The Auto Detailing Podcast May 6, 2026

If I Could Only Use 3 Detailing Products… This Is What I'd Pick

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16:42

Topic

If I Could Only Use 3 Detailing Products... This Is What I'd Pick

They’re asking: if you could only use three car-cleaning products, which three would you choose to handle most cars? Then they’ll explain their picks.

Term

detailing equipment

“Detailing equipment” means the tools people use to clean and finish a car, like the supplies they keep in their garage.

Brand

Jimbo's Tufa Shell

“Jimbo's Tufa Shell” sounds like a named car-care product. The host is saying people ask how it’s different from other products.

Term

An iron remover is a cleaner that targets rust-like particles (often from brake dust) stuck to your car’s paint. It works best on paint, not on things like interior surfaces or glass. So if you only had one product, it wouldn’t be the most versatile choice.

Term

off-label

“Off-label” means using a product for something it wasn’t meant for. Even if it seems like it could work, it might not be safe or effective. Here, they’re saying you shouldn’t use an iron remover on the interior.

Term

paint protectant

A paint protectant is a product meant to add a protective layer over paint to help repel water, reduce staining, and make contaminants easier to remove. It’s different from a cleaner like an iron remover, which focuses on removing contamination rather than leaving protection behind. The speaker is contrasting “removing” versus “protecting.”

Term

interior dressing

An interior dressing is a product you use on the inside of the car to make surfaces look better and stay from drying out. It’s meant for interior materials, not for removing iron contamination. Here, they’re saying iron remover isn’t the right tool for interior dressing.

Term

glass-only coating

A glass-only coating is a protective product made just for windows/glass. It helps water bead up and can improve how clearly you can see through the glass in rain. The speaker is saying that if a product is only for glass, it’s less versatile than multi-purpose options.

Term

ceramic coating

A ceramic coating is a protective liquid you put on your car’s paint. Once it cures, it helps water bead up and makes dirt and grime stick less, so the car is easier to clean.

Term

ceramic spray

A ceramic spray is a quick spray product that adds some ceramic-style protection. It’s usually not as long-lasting as a full ceramic coating, but it’s handy for topping up protection.

Concept

sacrificing something somewhere

They’re saying that when you limit yourself to only a few products, you can’t get every benefit at once. You usually have to choose what matters most and accept that something else won’t be as strong.

Brand

super soper

“Super Soper” is the brand of car soap the host recommends as their go-to starting product. They say it’s gentle (near pH neutral) and can be used in different ways like foam cannon or bucket washing.

Term

pH neutral

“pH neutral” means the soap isn’t very acidic or very soapy-alkaline. That usually makes it safer for car paint and finishes than harsher cleaners.

Term

foam cannon

A foam cannon is a tool you put on your pressure washer to spray lots of soapy foam on the car. The foam clings and loosens dirt before you scrub.

Term

pre-soak

A pre-soak is when you spray cleaner on the car first and let it sit. It helps loosen dirt so you don’t have to scrub as hard.

Term

bucket wash

A bucket wash is the normal way of washing a car: you mix soap in a bucket and use a mitt to clean the paint. The right soap helps keep dirt from scratching.

Term

APC

APC means “all-purpose cleaner.” It’s a stronger cleaner than regular car soap, often used to break down grease and dirt on tougher areas.

Term

car wash soap

Car wash soap is the kind of cleaner made for car paint. It’s usually gentler and helps dirt come off with less chance of scratching.

Term

lubrication on the wash

This means the soap helps reduce friction while you wash. Less friction usually means less chance of scratching the paint when you move your wash mitt.

Term

all-purpose cleaner

An all-purpose cleaner is a single cleaner meant to work on lots of different surfaces. In detailing, it’s usually diluted so it cleans well without being too harsh.

Term

pump sprayer

A pump sprayer is a small sprayer you pump up to spray cleaner. Detailers use it to apply products evenly without needing a pressure washer.

Term

windshield wiper fluid

Windshield wiper fluid is what your wipers spray to clean the windshield while you drive. People sometimes dilute other cleaners to use it, but it needs to be glass-safe.

