What you need for your first car grooming kit

As more people keep their vehicles for longer due to high COE premiums, maintenance becomes an even greater priority. And for some, a car's aesthetics are just as important as its mechanical health.

If you're new to detailing, the first thing you need to know is that it is a tiring but ultimately satisfying process. It takes a lot of sweat and effort to make a car shine, which is why many car owners prefer to outsource the job.

But if DIY is your thing, don't worry, you don't need a ton of products to make your car look great. Here are six items you need to assemble a basic car grooming kit.

A bucket is the first thing every car owner needs to start detailing his or her ride

1. A bucket + small container

You won't be washing any cars if you don't have a bucket, which can be purchased from a HDB provision shop, a hardware store or even a supermarket.

You'll need a bucket for both the wash liquid (car shampoo) and rinse water, so you can consider two buckets rather than one. But since we're talking about a basic kit, one bucket will do for now.

Forget about buying a larger bucket because it'll be heavy once it's filled - unless you plan on combining your car washing session with an arm workout. Don't forget to have a small plastic container - ideally one with a handle - that you can use to fling clean water onto your vehicle.

Wash mitts are easier to handle than cloths, so you're less likely to drop them

2. A wash mitt (or two)

Using a wash mitt is easier than using a cloth or giant sponge because it's easier to grip . That means there's less risk of accidentally dropping it, which you don't want since that means getting dirt all over your vehicle and potentially scratching it.

A wash mitt helps trap contaminants, which will then be deposited into the wash or rinse bucket after you've gone over a section of the car.

A cloth or rag will tend to either bunch up or spread out, while a sponge might be too thick for smaller areas. Use a second wash mitt for the lower, dirtier parts of the car, including the wheels.

Car shampoo is formulated for paintwork, so avoid using dishwashing or laundry detergent, which may strip any existing layer of wax protection

3. Car shampoo

There are many choices when it comes to car shampoo, and some are even formulated with wax to make your car shinier post-wash. But with so many options, which one should you pick?

The safest bet is to go with one of the big-name or popular brands that you always see in petrol kiosks or in car accessory shops like Autobacs. Car shampoo is relatively inexpensive and doesn't have an expiry date, so feel free to stock up if the one you like is on sale.

Car shampoo is mixed with water to create the wash liquid that helps remove dirt. Follow the instructions, but there's also no harm in winging it and free pouring into the bucket. Just remember, the more shampoo you use, the more water you'll need to rinse your car!

A plush and absorbent towel (above) or a synthetic chamois will help you dry your car

4. Drying towels

Now that you've washed and rinsed your car, it's time to dry it. Even if you're parked under shelter, don't delay the drying process as this might cause water spots to form.
 
Specially designed synthetic drying towels work best, for despite their thinness, they can hold a lot of water before they need to be wrung out. This lets you cover larger areas in one go, thereby hastening the drying process.

If you're thinking of using old bath towels, don't. It's not that they won't work, but because these tend to be thicker, they'll be hard to wring out once they're full of water. Their large size makes them unwieldy as well.

Microfibre towels are useful for applying and removing products, but don't forget to wash them when you're done

5. Wiping/polishing cloths

Microfibre cloths or towels are the most ideal when it comes to wiping both interior and exterior surfaces. They're light and easy to handle and typically work well to remove excess wax.

These cloths are also useful for clearing smudges on windows. For more stubborn marks, a slightly damp cloth will work fine. Using a glass cleaner is definitely better, but considering this story's topic, we'll leave that out for now.

It goes without saying that you need to wash these cloths after use instead of just rinsing them in water and chucking them aside - doing this will cause them to smell real bad real fast.

Waxes come in several forms, but always remember is to use the bare minimum because a little goes a long way

6. Car wax

Car wax comes in either liquid, paste, or spray form. For the purposes of this story and for convenience's sake, opt for a liquid or spray wax. There are many brands out there, but like car shampoo, opting for one of the popular brands is fine.

Whatever form of wax you choose, the thing to remember is that less is always more. The paint surface can only hold a small amount of wax, so slathering on the product is not only wasteful, but hard to remove as well. It won't make your car shinier either.

You can also opt for a 'wax as you dry' type of product, which is formulated to be used on wet surfaces. It helps you save time since you apply wax while drying your car.

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