How to Wash Your Car in Under 20 Minutes...Even In Direct Sun
About this episode
Efficiency beats “more time = better results” in this detailing-focused episode. The host argues that many detailers waste effort through overcomplicated steps, wrong chemicals, and switching products without accounting for dilution and performance. He contrasts slower, traditional wax approaches with faster protection options like spray ceramic. The core 20-minute method: maintain the car during the week, then pre-soak/pre-foam a dry car (even in direct sun), use fast dwell times, clean wheels with an acid-based cleaner (Pure Magic) instead of endless scrubbing, do a quick contact wash, rinse, and optionally add quick protection while drying.
Want to wash your car FAST without scratching your paint?
Most people think a quick car wash means cutting corners… but that's exactly how swirl marks, streaks, and bad results happen.
In this video, I'm breaking down how to wash your car in under 20 minutes using a simple, efficient system that actually delivers better results—not worse.
This isn't about rushing.
It's about removing the things that slow you down.
Once you dial in your process, washing your car becomes:
✔ Faster
✔ Safer
✔ More consistent
PRODUCTS TALKED ABOUT:
The Gloss Boss: https://jimbosdetailing.com/TGB
Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray: https://jimbosdetailing.com/TAS or on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r5UxYr
The Super Soaper: https://jimbosdetailing.com/TSS or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/49KEM2d
Picture Perfect Polish: https://jimbosdetailing.com/PPP or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4sQWpWu
Microfiber towels: https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/orange-wash-microfiber or https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/everyday-microfiber
Cut & Finish Pad: https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/cut-finish-pad or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LsxJ69
Finishing Pad: https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/black-finishing-pad or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJNDCPTG
SHOP ALL JIMBO'S DETAILING ON AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3LX3mVE
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mobile detailing
"I used to run into this, in fact, this was a big hurdle that I had to overcome when I was mobile detailing because I got a lot more efficient with my time."
Mobile detailing means the car is cleaned at your home or workplace. It’s often about working efficiently so the job can be done quickly without sacrificing results.
Mobile detailing is when a detailer comes to the customer’s location instead of working out of a fixed shop. It usually pushes people toward faster, more repeatable processes—like washing and protection steps that fit into a tight schedule.
paste wax
"A good quick example of that is using a paste wax for a simple wash and wax service when you could use a spray wax."
Paste wax is a wax you spread on in a thicker form. It usually takes longer to put on and wipe off than spray wax.
Paste wax is a traditional wax product applied in a thicker, paste form. It typically requires more time and effort to apply and remove than quicker spray products, which is why it’s often associated with slower “wash and wax” services.
spray wax
"A good quick example of that is using a paste wax for a simple wash and wax service when you could use a spray wax."
Spray wax is wax that comes in a bottle you spray on. It’s quicker and easier than paste wax, so it’s popular for fast protection jobs.
Spray wax is a wax product delivered in an easy-to-apply mist or spray. It’s generally faster to use than paste wax and can be a practical choice when the goal is quick protection during a time-limited service.
Carnubo wax
"You're essentially gonna get better protection much quicker using a spray ceramic than you would with, say, a Carnubo wax. But I still see it, detailers out there using a Carnubo wax, a hand wax, a liquid wax."
Carnauba wax (often spelled “Carnubo”) is a natural wax commonly used for shine and traditional paint protection. It generally takes more time to apply and remove than faster spray products, which is why the speaker contrasts it with spray ceramic for speed.
wash your car under 20 minutes
"But for the sake of this podcast or for the sake of this video, I wanna show you and let you know of a couple quick hacks that you could do to really wash your car under 20 minutes."
They’re talking about washing your car quickly—like a fast routine you can do without spending all day. The key is doing it fast without skipping the steps that prevent damage or streaks.
The host is framing a “fast wash” approach—using shortcuts and workflow to reduce time while still cleaning effectively. In detailing, speed matters only if you avoid common mistakes like letting soap dry or missing contamination spots.
maintaining the car throughout the whole entire week
"but one of the hacks that I found to do a quicker car wash is to actually maintain the car throughout the whole entire week."
