The Ultimate Guide to Detailing Brushes for Professional Results

Ensure the vehicle panels are cool to the touch. In summer, this usually means working before 9:00 AM or under a professional gazebo. If the panels are hot (above 35°C), your cleaning chemicals will flash-dry instantly, leading to chemical staining that brushes can actually grind deeper into the finish.

For vehicles covered in red dust or coastal sand, use a low-pressure air blast or a very light rinse first. Do not start brushing dry dust, as the silica particles act like sandpaper. This 'pre-wash' ensures that the brush only agitates the remaining film, not the heavy abrasive grit.

Mix your APC in a dedicated spray bottle using the 10:1 ratio (900ml water to 90ml chemical) for general exterior trim. For engine bays or greasy door hinges, use a 4:1 ratio. Using the correct ratio prevents the bristles from becoming prematurely brittle and protects the vehicle's seals.

Run your fingers through every brush before use. Check for trapped grit from previous sessions or 'hooked' bristles. A single grain of sand trapped in a boar's hair brush from a previous wheel clean can ruin a bonnet's paintwork in seconds.

Never use a dry brush on a dry surface. Submerge your chosen brush in your 'clean' bucket of water or spray the bristles directly with your APC until saturated. This lubricates the bristles, reducing the friction coefficient and allowing them to glide over the surface rather than scratching it.

Apply APC to the badge. Using a small boar's hair brush, use light, circular motions. The goal is to let the tips of the bristles penetrate the gaps between letters. Do not apply heavy downward pressure; the chemical plus the 'flicking' action of the bristles does the work.

Window rubbers often trap green mould or coastal salt. Run a medium-stiff brush along the felt or rubber channel while spraying water simultaneously. This flushes out the debris that normally causes vertical scratches on your window glass over time.

This is a neglected area where red dust accumulates. Open the fuel door, spray with APC, and use a 25mm brush to agitate around the cap and the drainage hole. Ensure the drainage hole is clear to prevent fuel-flap rust, a common issue in humid coastal regions.

Spray a dedicated wheel cleaner into the lug nut holes. Use a dedicated wheel brush (synthetic or boar's hair) and 'churn' the brush inside the hole. This removes baked-on brake dust that a pressure washer cannot reach. Rinse frequently to see your progress.

Modern grilles are a nightmare for enthusiasts. Use a long-bristled brush to reach into each hex-cell. Work from the top down. If the car has bugs from a highway trip, let the cleaner dwell for 2 minutes before agitating to soften the acidic bug proteins.

Using a 4:1 APC ratio, brush the hinges and door latches. This removes old, contaminated grease that has trapped dust. Be careful not to brush directly into electrical looms or door speakers located in the jamb area.

Switch to your ultra-soft synthetic brush. With a vacuum nozzle held 2cm away from the brush, agitate air vents, speaker grilles, and button clusters. The brush lifts the dust, and the vacuum captures it instantly, preventing it from resettling on the dash.

Apply a dedicated leather cleaner to the brush, not the seat. Agitate the stitching and seams where skin oils and dust collect. This prevents the 'cracking' of seams often seen in older vehicles exposed to high heat.

For the engine cover and plastic shrouds, use a stiff nylon brush with degreaser. Agitate the textured surfaces to lift the deep-seated 'grey' oxidation. Rinse with a very low-pressure mist to avoid electrical issues.

After every section (e.g., one wheel or the front grille), rinse the brush in your dedicated water bucket. Shake it out vigorously. This ensures you aren't transferring grit from a dirty area back onto the vehicle.

Use compressed air or a blower to push water out of the areas you just brushed. If left to dry naturally in the sun, the minerals in the water (especially in 'hard' water areas like Perth or Adelaide) will form white spots that are difficult to remove.