Free public checklist

Vehicle Cleaning Workflow

A practical start-to-finish vehicle valeting workflow. Exterior and interior tasks are kept in one sequence and clearly labelled so each stage can be ticked off as it is completed.

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Vehicle checklist complete. All cleaning and final-check items have been marked as complete.
Start-to-finish workflow

Vehicle cleaning sequence

Follow the tasks in order. Each step is marked Exterior or Interior instead of being split into separate sections.

0 exterior · 0 interior completed
Exterior Mark complete
  • Jet wash the full car to remove loose dust, mud and dirt.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Apply TFR to the lower parts of the car where dirt builds up.
  • Avoid chrome.
  • Do not allow TFR to dry.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Jet wash all TFR and loosened dirt from the car.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Open all doors before the main body wash.
  • Clean around all door shuts, frames and sills.
  • Open the boot and clean the complete boot shut and surrounding edges.
  • Clean around the fuel flap if required.
  • Make sure no visible dirt or mud remains before continuing with the body wash.
Interior · If required Mark complete if required
  • Only do this if the mats are heavily covered in dirt or mud.
  • Remove the mats now and clean them carefully with the jet wash before continuing.
  • This is not required for normally soiled mats.
  • Cleaning very dirty mats at this stage gives them time to drain and dry before the normal Mats step later in the workflow.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Wash the car using the brush.
  • Start at the top and work downwards.
  • Make sure all visible dirt is removed.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Apply wheel cleaner.
  • Clean wheels, rims and around the spokes.
  • Make sure no visible dirt or brake dust remains.
  • Rinse thoroughly.
Interior Mark complete
  • Begin interior cleaning from the boot and work towards the front of the vehicle.
Interior Mark complete
  • Hoover all carpets, floors, boot, seats and accessible plastics.
  • Make sure no visible dirt or debris remains.
Interior Mark complete
  • Clean seats with the approved cleaner where required.
  • Pay attention to stains and heavily soiled areas.
Interior Mark complete
  • Clean all interior plastics with the approved cleaner.
  • Include dashboard, centre console, door panels and trim.
Interior Mark complete
  • Apply silicone dressing to appropriate plastics.
  • Spread evenly and remove excess product.
Interior Mark complete
  • Remove and thoroughly clean all mats if this has not already been done.
  • If heavily soiled or muddy mats were jet-washed earlier, make sure they are clean and sufficiently dry.
  • Reinsert them correctly once clean.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Apply polish to the bodywork.
  • Remove and buff the polish until the finish is clean and even.
  • Make sure no polish residue remains around trims, badges or panel gaps.
Exterior Mark complete
  • Apply rubber dressing evenly to the tyre walls.
Exterior / Interior Mark complete
  • Clean all windows inside and outside.
  • Use a hot damp cloth first for better results.
  • Finish with a clean dry cloth to leave the glass streak-free.
Quality control

Final Check

Do not mark the vehicle as complete until every applicable area has been checked.

0% complete
Before completion: Do not mark the vehicle as complete until all applicable areas have been checked and no visible dirt, polish, water marks or cleaning residue remain.

Product and workplace safety

Follow the dilution, dwell-time, PPE and surface-suitability instructions supplied with each cleaning product and your workplace procedures. Do not allow chemicals such as TFR to dry on the vehicle.