Instead of waiting until the car is really dirty, you clean it a little bit more often. That way, the wash is quicker and you don’t have to work as hard to get everything off.
“Maintenance washes” during the week aim to prevent heavy dirt buildup so the car can be cleaned faster later. This concept is common in detailing because frequent light cleaning reduces the need for aggressive scrubbing and long sessions.
mobile detailer
"And so when I was a mobile detailer, one of the hacks and the hack that I found to work very, very well is I would just clean the rims, glass and dress the tires."
A mobile detailer is someone who comes to your house or workplace to clean your car. The idea is to do small, repeatable steps so the car stays looking good without a huge weekend project.
A mobile detailer is a professional who performs car cleaning and detailing at your location instead of a fixed shop. In this context, the host is describing a workflow they used while working on customers’ cars on a tight schedule.
dress the tires
"...clean the rims, glass and dress the tires. And every day I would do some form of that."
“Dressing the tires” means putting a product on the rubber to make it look darker and newer. It also helps protect the tires from drying out and getting dull.
“Dressing” tires means applying a tire dressing/protectant to restore color and add a protective layer against drying and grime. It’s mostly about appearance, but some products also help slow fading.
rims
"...I would just clean the rims, glass and dress the tires. And every day I would do some form of that."
Rims are the metal parts of your wheels. They get dirty fast from brake dust and road dirt, so quick cleaning helps them stay looking new.
Rims are the wheel faces and barrels that collect brake dust, road grime, and fallout. Cleaning them regularly helps prevent baked-on brake dust and keeps the wheels looking fresh.
front windshield
"So that was mainly like wiping down the rims, maybe cleaning the front windshield. In fact, that's exactly what I'm gonna do today."
The front windshield is the big glass you drive through. Keeping it clean helps you see better and can make wipers work smoother.
The windshield is the glass panel up front that needs clear visibility. Regular quick cleaning reduces haze and helps wipers work more effectively, especially when you’re trying to keep the car looking good between full washes.
off label
"...I actually use Tuffa Shell off label on the interior of my car, I pretty much wiped down the inside of my car every other day..."
“Off label” means using a product for something it wasn’t officially made for. It can work, but you should try it carefully on a small hidden spot first to make sure it doesn’t stain or damage anything.
“Off label” means using a product in a way other than what the manufacturer’s instructions specify. In detailing, this often happens when a detailer finds a product works well on a certain surface, but it’s still important to test in a small area first.
vacuum
"...and then I'll vacuum it, usually every three to four days, kind of depending upon what I did..."
Vacuuming cleans out dirt and crumbs from the inside of your car. Doing it often prevents the mess from building up and getting harder to remove.
Vacuuming removes dust, crumbs, and grit from carpets and upholstery, which can otherwise grind into fibers over time. The host’s schedule (every three to four days) emphasizes frequent light cleaning rather than waiting for a deep clean.
efficiency
"And really the core is efficiency. It's not necessarily skipping steps. And this is what I tried to explain to my customers when I was a mobile detailer."
Efficiency just means you can do the job faster without doing a sloppy job. The goal is to save time by organizing your steps, not by skipping important parts.
In detailing, “efficiency” means completing the same level of cleaning and protection with less wasted time. It’s about workflow and timing rather than cutting corners so the car still gets properly cleaned.
Carnuba wax
"...even like the Carnuba wax compared to a spray ceramic example that I used."
Carnauba wax is a popular wax used to make your car look shiny and add a layer of protection. Some waxes take more steps to apply and wipe off than newer spray-on products.
Carnauba wax (often spelled “carnauba”) is a natural wax commonly used in detailing for gloss and short-to-medium-term paint protection. It’s typically applied and removed with specific techniques, so it can take longer than some modern spray sealants/ceramic-style products.
dilution ratios
"...depending upon the product brand, they have different dilution ratios."
Dilution ratio means how strong a cleaner is when you mix it with water. If it’s too weak it won’t clean well; if it’s too strong it can waste product or be harder to rinse.
