03/17/2026
How many detailers are familiar with the CHAT rules for detailing?
Let’s talk C.H.A.T. — the 4 things that should be running through your head before you touch anything on a car.
C — Chemical
Use the right chemical for the job and the surface. Sounds obvious but it’s where a lot of people mess up. Grease, road film, coffee stains, brake dust… they’re all different problems. Example: if I’m doing an interior and there’s a sticky soda spill in carpet, I’m not blasting it with some random APC and hoping for the best. I’m using an enzyme or carpet cleaner designed to break down sugars so it actually releases before extraction. Same outside — bug guts, road film, and brake dust all need different chemistry.
H — Heat
Heat speeds things up when it makes sense. Steamers and hot water extraction aren’t just for show — they help break down grime and oils way faster than cold cleaning. But you don’t use heat for everything. Example: nasty cloth seats with body oils? Hot extraction helps melt that grime out. But delicate leather or certain plastics? Too much heat can do damage. It’s a tool, not a flex.
A — Agitation
This is the physical part — brushes, microfiber, wash mitts, drill brushes, whatever you’re using to move the dirt once the chemical has started breaking it down. But the key is agitate after chemistry has had time to work, not immediately. Example: on a contact wash, I’m not just scrubbing a dirty panel dry. I foam it, let the chemical loosen the dirt, then lightly agitate with a mitt so I’m moving lubricated grime instead of grinding it into the paint.
T — Time
Probably the most skipped step. Chemicals need dwell time to actually break things down. If you spray something and wipe it instantly, you’re basically wasting the product. Example: when I foam a car like this Audi, I’m letting it sit a minute so it can soften road film and dirt before I touch the paint. Same with interior cleaners — spray, let it dwell, then work it.
A lot of detailing really just comes down to respecting the process instead of rushing it.
Curious though — which one do you think most people skip? 👀