Term

paint protection

Paint protection is what you put on a car’s paint to help it stay looking good longer. It creates a protective layer that helps resist sun damage and dirt sticking.

Brand

Tuffa Shell

Tuffa Shell is the name of a detailing product the host uses for protecting the car’s paint. They also say it can help during drying to keep the finish looking better.

Term

drying aid

A drying aid is something you use when you’re drying the car. It helps water come off more easily and can reduce the risk of annoying water spots.

Term

quick detailer

A quick detailer is a fast spray product you use between washes. It helps remove light grime and makes the car look cleaner and shinier without doing a full detailing session.

Term

rims

Rims are the visible part of your wheels. They get dirty from brake dust and road grime, so rim-safe products help clean and protect them.

Term

trim

Trim is the non-paint parts of the car, like plastic pieces and moldings. Detailing products for trim help keep them from looking dull or faded.

Term

tires

Tires are the rubber parts of the wheels. Detailing products for tires help clean them and keep the rubber from drying out and looking worn.

Term

leather conditioner

A leather conditioner is used to keep leather soft and protected. The host says some conditioners can make seats feel too slick, which they don’t want.

Brand

Gloss Boss

Gloss Boss sounds like a specific car detailing product focused on adding shine. The host says it’s not the right choice for interior surfaces.

Brand

Super Sober

Super Sober is another detailing product in the lineup. The host suggests using it first helps the car look better when you follow up with the next product.

Term

acid based cleaner

An acid-based cleaner uses stronger chemistry to break down tough dirt. The host is saying this type of cleaner can work really well, especially on certain grime.

Term

matte finish

Matte finish means the surface looks more dull than shiny. On tires, it’s a coating choice that makes them look less glossy.

Brand

All dressed up

“All dressed up” is a car-care product used to make surfaces look nicer—especially tires—by adding shine and protection. The host also says it can be diluted so it works on other areas like trim and interior plastics.

Term

dilutable

“Dilutable” means the product can be mixed with a solvent (like water) to reduce its strength. In detailing, dilution lets you use the same product more safely across different surfaces—like trim, interior plastics, or vinyl—without making it too aggressive.

Term

engine bay

The engine bay is the area under the hood. People sometimes clean and dress it to make the car look better, but you have to be careful with what you spray.

Term

interior plastics

Interior plastics are the plastic parts inside the car, like trim and panels. Detailers often use gentler (diluted) products on them so they don’t get damaged.

Term

vinyl seats

Vinyl is a synthetic material commonly used for car seat coverings. It can be cleaned and dressed with specific products to restore appearance and prevent it from looking dry or faded.

Term

iron contamination

Iron contamination is basically tiny bits of metal dust that get stuck to your car’s paint—often from brakes. It can cling to the surface and cause ugly staining. A good cleaner for it breaks those particles down so you can wash them off.

Term

deep paint correction

Deep paint correction means polishing the car’s paint to remove visible defects like swirl marks and light scratches. It’s more intensive than a quick polish and usually involves machine polishing. The goal is to make the paint look smoother and clearer.

Term

specialty coatings

Specialty coatings are protective products you apply on top of the paint to help it look better and stay cleaner longer. They form a layer that makes washing easier and can add shine. Some coatings also need careful prep before applying.

Term

complete cabinet cleaner

A “cabinet cleaner” is a dedicated cleaner formulated for interior surfaces (often plastic, vinyl, or painted trim) rather than exterior paint. The host is describing it as a standout product in their lineup, implying it performs well for everyday interior cleaning tasks. The “complete” wording suggests it’s meant to handle multiple cleaning steps or soil types in one product.

Topic

detail process

The “detail process” is the step-by-step routine for making a car look good and stay protected. In this segment, they’re saying it mainly comes down to cleaning, adding protection, and finishing it off.

Concept

full complete detail

A “full complete detail” is basically a full, thorough cleaning and treatment of the car. It’s more than just washing—it typically includes deeper cleaning and adding protection.