Dilution ratios are the specific mix of concentrate chemicals with water (for example, 1:10 or 1:16). Using the correct dilution affects cleaning performance, safety, and how quickly a product works—so it directly impacts how efficient your wash process is.
foam cannon
"So if you know that you're going to be washing your car kind of pre-setting out your stuff, pre-filling your foam cannon, pre-getting your dilution bottles ready,"
A foam cannon is a tool you hook up to your pressure washer to spray soapy foam on your car. The foam helps loosen grime so you can wash more gently.
A foam cannon is an attachment (often for a pressure washer) that mixes car-wash soap with water and sprays it as thick foam. The foam helps loosen and lift dirt before you touch the paint, which can reduce the chance of scratching.
dilution bottles
"pre-filling your foam cannon, pre-getting your dilution bottles ready, your towels ready, kind of staging everything ready"
Dilution bottles are bottles you use to mix cleaning chemicals in the right strength. Using the correct mix helps it clean well without being too aggressive.
Dilution bottles are pre-measured containers used to mix chemical concentrates with water at the correct ratio. Getting the dilution right matters because too strong can be harsh on surfaces, while too weak won’t clean effectively.
pre-rinse
"The first one is that they pre-rinse the car. I've talked about this at Nazium, I really have. And there's really no hang up on it. I think it's just different."
Pre-rinse is the first step where you spray the car with water before scrubbing or using soap. It helps get rid of loose dirt so you’re less likely to scratch the paint.
Pre-rinsing means spraying water (often before foam or soap) to remove loose dirt and reduce contamination on the paint. It’s a key step for minimizing wash-induced marring, especially when you’re trying to work quickly.
Foaming a dry car
"[408.2s] Foaming a dry car and not pre-rinseing [411.0s] with a steady stream of water will not only speed up"
Instead of wetting the car first, you spray foam onto a dry car. The foam sticks to dirt and starts breaking it up so you can rinse it off faster.
“Foaming a dry car” means applying foam directly to the vehicle’s dry surface rather than starting with a water rinse. The foam clings to grime and begins loosening it before you rinse, which can reduce total wash time.
barrel
"...and in fact, it would clean the barrel even faster too, and you may not even need to scrub it."
The wheel “barrel” is the inner curved surface of the rim that faces the suspension and brake components. It’s often where brake dust accumulates heavily, so cleaning it thoroughly is key for a truly clean wheel.
foam the entire
"foam the entire, from the entire dry car, this would be considered your pre-soak, right?"
Foaming the whole car means covering it with foam before you scrub or wash. The foam helps loosen dirt so you’re less likely to scratch the paint.
Foaming the entire car means applying foam across all panels (and often wheels/tires) to encapsulate and lift contaminants. This is typically part of a pre-soak strategy to reduce grit that could cause marring during contact washing.
pre-soak
"this would be considered your pre-soak, right? ... I recommend, for my product, pre-soaks ... if you can let it dwell three to five minutes, this is gonna take care a ton of the dirt first."
A pre-soak is the first step where you spray cleaner on the car before you touch it. You let it sit briefly so it loosens dirt, which makes washing safer and easier.
A pre-soak is an initial application of cleaner/foam to loosen dirt before any physical contact washing. Letting it dwell for a few minutes helps break down grime so you reduce the amount of scrubbing needed.
two-bucket method
"traditionally, you would pre-wrench with water, and then you would have your two-bucket method, and you would go directly into a contact wash"
The two-bucket method is a safer way to wash. One bucket holds soap, and the other bucket rinses your mitt so you don’t drag dirt back onto the paint.
The two-bucket method uses one bucket for soapy water and a second bucket for rinsing your wash mitt. This helps keep grit from being reintroduced to the paint, lowering the risk of swirl marks.
Pure Magic Cleaner
"that you sprayed Pure Magic Cleaner on, and honestly, within a matter of minutes, call it, I don't know, six or seven minutes, because you let the foam dwell for five,"
This is a specific cleaning product the host uses on the car. The point is you spray it on, let it sit briefly so it can loosen dirt, and then rinse it away.
