Prepare
Start with a clean surface. Explore cleaners and surface-preparation products designed to remove dirt, grime and contamination before correction or finishing.
Product Catalog
SHOP BY DETAILING STEP
FIND THE RIGHT CAR DETAILING PRODUCTS
From surface preparation and paint correction to routine maintenance and finishing, shop Americana Global products by the stage of your detailing process.
Correct
Move into paint correction with compounds, polishes and related products designed for removing defects and refining the vehicle's finish.
Maintain
Keep vehicles properly cared for between larger details with car care products for routine washing, coated surfaces and ongoing exterior maintenance.
Protect
Complete the detailing process with finishing products for quick exterior care, paint surfaces, tires and exterior trim.
Pads
Choose cutting, polishing and finishing pads for different stages of paint correction and surface refinement.
PROFESSIONAL CAR CARE
CAR DETAILING PRODUCTS FOR EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS
A complete detail involves more than a single product. From cleaning and surface preparation to paint correction, routine maintenance and the final finishing steps, each stage calls for the right tools and chemistry.
Americana Global offers car detailing products and supplies organized around the way vehicles are actually detailed. Explore cleaners and preparation products, compounds and polishes for paint correction, cutting and polishing pads, maintenance products for ongoing care, and finishing products for exterior surfaces.
Whether you're building a complete detailing setup or replacing the products you use most, start with the stage of the process you're working on and choose the products that fit the job.
FROM THE DETAIL BAY
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DETAILING PRODUCTS
Don't start by grabbing compound. Start by inspecting the vehicle.
Wash the vehicle and remove the dirt and contamination that can interfere with the next step. Once the surface is clean, inspect the paint under good lighting.
If the paint is already in good condition, you may only need maintenance or finishing products. If you see swirls, oxidation, haze or scratches, move into paint correction.
A practical workflow is:
1. Prepare — wash and decontaminate
2. Correct — compound or polish when needed
3. Protect — complete the appropriate finishing step
4. Maintain — keep the vehicle clean between details
Use the condition of the vehicle to decide which steps it actually needs.
Look at the defects, then do a test spot.
For light haze, minor swirls and paint that mainly needs refinement, start with a polish and polishing pad.
For heavier oxidation, deeper swirls, sanding marks or more noticeable defects, you may need a compound and a more aggressive pad.
Start with the least aggressive combination that can get the result. If it doesn't provide enough correction, step up the pad, product or both. After aggressive compounding, inspect the finish again—a polishing step may be needed to remove haze and restore clarity and gloss.
Think of the pad and liquid as a system.
A cutting pad paired with compound increases defect-removal ability. A medium-cut or polishing pad is useful when you need correction with more refinement. A finishing pad is for the final polishing stage when the goal is clarity and gloss rather than heavy defect removal.
Paint hardness, defect severity, machine type and the compound or polish all affect the result.
Before doing the whole vehicle, test your combination on one section. If you're not getting enough cut, step up. If you're creating unnecessary haze, step down.
The finish should be clean and properly prepared before the final protection step.
Wash and decontaminate the vehicle first. If the paint needs correction, compound and/or polish it before applying protection.
After correction, remove polishing oils and residue with the appropriate surface-preparation product. This also lets you inspect the actual finish instead of judging paint that's still covered in polishing oils.
The goal is simple: finish the correction work first, then leave the surface properly prepared for the protection product you're applying.
Treat maintenance as contamination control, not another correction job.
Rinse away loose debris before making contact with the paint. Use a coating-appropriate wash soap and a clean wash mitt, then rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean microfiber drying towel or appropriate drying method.
Don't let road grime, mineral deposits and water spots sit indefinitely. Regular maintenance washes keep contamination from building up and make it easier to see when the vehicle needs additional decontamination or aftercare.
If the vehicle is actually dirty, wash it. Detail spray isn't a substitute for a proper wash.
Use detail spray when the vehicle is already clean or nearly clean.
It's useful for fingerprints, very light dust, minor water spots, small amounts of surface debris or a final wipe after detailing.
If you're looking at road film, mud, heavy dust or gritty contamination, stop and wash the vehicle instead. Wiping heavier contamination across the paint creates unnecessary risk of marring.
The rule is simple: light cleanup can be a detail-spray job; a dirty vehicle is a wash job.