The Auto Detailing Podcast
by Jimbo Balaam interviews guest like Barry Meguiar, Jason Rose, Yvan Lacroix,
The Auto Detailing Podcast is a show dedicated to all things auto detailing. Whether you are a weekend warrior, drive way detailer, just starting your detail business, or you have been detailing for many years there is something we can all learn. This show gives you valuable tips, tricks and interviews with todays top detailers across the world. We focus heavily on efficiency and award winning results - We keep it real and make sure every episode gives you multiple take aways to make you a better auto detailer.
Episodes
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3 tools I cant live without right now...
After almost 20 years of detailing cars, I've learned that the right tools can make a huge difference. And sometimes, it's not the most expensive or complicated equipment that makes your life easier. In this episode, I'm sharing three detailing tools I've been using lately that have genuinely...
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Your Car Shouldn't Need This Much Maintenance
Your car shouldn't need constant washing, waxing, and maintenance to look incredible. I recently received an email from a customer who told me he'd gained 10 pounds since switching to my detailing products because he spends so much less time maintaining his car! He'd gone six weeks without…
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He Spent All Day Detailing His Car…
A tow truck owner was spending around 4.5 hours every week maintaining his truck. After changing his detailing process, he cut that time down to just over an hour — and says the truck looks better than before. I break down what changed, why traditional detailing can become unnecessarily...
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I don't do this anymore...
I've been detailing cars since 2008, and over the years my process has changed a lot. When I first started, I thought becoming a better detailer meant adding more steps, using more products, polishing more often, and chasing perfection. Almost 20 years later, I've learned the opposite. In this...
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I Stopped Using This Product Completely…
I basically don't use traditional detail spray anymore. It's not because detail sprays are bad. I just prefer using products that can do more than one job. Instead of keeping a separate bottle around just for fingerprints, gloss, drying, and quick touch-ups, I use Tough As Shell diluted 1:1 with...
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Why You Should Ceramic Coat Your Car
Ceramic coatings get talked about like they're complicated, intimidating, and only meant for professional detailers. I don't think they need to be. In this video I talk about the real reason I think most people should ceramic coat their car: it simply makes the car easier to keep looking good.…
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Does ph Even Matter?
Does the pH of a car soap actually matter as much as people think? I've been getting questions about this for a couple years now because Super Soaper has been tested straight out of the bottle at a much higher pH than what people expect from the product in actual use. In this video I break down…
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Ceramic Coating vs Ceramic Spray vs Wax—What Do You Actually Need?
Should you use a traditional ceramic coating, a ceramic spray coating or a wax? The correct choice depends on how long you want the protection to last, how much preparation you're willing to do and how you plan to maintain your vehicle. In this video, I break down the real differences between The...
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The 10 Most Common Detailing Questions I Get Asked
In this video, I'm answering 10 of the most common detailing questions I get from customers, YouTube viewers, podcast listeners, and people using Jimbo's Detailing products. We're talking about things like: Does thick foam actually clean better? Do you have to polish before applying a ceramic...
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5 Ceramic Spray Mistakes That Ruin Your Results
Ceramic spray protection should be easy to apply, but small mistakes can cause streaking, uneven coverage, poor water behavior, and disappointing durability. In this video, I demonstrate the five most common mistakes people make when applying ceramic spray protection and show you exactly how to...
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If I Had to Start My Detailing Business Over, I'd Buy These 6 Things First
What are the best detailing tools to buy if you're starting from scratch? If I had to rebuild my detailing business today, these are the six tools I'd purchase before anything else. After more than 20 years in the auto detailing industry, I've learned that having the right tools matters far more...
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Why Simple Detailing Products Feel So Confusing
The detailing industry has a directions problem. A lot of products are not actually that hard to use, but the directions, product names, dilution ratios, and marketing make them way more confusing than they need to be. In this episode, I talk about why simple products like spray waxes, ceramic...
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What the Detailing Industry Got Wrong About Wax
Wax is not dead. The detailing industry just got it wrong. For years, brands tried to evolve car wax by making it last longer, act more like a ceramic coating, or compete with ceramic sprays. But I think they missed the real point. People still love waxing their cars. They love the gloss. They…
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How To Wash, Clay & Protect Your Car In Direct Sun
Most people think you can't wash a car in direct sunlight without causing water spots, streaks, or frustration. That used to be true. In this video, I show you how to wash, clay, and protect your vehicle outside in direct sun using a modern process that takes about 20 minutes from start to…
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You Really Only Need 7 Products To Fully Detail A Car
Detailing has gotten way too complicated. A lot of people think they need 25 or 30 different products just to properly detail one car. Wheel cleaner, tire cleaner, bug remover, foam soap, contact wash soap, drying aid, glass cleaner, trim dressing, interior cleaner, leather cleaner, polish…
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The TRUTH About Low pH - High pH Wash Systems
Recently, acid-alkaline wash systems (sometimes called "exothermic washes") have become one of the hottest topics in the detailing industry. These systems can deliver incredible cleaning power by combining acidic and alkaline chemistry, but are they really the best solution for long-term vehicle...