“Pure Magic Cleaner” is a branded car-cleaning chemical used here as the product you spray before rinsing. In detailing, the key idea is that the cleaner is applied to loosen grime, then given time to work before you rinse it off.
lubrication from your soap
"but now on this foam, you're getting tons of lubrication from your soap, especially if you're using a super-sober and then you've already knocked off the vast majority of the dirt on the car."
Lubrication from soap refers to the slick film created by car shampoo/cleaner that reduces friction during washing. More lubrication helps the wash mitt glide and lifts dirt without as much risk of scratching.
deionized water
"you can, if you're using deionized water, you can go in and just drive off and be done, right? Literally a 10-minute car wash."
Deionized water is water that’s been cleaned so it won’t leave spots when it dries. That’s why detailers use it at the end—so the car looks cleaner with less effort.
Deionized water (DI water) has had ions removed, so it doesn’t leave mineral spots as it dries. It’s commonly used for the final rinse in detailing to help the car dry faster and more cleanly, especially in hard-water areas.
dressed the tires
"Obviously, if you wanna dress the tires, it's gonna add a little bit more time. I suggest all dressed up, obviously, but the tire shine is your choice,"
Dressing the tires means putting a product on them to make them look nicer and stay conditioned. It takes a little extra time compared to just washing.
“Dressing” tires means applying a tire dressing/conditioner to enhance appearance and protect the rubber. It can make tires look darker and more uniform, but it adds time and can sling onto paint if applied too heavily.
door jams
"and obviously, if you wanna kinda wipe the door jams, do a little bit more vacuum interior, it's gonna take a little bit more,"
Door jams are the spots inside the door opening where dirt builds up. Cleaning them makes the car look more thoroughly detailed.
Door jams are the painted areas around the door openings (including the latch area). Wiping them adds detail-level cleanliness because they collect grime, dust, and residue that a quick exterior wash can miss.
breaking it up across multiple days
"And so actually breaking it up across multiple days and just doing little by little is one hack that I found to stay really consistent..."
Instead of doing everything at once, you spread it out. That way dirt doesn’t build up, and each session is faster and easier.
Doing detailing tasks in smaller chunks reduces the amount of caked-on dirt you have to fight later. It also helps you maintain consistency—especially when you’re trying to stay within a tight schedule.
tire dressing
"...you're not re-diluting your tire dressing, kinda taking time throughout the week..."
Tire dressing is a product applied to tires to restore a dark, clean look and add some protection. Re-diluting it takes time, so pre-mixing or planning ahead helps keep the process quick.
microfiber towels
"I keep extra microfiber towels in my car, and so if I'm at like a red light,"
Microfiber towels are used for drying and wiping because they trap dirt and absorb water without scratching as easily as rough materials. Keeping extra towels on hand lets you swap to a clean one and avoid re-depositing grime.
pre-diluted
"keep a microfiber towel, and maybe a complete cabin cleaner pre-diluted in your glove box,"
Pre-diluted means the cleaner is already mixed to the right strength. That way you can grab it and use it quickly when you only have a few minutes.
Pre-diluted cleaner means the product is mixed with water ahead of time to the recommended ratio. This speeds up maintenance sessions because you don’t have to measure and mix during a short break.
polish out a section
"and then of course, [937.0s] if you need to polish out a section, [939.0s] or you need to re-coat a panel,"
Polishing is like using a gentler “scratch remover” on paint. If you only polish one spot, it can fix small marks, but it takes more time than just washing.
“Polishing out” means using a polishing step to remove light defects like fine scratches, swirl marks, or oxidation from a specific area. It’s typically more time-consuming than basic cleaning because it involves controlled abrasion and often follow-up protection.
wash your car in 20 minutes
"that's definitely how you could wash your car in 20 minutes though, pre-soaked, pre-phoma dry car, regardless of how dirty it is, rinse it off,"
They’re talking about a quick way to wash your car without spending hours. The goal is to do it fast by prepping first and using the right steps in the right order.
The speaker is describing a fast, repeatable car-washing workflow aimed at getting the job done quickly. The key idea is using prep steps (like pre-soaking) and efficient product/application order so you don’t need a long session.
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