Car detailing is the art of getting your cherished motor looking as near to, and in many cases better than the day it was driven out of the showroom.

Whether you are seeking absolute perfection, to go one better than the next door neighbour or simply to look after and protect the value of your pride and joy, there are a number of key steps required to get and keep your vehicle looking like new.

This article forms part of the introduction to car detailing from our Detailing Guide series. Here I kick-start you with my 10 essential do’s and don’ts of successful car detailing.

If you follow and keep to these suggestions it will make your detailing much much easier and more enjoyable as well as avoid some of the pitfalls and mistakes that I made as I was learning the ropes.