Detailing Neccessities for $ide Hustlers & Weekend Warriors
Expect to pay $1000
bare minimum for all
necessary equipment to
start detailing as a side
hustle, $2000+ if starting
a business.
Shop Vac & Attachments
A solid shop vac with the right attachments is your best friend in the war against mystery crumbs and carpet crud. If you want your interior to actually look detailed (and not like you just petted the dirt), strong suction is non-negotiable. Heres a trusted recommendation ive been using:
Vac: $100-$200 https://amzn.to/4nRxr5O
Attachments: $50-$100 https://amzn.to/4hXQLwN
Air Compressor & Attachments
An air compressor with the right attachments is like having superpowers in your detail arsenal, it blasts dirt out of cracks, crevices, and cupholders you didn’t even know existed. Plus, it saves you a ton of time, because blowing out a mess is way faster than fighting it with a vacuum and a brush. Lots of options but heres a solid starter kit:
Compressor: $250-$1000 https://amzn.to/3K19ECA
Air Hose: $30- $100 https://amzn.to/48f5DUf
Attachments: $75-$100 Tornador: https://amzn.to/4ozLuy0
Blow Gun: https://amzn.to/48eAGj5
Pressure Washer & Foam Cannon
A pressure washer and foam cannon are the cheat codes of exterior detailing, they turn scrubbing into spraying. Sure, gas pressure washers are the heavy hitters, but even weekend warriors can get pro-level results with a good electric setup. Either way, anything beats the heartbreak of trying to clean a car with just a garden hose. Heres some options:
Pressure Washer (Gas): $300-$500 https://amzn.to/4i9ebzC
Pressure Washer (Electric): $120-$300 https://amzn.to/4oJERJJ
Foam Cannon: $15-$100 https://amzn.to/43xKsu5
Turbo Tip: $15-$40 https://amzn.to/44csjSG
Interior/Exterior Brushes
Having the right brushes is like having a tiny army for every detailing job. Interior brushes for dust, exterior brushes for grime, wheel brushes for brake dust battles, and pet hair brushes for when your car looks like a golden retriever exploded. The right tools make every nook, cranny, and carpet way easier to conquer. Heres the perfect starter kit for brushes to tackle 90% of your detailing battles:
Brushes: Soft-https://amzn.to/49S27jS
Medium-https://amzn.to/3LGbyZR
Stiff-https://amzn.to/4qXLKZi
Wheel/Tire-https://amzn.to/43viUWc https://amzn.to/43uljAm https://amzn.to/4nZPGGr
Pet Hair Removal: Analan-https://amzn.to/3JYEHip
Lilly-https://amzn.to/3LZCELs
Lilly Pro-https://amzn.to/47WKvAK
OG Pumice Stone(Aggressive)-https://amzn.to/4r1lA81
Dual Action Polishers + Polishes
A dual action polisher is where detailing gets real, and also where a lot of beginners get in trouble. It’s usually best to leave polishing to the pros unless you’re ready to risk paying double to fix your “learning experience.” But with the right research, proper equipment, and a little practice, you can get solid results at home without turning your paint into a cautionary tale. Heres a solid choice for the weekend warriors:
Polisher + Pads + Polishes: https://amzn.to/47ROfDO
Microfibers: https://amzn.to/49lwGOO
Prooducts & Chemicals
Products and chemicals are the heart of every clean, but choosing the right ones is where the real experience comes in. Finding products that work well at low dilution ratios for a good price is one of the easiest ways to boost your profit margins, whether you’re just starting or scaling your detailing hustle. The right chemicals save time, save money, and keep your results looking pro. Ill discuss more in the Hub if you want to know some cheat codes i learned over the years.