Concept

simplify the process

They’re talking about making detailing easier by using fewer steps and products. The idea is that it’s simpler to understand and less confusing for the person doing it.

Concept

redundant products

“Redundant products” are products that basically overlap—doing the same job in different bottles. The host thinks too many overlapping options make it harder for customers to choose.

Concept

go box

A “go box” is a small kit of car-cleaning supplies you keep in your vehicle. The idea is that if you get a mess (like bird droppings), you can clean it right away.

Term

microfiber towels

Microfiber towels are special cleaning cloths with tiny fibers. They’re good for car detailing because they pick up dirt well and are less likely to scratch surfaces.

Brand

Pure Magic Cleaner

Pure Magic Cleaner is a specific car-cleaning product the host uses for quick cleanups. They keep it in a small kit so they can clean the car fast when something happens.

Brand

Complete Cabin Cleaner

Complete Cabin Cleaner is a specific cleaner made for the inside of the car. The host keeps it in their kit for quick interior cleanups.

LIVE

If you took away your entire cabinet,

your entire garage, your entire shelves,

all your shelving of all your detailing equipment

and you could only pick three products,

three chemicals to use to detail all the cars,

what three products would you actually pick?

Now this is something I thought about

as I was driving today because I get asked often

with all the confusion that's going on in the industry,

all the product confusion,

just everything that we see in the industry today

of redundant products, products that don't work at all.

And I get asked a lot,

not only what products would I pick

or what makes my products different,

what makes Jimbo's Tufa Shell different?

And so in this video, what I'm gonna talk about,

because I thought it'd be kind of fun

because it was a mental gymnastics

that I did with myself to only pick three liquids,

three different chemicals that I would use

if I had to, if someone tied my hands behind my back

and said, hey, add all your chemicals,

only pick three that you could use to detail

the vast majority of the cars, what would it be?

And again, this isn't gonna be a perfect setup.

I think it's the smartest one.

I kind of thought about each one,

not only products in my product line,

but just products in general

or different product categories.

So though in this video,

just for those of you that get hypersensitive,

I am gonna only mention my products

and product categories in general,

because when I thought about this,

and this is something that I actually consider

when I'm developing new products,

is that I want my products to serve multiple purposes.

And so in order for me to do this video,

and then in order for me to explain

why my product line is different,

I'm only gonna talk about my product.

So a caveat, if you're not interested in that,

you could turn away now

and I didn't waste too much of your time.

But these are three products that I would pick.

And when I was thinking about this as I was driving,

I tried to consider, okay,

this is not gonna be a perfect situation,

so you're not gonna be able to do

the kind of niche things of the industry.

For example, I probably wouldn't pick an iron remover,

because an iron remover kind of only does one thing,

remove iron from the paint.

But outside of that,

you can't use an iron remover on the interior off-label.

An iron remover is not a great glass cleaner.

An iron remover is not a good paint protectant.

An iron remover is not a good interior dressing.

And so again, this is not a perfect setup,

this is just more for funsies than anything.

And I enjoyed kind of thinking about it

and strategizing what I would use.

And so I thought that it would be fun to explain

and kind of just tell you where my head's at.

So again, this is not about the best product

in each category.

This is not about what other brands,

this is about maximum versatility.

And I really got to the place where if a product

only does one thing, i.e. like an iron remover,

I'm probably not gonna pick it

because it's not versatile enough, right?

So the same thing with like maybe a glass-only coating

or even a ceramic coating, like a wipe-on ceramic coating,

it only does one thing and I'll explain later

why I would pick a ceramic spray over that.

So and just like with everything like I talk about

and chemicals, there's give and take, right?

So when we're limited on how many chemicals we can pick,

we're sacrificing something somewhere.

And in this case, we're kind of sacrificing perfection,

which I know kind of goes against the grain

with detail-oriented people.

So again, a lot of verbiage to say,

like this is not perfect, right?

This is just how can we, you know,

if I only had to pick three?