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Is a Ceramic Coating Spray Worth It If You Use a Car Wash?
A customer recently asked me a great question: "Is Tough As Shell still worth using if I take my car through a soft-touch automatic car wash?" He had just bought a brand new dark jade green Kia Telluride, parks outside, does not have a garage or carport, and uses a commercial soft-touch car wash...
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Car Detailing Tools You Actually Need — And What You're Wasting Money On
Most beginner detailers buy way too many tools because the detailing industry makes everything feel more complicated than it needs to be. In this video, I'm breaking down the car detailing tools you actually need, the tools that are nice to have, and the ones I think most people waste money on....
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9 Car Detailing Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Paint
Most swirl marks and scratches don't come from bad products… they come from outdated detailing habits. In this video, I break down 9 common car detailing mistakes that are slowly ruining your paint — and what modern detailing methods you should use instead. We'll cover mistakes like: Pre-rinsing...
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10 Tips To Polish Paint Faster & Get Better Results
Most people make paint polishing way harder than it needs to be. In this video, I break down why polishing your car takes too long, what mistakes slow people down, and how to get better results with a simpler system. We'll talk about test spots, pad choice, product amount, cleaning your pad,...
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The Best Glass Cleaner Isn't a Glass Cleaner - Here's The Secret To Streak Free Glass
I keep getting asked why I don't offer a dedicated glass cleaner… or what my favorite glass cleaner is. The truth is simple: most of the time, the best glass cleaner is not a glass cleaner at all. In this episode, I'm breaking down my simple method for getting streak-free car glass using DI water...
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The TRUTH About Detailing Cars Outside...
Can you detail a car in direct sun? Years ago, the answer was almost always no. Soaps would dry too fast, waxes would streak, polishes would dust, and water spots could bake into the paint before you even had a chance to wipe them off. But detailing products have changed. In this video, I break...
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If I Could Only Use 3 Detailing Products… This Is What I'd Pick
What if you could only use 3 detailing products for every car you work on? No shelves full of chemicals. No 20-step process. Just 3 products to handle almost everything. In this video, I break down the exact 3 products I would choose—and more importantly, WHY—based on versatility, efficiency, and...
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8 Detailing Mistakes Everyone Is Still Making (Stop Doing This)
Most detailers think they're doing things the "right" way… but what if the industry has been teaching it wrong this whole time? In this episode, I break down 8 common detailing mistakes that are holding people back—from outdated wash methods to overcomplicated systems that take the fun out of...
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The TRUTH About Why Ceramic Coatings Fail...
Want a ceramic coating that's actually EASY to use… and actually LASTS? In this episode, I break down why most ceramic coatings fail—and why so many detailers get blamed for it when it's really the product that's the problem. The truth is… if a ceramic coating requires perfect conditions, crazy...
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You're killing me… in a good way
In this episode, I share a real email from a customer that perfectly captures something most detailers go through. He left my products. Tried other brands. Then came back. And what he said about foam, cleaning power, and product performance says a lot about where the detailing industry is today.…
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How to Wash Your Car in Under 20 Minutes...Even In Direct Sun
Want to wash your car FAST without scratching your paint? Most people think a quick car wash means cutting corners… but that's exactly how swirl marks, streaks, and bad results happen. In this video, I'm breaking down how to wash your car in under 20 minutes using a simple, efficient system that...
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Why Dealership & Tunnel Car Washes Are Destroying Your Paint (And What To Do About It)
Just bought a new car… and after ONE wash it's covered in water spots? That's exactly what happened to one of my customers with a brand new Audi Q5—and the crazy part is, it already had a ceramic coating on it. In this episode, I break down what REALLY causes water spots, why dealership washes…
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The Truth About 'All-In-One' Car Detailing Products: MAXL ONE, Turtle Wax 1 & Done, Chemical Guys Raging Rhino SmartOne
In today's video, we're breaking down the truth about "all-in-one" car detailing products. Products like MAXL ONE, Chemical Guys SmartOne, and Turtle Wax 1 & Done all promise the same thing — clean, shine, and protect your car in one simple step. Sounds perfect… right? But here's the reality:...
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How to Make Your Car Look INSANELY Shiny (and Keep It That Way)
In this episode, I break down the real way to make your car look insanely shiny—and how to keep it that way without overcomplicating the process. Most people think shine comes from products… but the truth is, shine comes from removing what's blocking it. We're talking about: Why your paint looks...
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The TRUTH About Snow Foam...Is It Useless?
Most foam looks cool… but is it actually cleaning? In this episode, I break down the truth about snow foam and introduce the idea of functional foam—foam that doesn't just sit on the surface, but actually works to break down dirt, grime, and road film. We'll talk about why foam became so popular,...
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The Truth About Ceramic Coatings for Daily Drivers.
