Detailing, the Stjärnagloss way

Nobody becomes a pro overnight — but with the right method and the right products, results follow. Here is the full routine, step by step.

1. Pre-wash

Always pre-wash: removing the bulk of the dirt before touching the paint is the best way to avoid swirl marks. Well-protected car? A layer of Snö foam through the Snöstorm lance. Heavier contamination? The Först citrus pre-cleaner.

Tip. Never pre-wash a dry car: soak it first, and rinse the foam off before it dries.

2. Wheels

After the pre-wash, spray Hjul generously on the wheels, agitate with a brush and let it work: it changes colour as it reacts with ferrous contaminants. Rinse thoroughly. Stubborn tar comes off with Tjära tar remover.

Tip. Most wheels are lacquered like body panels: decontaminate and protect them the same way.

3. The wash

Two-bucket method, always: one wash bucket with Bubblor shampoo diluted ~1:400, one rinse bucket of clean water, and a microfibre mitt. Matte finish? Use residue-free Matta. Rinse, then consider the Glatt protective rinse aid before drying.

Tip. Wash top-down, front first: the dirtier lower sections come last.

4. Decontamination

Tar, sap, bonded fallout: a clay bar once a year leaves the paint silky. Short on time? Tjära for tar and glue, and Hjul as a ferrous decontaminant on the upper panels.

Tip. Don't let a decontaminant dry on the car in hot weather.

5. Enhancement

Remove minor defects and revive the gloss: work a polish with the Gnugga microfibre applicator, panel by panel. Need more bite? The Rutig waffle-weave cloth cuts harder.

Tip. No need to let polish haze: work it in, then buff as soon as the panel is done.

6. Protection

After all that work, protection is a must. The classic choice: Fantastisk hybrid wax (carnauba, beeswax and synthetic sealants). Faster: a spray sealant, or Glatt applied at the rinse stage — the quickest way to protect a car.

Tip. On older dark paint, a generous coat of wax hides UV-related patchiness.

7. Glass and tyres

Dress tyre sidewalls with a satin dressing; clean glass with Glas and the Rutig cloth: apply on dry glass, buff until streak-free, inside and out.

Tip. Smears on glass? That's moisture: a solvent-based cleaner wants dry glass.

8. The interior

A gentle interior cleaner handles most surfaces, hard or soft. Be careful on piano-black trim, and use a little water and a brush on carpets and fabric.

Tip. It's where you spend most of your time: a clean cabin changes everything.

9. Maintenance

The secret of always-immaculate cars: regular washes with Snö foam and Bubblor shampoo, protection topped up in season, done.

Tip. A simple, repeated routine always beats one big yearly reset.

Ready to start? The full Stjärnagloss range is at Formula Detailing, and the brand story is here.