And a little tangent, not too much,

but a little tangent is a lot of motivation behind this

is those people that reach out to me

that are either just getting started and detailing,

like Jonathan, who stopped by my shop this weekend

and picked up some product because he was a local.

And just starting this detailing business,

kind of as his side hustle, you know, he's confused.

Hey, what products can I start with?

And also not only Jonathan,

but a lot of other people that reach out like,

hey, I don't want to spend a ton of money on this

while I'm kind of figuring it out.

So if you can narrow it down, what would you pick?

And so though this is kind of more of a fun episode,

this is also a episode that hopefully has a lot of value

and can help kind of, you know, direct you

into what I think the most versatile products are.

So the very first product that I would get,

kind of like my foundational product

is definitely the super soper.

So a car wash soap that is slightly above pH neutral

when it's diluted down in a foam cannon

and the actual chemicals hitting the surface of the card

is pH neutral, but this soap is so versatile.

So I use it as a pre-soak.

It can work in a foam cannon.

It can work in a bucket wash.

It can clean engines.

It can clean wheels.

It's not going to do the heavy lifting

like a pure magic cleaner would

or an acid-based wheel cleaner or anything like that,

but it will definitely clean the wheels,

lightly clean the tires.

I don't recommend it like this,

but I guess you could use it on interiors

and it would clean.

It's more than a soap, though it is a soap.

It's, in this context, it would kind of,

I would kind of consider it like my all-purpose cleaner,

right, without being harsh.

And so, because this alone replaces three or four products.

I don't have a pre-soak APC.

I don't need any of that.

Again, I probably wouldn't use it on interiors,

but I think really diluted down,

you could use it on interiors

and it would probably clean pretty good.

Again, not ideal, but also not the worst situation ever.

I wouldn't pick an all-purpose cleaner over the soap,

though you could do an all-purpose cleaner as a number one.

That would obviously be a good all-around cleaner

and most all-purpose cleaners also foam.

So you could foam an all-purpose cleaner

as a car wash soap.

So, that one is a toss-up right there.

I'm going to go super-sober because I think you get

more lubrication on the wash.

You're going to get a safer wash than you would

with an all-purpose cleaner.

But again, nonetheless, it's kind of, again, like I said,

it is like an all-purpose cleaner,

just a little less harsh.

And so, but you could swap that out

with an all-purpose cleaner if you wanted to do it.

But definitely, that's the foundational product

because it has so many uses.

It replaces four or five products right there.

It's just an easy first product to pick.

And again, so versatile.

Whether you have it in a bucket,

whether you have it in a foam cannon,

whether you have it in a garden hose foam cannon,

whether you have it in a pump sprayer,

people are using it as a windshield wiper fluid.

They're mixing, I actually did a YouTube short on this.

They're mixing about one or two ounces per gallon of water

and using it as a window washer fluid,

especially truckers or people that live in areas

of the country that have a lot of bugs.

It is really effective at cleaning the bugs

off your front windshield.

A decent tire cleaner, I wouldn't call it

like the best, again, we're sacrificing here.

So not the world's best tire cleaner,

but can definitely clean a tire,

can definitely clean a rim with some agitation.

Again, and you're starting,

the reason why I call it a foundational product

is you are literally starting from,

you have to be able to clean the car, right?

Cleaning is step one, right?

And that's kind of how my mind worked with this is like,

okay, what are the general things that we're trying to do?

It's kind of like wash, protect, restore if possible, right?

Those are kind of my like three main buckets

when I think about like key areas of the car

that customers care about, clean, protect,

and kind of shine, I guess, clean, shine, protect.

Anyway, so the next one in that, if you have that mindset

or those categories that you're trying to fill,

the next obvious answer would be to protect the paint,

which I would do with Tuffa Shell.

This is gonna be my kind of enhancement product,

protection product, because cleaning is step one,

and then we wanna protect, right?

Clean, protect, and restore if possible, right?

So this can be used obviously as a paint protection,

can be used as a drying aid,

so we're protecting the paint, right?

