Saving & Spending Home & Auto

9 Things You Need to Thoroughly DIY Detail Your Car Like a Pro

You can easily save hundreds of dollars and enjoy the feeling of a job well done.

By Chris Adam

Edited by Michael Kurko

Updated April 23, 2025

One of the perks of being a driver is having a freshly detailed car, but you may not always want to spend the money on it.

If you want to avoid paying hundreds of dollars for professional detailing, DIY detailing is one of the best car owner moves that can save you money and let you focus on parts of your car you want to stand out.

Here are nine things you need to DIY detail your car like a pro without the big bill.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

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Try it

Soap

Let's start with the basic item you'll need: some quality car wash soap. This shouldn't cost much money.

At places like AutoZone or Walmart, you can find lots of options for under $10 to save money shopping. You can even find soap in fun colors since a thorough DIY detailing can take a few hours or more.

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Wash mitt and brush

A good painter likes to use a good brush. It's similar to a good DIY detail of your car. You're going to want a quality wash mitt and brush. They shouldn't cost you more than a few dollars.

But it may take some practice to perfect the art of detail, which is why some people call it an art form. That means you may not like your results the first time, but don't give up.

Tire cleaner

Walmart Black Magic No Scrub All Wheel Cleaner

Many DIY detailers like to pay special attention to their tires. It can be a part of the car that really stands out after a thorough detail.

Again, a quality tire cleaner costs very little. You can get one for around $5 to $8 at retailers or shops where you gather your detailing supplies.

As with the other items you're getting for your detail work, read to make sure the product you select works for your particular vehicle's tires.

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Tire shine

Once you clean the tires, it's time for that extra touch. This is where a good tire shine can help your car look like you just had an expensive professional detail.

A good tire shine will probably cost around $6. It's another detail item you can easily pick up when you're gathering supplies to detail your car.

Vacuum cleaner

This is likely to be one of the more expensive items you purchase to detail your car at home. However, you can find them starting around $30 or so.

You'll likely want to look for a professional-grade one. Again, you can find these at places like Walmart or AutoZone.

Power polisher

Again, this is likely to be a bit more pricey than other items for DIY detail work at home. Keep in mind that these one-time buys can be used over and over again for your detail sessions.

You'll likely want to find a power polisher with compounds. One that works for your needs should be available at places like Amazon or Walmart for around $30.

Don't Miss: 7 warning signs you're paying too much for car insurance.

Microfiber cloths

You'll want some quality cloths to do a really professional-looking job on your car. That's why you could look for chamois or microfiber cloth options. These start at just a few dollars.

This is an area of DIY detailing where you can experiment with various options to find what works best for you and yields the results you want for your car.

Interior spray

Since you'll be sitting inside the car for long periods of time and seeing the results of this work, you may want to pay special attention to how the spray you select works for your particular car.

You'll probably find lots of options when it comes to interior detailing sprays. A quality spray should cost under $10.

Extractor

If you want to shampoo your upholstery, you'll need an extractor. This item is purposely placed last on our list and might be quite pricey.

While it's possible to find one from places like Amazon starting around $30, prices can go up significantly from there.

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Bottom line

If you're ready to try DIY detailing on your car, you'll need only a few simple items. You can get most of them on your next shopping trip, instead of visiting the car wash, to keep more cash in your wallet.

While the cost of supplies may seem a bit pricey at the beginning, consider that a professional one-time pro visit may cost you hundreds of dollars.

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