A quick detailer is an incredibly multifaceted car care product; manufactured to enhance gloss, remove small bits of muck (like dust) and even add a thin layer of paint protection. A good quick detailer is an appealing prospect.
It’s the versatility that makes these quick detailers so appealing. Not only can the majority of quick detailers work as spray waxes, but they can often work as clay bar lubricants and even as a waterless wash. This versatility, combined with a relatively affordable price makes them essential for anyone who wants to keep their car clean and looking at its absolute best.
We’re huge fans of the humble quick detailer here at Parkers and are breaking down the very best examples you can buy. So grab a bottle and chuck it in the boot of your car ready for some extra gloss at any time.
The best quick detailer for your car
Editor's choice
Rrp: £13.00
Rrp: £13.00
The promise of up to eight weeks of durability is welcome too, with the polymers present providing excellent hydrophobic abilities. Autobrite Direct even claim it'll help maintain existing protective coatings, including ceramic options.
Pros
- Provides exceptional gloss
- Paint protection qualities
Cons
- Not the most versatile choice
| Volume | 500ml |
| Designed for dilution | No |
| Suitable for | Paintwork, external trim, glass, alloy wheels |
| Uses | Adding gloss, light cleaning, protective abilities |
The best quick detailer for ceramic protection
Rrp: £22.26
Rrp: £22.26
Meguiar's claim that this quick detailer will provide excellent water beading when applied to a car's bodywork and that it can be used to help lift light contamination from a car, like dust or fingerprints. If you have a car that has any form of ceramic protection, a quick top-up with this spray will not only add some extra shine, it'll help keep that protection in top shape.
Pros
- Add ceramic protection to your car easily
- Safely remove small contaminants
Cons
- Not designed for dilution
| Volume | 768ml |
| Designed for dilution | N/A |
| Suitable for | Paintwork |
| Uses | Adding gloss, light cleaning, ceramic protective qualities |
The best quick detailer for versatility
Best of all, Auto-QD is designed with anti-static technology, ensuring that dust and other light contaminants are pulled away and further reducing the chance of scratches occurring. It's a fantastic product, so long as you don't mind having to dilute it properly.
Pros
- Extremely versatile car care product
- Incredibly cost-effective
Cons
- You'll need something to dilute it into
| Volume | 500ml |
| Designed for | Yes |
| Suitable for | Paintwork, glasswork, alloy wheels, exterior trim |
| Uses | Adding gloss, waterless wash, light cleaning, protective qualities, clay lubricant, drying aid |
The best simple quick detailer
Pros
- Affordable option
- Excellent shine
Cons
- Not designed for dilution
| Volume | 500ml |
| Dilutable? | No |
| Suitable for | Paintwork, glasswork, alloy wheels, exterior trim |
| Uses | Adding gloss, light cleaning, clay lubricant, protective qualities |
The best quick detailer on a budget
While Getchniq's option isn't the cheapest quick detailer we could find, it is the best value when judged as a non-dilutable quick detailer against its abilities. If you don't want the faff of diluting Bilt Hamber's Auto-QD, this is excellent value for money and is a solid choice.
Pros
- Excellent cleaning abilities
- Affordable
Cons
- Not designed for dilution
| Volume | 500ml |
| Designed for dilution | N/A |
| Suitable for | Paintwork, glasswork, alloy wheels, exterior trim |
| Uses | Enhance gloss, light cleaning, protective qualities |
The best carnauba quick detailer
It's a clever formualtion too, able to be sued on wet and dry paintwork and able to totally dry on paintwork without leaving any residue at all. The coconut scent is also very nice to use.
Pros
- Perfect for paint protection
- Won't leave residue
Cons
- Smaller bottle size
| Volume | 400ml |
| Designed for dilution | No |
| Suitable for | Paintwork |
| Uses | Enhance gloss, light cleaning, protective qualities, drying aid |
FAQs: All you need to know about quick detailers
What is a quick detailer?
A quick detailer at its core is a water-based spray that primarily adds gloss to a car’s paintwork through the power of oils. It’s possible that some contain waxes and sealants to aid gloss and provide protection, but these additions aren’t essential.
You may have seen quick detailers also referred to as detailing sprays or even drying aids. Quick details and detailing sprays are the exact same thing, just under different names. Drying aids (also known as rinsing aids) on the other hand are more concentrated quick detailers designed to provide better lubrication during the drying stage of a car wash, safely lifting away remaining dirt without causing scratches.
What to look for in a quick detailer?
Versatility – Quick detailers are general purpose, meaning they can work effectively for other cleaning duties. Check below for a more detailed breakdown of the secondary uses for quick detailers.
Dilution – Linked to versatility, look at what dilutions a quick detailer can be used at. This will not only open up more uses, but it’ll also give you more bang for your buck.
Anti-static properties – Something that will keep your car cleaner for longer, an anti-static charge will stop dust from settling on a treated panel.
Scent – Not crucial in any sense, a nice-smelling product will be more pleasant to use.
What else can quick detailers do?
You’ll probably be aware now that quick detailers are versatile cleaning products. Let us break down the other uses that quick detailers can be used for, depending on the individual product.
Light cleaning – Small bits of dirt can be cleaned by a quick detailer without risking a serious scratch risk. Things like dust, fingerprints and even water spots can be tackled by a quick detailer with no fuss.
Clay lubricant – A common second use for a quick detailer, clay lubricant ensures a body panel is slick enough for a clay bar to smoothly pass over the surface without causing damage. The affordable nature and slickness offered by pretty much all quick detailers make this an obvious second use.
Spray wax – Increasingly common in quick detailers, waxes and sealants help enhance gloss and provide a really thin layer of protection. Some manufacturers will even claim a wax-laden quick detailer removes the need for proper wax. In reality, a quick detailer is best reserved as a top-up for applied waxes, helping keep everything in order and glossy.
Interior detailer – Some quick detailers will also work perfectly well on the interior of a car, providing some shine and even light protection to interior trim. Some can even be used to enhance the look of leather.
Waterless wash – On the more extreme end of the spectrum, a couple of quick detailers can double up as waterless washes. These are often stronger dilutions and make use of dirt encapsulation technology to remove contaminants without leaving too many scratches. Good in a pinch, but stick to proper buckets and water.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tool Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. He also contributes to What’s The Best.
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