It's a great topper for ceramic coatings,

it could be used as a quick detailer,

it could protect trim, rims, tires, interiors.

I like Tuffa Shell on interiors.

I personally use, not out of this list,

but I just personally do use Tuffa Shell

as my interior detailer.

I just like it, it works nice on my leather seats

or clear coat of vinyl, whatever they are.

It's gentle, it's soft, it makes materials feel supple

without giving it too much added shine.

It doesn't make my seat slippery,

like a leather conditioner would.

And so I like that, it just makes my seats feel nice.

And so this will be my gloss, my protection,

my maintenance product.

Obviously it's not the gloss boss,

it's not a full blown ceramic coating,

but again, in this scenario,

we're getting 80% to 90% of the way there

with way more flexibility.

Again, you're not gonna be using the gloss boss

on your interior, right?

Though you, I guess you could,

it's not designed for that, right?

And so where Tuffa Shell can be diluted down one to one

and then it's definitely your quick detail spray,

it's your glass cleaner, your interior protectants,

you're protecting your interior and exterior

at the same time.

And after you clean it with the Super Sober,

it's gonna make your car look amazing, right?

So again, give and take,

but how much can we take without giving too much?

And so I think between the Super Sober and Tuffa Shell

we're really, really getting there.

And then the third product was really a toss up

because I'm like, I was kinda going complete cabin cleaner.

I was kinda going complete cabin cleaner

or pure magic cleaner, but pure magic cleaner

being an acid based cleaner, very effective.

I was thinking it could be my iron remover,

very good at cleaning rims,

but then kinda limited as well.

And I thought the same with the complete cabin cleaner,

like very good for interiors,

but what are you doing for me on the outside?

And so I really wanted, you know,

every product had to be like dual purpose.

And so what I settled on was all dressed up.

And this is kinda the finishing or the restoration

because for me personally,

if the tires aren't shining, I ain't interested, right?

I know, I know there's a lot of people that like

and even products out there

that do a matte finish on the tires,

that's just not for me.

I want my tires shiny.

I like blinged out tires.

And to be honest with you, I love shiny paint,

but I love shiny tires more, right?

And so I thought if I was doing this for my own cars,

I would not be satisfied if my tires weren't shiny, right?

And so all dressed up was that.

And then I just think that's what actually makes the car

like detailed when the tires are shiny,

but it does more than just tires

because all dressed up is heavily dilutable as well.

So it can work on trim as a slight restoration product,

but definitely as a maintenance product.

Again, you could work on it, use it in the engine bay,

of course, to dress it all up.

Interior plastics, it could be diluted way down

and then used on interiors.

Vinyl rubber, you could even use it on your vinyl seats.

And so, again, dilute it way down

if you're gonna do that, like 10 to one at least,

if you're gonna use it on interiors,

it could be really shiny on interiors.

But this is really what I think

takes the car from clean to detailed.

And so if you're really trying to detail a car

with only three products, again,

because all dressed up is so dilutable,

you could change the finish, use it inside and out,

which is really what my requirements were.

And when I segmented it into my head of like,

okay, these are the three main categories,

clean, protect, restore,

those are like the three main categories

that I'm looking for,

what would be the right products

to fill those categories as best I can, right?

And so, that's what it was.

It was a super-super, it was tough a shell,

it was all dressed up.

Now, in the basics bundle that I sell, bundle,

you do get pure magic cleaner and the complete cabinet cleaner,

which I really think in an ideal world

really rounds out the best bundle

or the best intro to my product line.

That's why I have it, the basic bundle.

But again, I just wanted to try to see

if I could hit it with three.

So, and again, just to recap

for those really detail-oriented people out there,

we're not removing heavy iron contamination,

we're not doing a deep paint correction,

you're not doing specialty coatings,

you're really not doing super-specialty stuff.

This is nowhere near a perfect setup,

but I just wanted to see how efficient

I could get with only three products

because I do get asked all the time,

like, hey Jimbo, I'm new to your line,

what are the most essential products

or what products would you want me to try first?

