrubber and a squeegee
- Wheel brushes and woolies
- Vacuum
- Interior brushes
- Aerator
Kosilla also advised getting various products for the different parts of the car.
He explained that car owners should focus on the interior by removing any garbage along with the rubber and floor mats.
Avoid working in water as it will cause unnecessary dirt and grime in the car and on your tools.
Next is to blow out any dirt or debris that can’t be easily vacuumed later on.
Kosilla uses a product called the Master Blaster, which uses “warm, dry-filtered air.
He recommends it over using compressed air with a trigger that runs the risk of blowing buttons off the interior.
This is when he vacuums the seat, seat seams, and floors, which takes about five to seven minutes.
When it comes time to clean the seats, Kosilla recommends avoiding super stiff brushes on soft fabrics.
“Always double-check fabric seat cleaning as stains can return once dry,” read his guide.
Like hair, he also shampoos and conditions the interior before buffing it dry for a matte finish.
For the exterior, Kosilla focuses on the engine first, making sure to degrease it.
“Slightly warm engine is better than cold or very hot,” read the guide.
Next are the wheels, which can be removed for a deeper cleaning.
“If you choose to remove wheels, start with
suspension, calipers, and wheel wells first.”
After that, he cleans the door jambs before pre-rinsing the car, focusing on seams, door gaps, and the hood.
Kosilla makes sure to add a top coat to protect the paint before giving it a light rinse to spread the coating.
After drying, he focuses on the glass, using the towels he mentioned before.
Next is the rubber and trim, which he recommends using gloves as they will get oily, before doing a final inspection by opening all the doors to flush out any excess water.
“In truth, I did this in about six hours because I went crazy. I was having a good time,” he said.
“But you could probably do it in an hour or two. Just pick and choose which of the methods work best for you and based on the condition of your car.”