The process of building a custom vehicle can take many years and cost a cartoon bag of money to finish. But once completed, that feeling of accomplishment is so fulfilling. Now you can finally take your dream car out for weekend cruises or join your buddies out at the local car show. Now that your custom vehicle is going to be mingling around the real world, the never-ending chore of cleaning has begun.

Cleaning one’s personal vehicle is something that every car enthusiast takes very seriously. With a custom vehicle, that level of care just hits a new level. Car guys will oftentimes have a completely separate cleaning kit that only gets used on their custom vehicle with the various cleaning solutions being as specialized as possible for the types of finishes and materials that have been used.

According to Mothers Polishes, many steps are required to keep your commuter vehicle presentable. Mothers recommends getting a small kit that is only used for your daily driver including a bottle each of window cleaner, quick detailer, and tire shine. Then a small stack of towels is about all you need to keep your car clean on a daily basis, and can even be kept within the vehicle.

Washing is obviously the first step and this can be achieved in a variety of ways. Most car enthusiats take this task upon themselves as there are too many unknowns in the local car wash. What type of soap do they use? How harsh are the cleaning surfaces? And how will the vehicle be treated afterward by the folks drying it? A classic is the hand wash, using your favorite car shampoo, a bucket, and your dedicated wash mitt is a great start. Some advanced tips can be found from Consumer Reports. Some even go as far as to use a foam cannon, which has both advantages and disadvantages, as seen here from the Chemical Guys. Whatever way you go, cleaning a car is a very specific set of actions and each person typically comes up with their own routine. Try out a few methods and see what works best for you.

Keeping a custom vehicle show ready can be quite a bit more complicated. According to Roadkill Customs, detailing your car is like painting a room in that you always start from the top down. Spray a little of your favorite cleaner into your applicator (microfiber towel of choice) and begin on the roof. Then work your way down being careful not to leave any streaks. Clean the entire paint surface with one set of towels and then move onto the windows. And a pro tip for the windows, clean in different directions on the different sides, that way a streak can be easily identified and taken care of right away.

When it comes to the interior, the surface will really determine what type of cleaner is used. Plastic is different than metal, and vinyl is different than leather. All will require a specialized type of cleaner, and a seperate towel as well. Pay special attention to the dashboard and the surface of the gauges. That is where people’s eyes will be drawn to so make sure that those surfaces are clean and blemish-free.

Since the seat surfaces are a focal point as well, make sure to have a separate towel if you have any combination of vinyl, suede, leather, or even cloth. And it goes without saying that each material requires a separate cleaner. Here at TMI, we offer our seats and door panels in a combination of vinyl and suede. Once again, spray a small amount of cleaner on the towel first, then hit the seat surfaces.

When out on the street it is important to notice your environment to minimize the amount of cleaning that is required when parked, but that errant sprinkler or dirty puddle that you just rolled through can sometimes be impossible to avoid. Keeping that cleaning kit on you at all times is not just good practice but can also be an absolute necessity. When traveling to a show, no matter how far it is, take the time beforehand to do a lengthy detailing session so the vehicle is clean before you even leave. Once at the show, you can inspect your vehicle and clean up any trouble spots that present themselves.

Keeping the interior and exterior of your custom vehicle clean is a never-ending chore that will occur no matter how thorough you happen to be with your cleaning regiment. Using these basic tips, you can keep your beloved ride clean and ready to present to the world.