I think the complete cabinet cleaner

is a total sleeper as well

because it smells so good and works so good.

But again, this is not the perfect setup,

this is just the most efficient setup.

So, that's the three I would pick

to do 80 to 90% of the cars out there.

I think this will absolutely get the job done

without a problem.

You got the cleaning covered,

you got the protection covered,

you got the finish covered,

and that's really the whole detail process anyway,

it's just a little bit simplified

and really not short-cutting anything,

but again, not doing a full complete detail as well.

So, again, I just wanted to kind of work through

that mental exercise and fun

if I only had to pick three.

Again, as the industry gets more complicated,

one thing I'm really trying to do,

both with my content and my product line,

is to simplify the process

because I realize personally, when I simplify things,

not only is it easier to understand,

but I get more fulfillment and enjoyment out of that.

And so, my personal belief too,

is that I don't think that it is necessary

to have redundant products in a product line.

I think it confuses you, the consumer,

I think it confuses the brand,

I think it makes it really hard for the brand.

And so, for me, because it's my brand

and I get to do things differently,

I choose not to do that, right?

So, and this also works perfect,

like I carry a go bag in my,

or a go box in my car,

which has these products in it.

And it's kind of, if I get bird poop or we're on a road trip

or I'm somewhere where I want to clean my car,

I kind of have a go box, I call it,

of like microfiber towels, my private stash, right?

My microfiber towels, my cleaning stuff.

I do have Pure Magic Cleaner

and the Complete Cabin Cleaner in there.

But it's kind of just my go box of like,

stuff on the go if I need to clean up real quick, right?

And so, that's what I would do.

I don't know, there's not much to say.

So, if you had to pick three products,

it could be mine or it could be other brands,

that's fine, let's have a discussion.

What would they be?

Drop a comment below.

I'm sure people out there have better ideas

than I do, and so I love hearing your guys' comments

and kind of interacting with what you would do,

what products you would pick, what categories,

and shoot, maybe we'll do like the three worst products

you could pick in this situation.

Maybe I'll do that as another episode

and I don't know, I just think it's fine.

So, anyway, with that, I will link obviously

all these products below and the bundles.

Thank you so much for the support.

But again, comment below what three products

or what three product categories you would pick

if you only had to pick three.

I know this is gonna be hard for a lot of us

who have cabinets, full of stuff, garages, full of stuff,

overflowing stuff everywhere,

but if you only had to pick three,

what would you pick?

Drop it below and I'll link all my products below as well.

Thanks for watching, thanks for listening.

Catch you on the next one, see ya.

About this episode

The speaker walks through a stripped-down detailing setup built around versatility and efficiency. The first two picks are a foundational soap and a paint-protection spray, both chosen because they can replace several niche products. The third pick is a shiny tire-and-trim dressing that helps finish the look. The broader point is that a small, well-chosen lineup can cover most jobs without the clutter of redundant products.

acid-based cleaner All dressed up all-purpose cleaner APC bucket wash car wash soap ceramic coating ceramic spray Complete Cabin Cleaner deep paint correction

Original notes

What if you could only use 3 detailing products for every car you work on?

No shelves full of chemicals. No 20-step process. Just 3 products to handle almost everything.

In this video, I break down the exact 3 products I would choose—and more importantly, WHY—based on versatility, efficiency, and real-world results.

This isn't about the "perfect" setup… it's about the smartest setup.

Because the truth is… most detailers are overcomplicating things.

If you understand how to choose products that can do multiple jobs, you can simplify your process, save time, and still get incredible results.

👇 In this video, we cover:

The mindset behind choosing versatile detailing products
Why most specialty products don't make the cut
How to clean, protect, and finish a car with just 3 products
The limitations of this setup (and where it falls short)
Who this minimalist approach actually works best for

Whether you're a beginner, weekend warrior, or pro detailer looking to simplify your setup… this will change how you think about detailing.

PRODUCTS TALKED ABOUT:

Bundles: https://jimbosdetailing.com/collections/bundles

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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