If your car sits outside every day… is a ceramic coating even worth it? I recently received a comment that sparked a really interesting discussion: "I still cannot embrace the small-bottle-type, multi-year ceramic coating product for the daily driver with no garage vehicle." And honestly… it's a...
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You Literally Cannot Mess This Coating Up
One of the biggest myths in the detailing world is that ceramic coatings are difficult to apply. For years people were told that coatings were only for professionals… that you needed perfect prep, exact flash times, and that one mistake could ruin your paint. And honestly… that used to be true.…
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Do You Really Need an IPA Wipe Before Ceramic Coating?
Do you really need an IPA wipe before applying a ceramic coating after polishing? In this episode, I break down a real email from a customer who asked if you can go straight from polishing to coating — or if panel prep is mandatory. We'll cover: • Where the IPA wipe "rule" came from • How…
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SECRETS They Don't Want You To Know: Wash Your Car Less
Is it possible for a ceramic spray to work too well? In this episode of the Auto Detailing Podcast, I break down an email from a customer who says Gloss Boss and Tough As Shell are performing so well… he's washing his car 40–50% less than before. That's right — less dirt sticking, less water…
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Why I'll Never Wax A Car Again...
In this episode, I break down why traditional car wax — both natural and synthetic — no longer makes sense for me when it comes to real paint protection. Yes, wax can give your car a beautiful glow. Yes, the "wax on, wax off" process can be therapeutic. But when you look at durability, chemical...
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What I've Learned After 2 Years of Owning a Car Care Brand
Two years ago, I launched my own car care product brand. I thought I knew what I was getting into. I didn't. In this episode, I break down the real lessons I've learned after two years of owning a detailing product company — from product development and marketing to customer psychology, brand...
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What I'd Do Differently If I Had to Start Detailing Over Today
If I had to start detailing from scratch today, I'd do somethings differently. In this video, I break down what actually matters when starting a car detailing business or learning detailing the right way. From simplifying products and using pre-soak instead of pre-rinse, to choosing retail…
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7 Detailing Products I'd Buy Again & Again...
After years of testing detailing products, tools, and methods, these are 7 detailing products I would absolutely buy again. No hype, no gimmicks—just products that actually work, save time, and deliver real results. In this video, I break down why each product earns its place and how it fits into…
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7 Detailing Products I'll Never Buy Again...
There are countless car detailing products on the market, but not all of them are worth your money. In this video, I break down 7 detailing products I'll never buy again after years of real-world testing. From overhyped tools to products that cause more problems than they solve, I explain why…
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DIY Detailing Products You DON'T Need...
Are you buying detailing products you don't actually need? In this episode, I break down the most overhyped DIY car detailing products that are pushed hard by marketing—but don't make sense for real-world car care. We cover graphene and triphene, borophene ceramic coatings, all-in-one waterless...
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Detailing Products you DON'T Need and SHOULD NOT Buy...
STOP wasting money on detailing gear that gathers dust. In today's episode, I'm stripping away the "ego buys" and showing you the 6 expensive tools you should NEVER buy—and the things you should invest in immediately to get pro results. Most detailers go broke before they even get their first...
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The #1 Reason Your Ceramic Coating Is Failing...
Is your ceramic coating failing? The #1 reason isn't the product—it's the maintenance. Today I'm exposing the biggest ceramic coating lies and showing you how to fix a clogged coating using Tough as Shell. The industry wants you to believe coatings are "set it and forget it," but that's the…
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3 Weird Things I Do When Detailing (That Actually Save Time & Work Better)
You don't always need more products — sometimes you just need a better approach. In this episode, I walk through three detailing habits I use that might seem a little unconventional, but have helped me save time and still get great results. We'll talk about: Why I don't use wash buckets anymore…
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5 Overrated Detailing Steps You Should Stop Doing...
Are you still doing detailing steps that don't actually make your car cleaner, shinier, or safer? In this episode, I break down the MOST overrated detailing steps that modern chemistry has made totally unnecessary. These old-school methods slow you down, waste product, and don't improve your...
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The #1 Complaint I Get About My Detailing Products.....
The number one complaint I get about my detailing products has nothing to do with performance or durability. It's that they are too easy to use and they actually do what the label says. In this video, I break down why simple, effective products often get criticized, why the detailing world is...
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The SECRETS Car Care Brands NEVER Tell You (Because It Would Kill Their Sales)
Most car care brands do not want you watching this. Today I'm breaking down the real truth about how detailing products are made, how private labeling works, and why so many brands rely on marketing instead of real chemistry. I've been behind the scenes for years—fulfilling products, private...
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The Dry Foam Method: Why It Works & Why It's Better
If you want a safer, faster, and more effective way to wash your car than the old-school two-bucket method, this episode breaks down everything you need to know about the Dry Foam Method. This modern approach lets the soap hit the dirt at full strength, giving you better cleaning power with less...
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Secrets They Don't Want You To Know About Rinseless Washing
Why don't I do rinseless washes anymore? After years of being a full-time mobile detailer in Orange County—working in strict coastal cities with heavy water-runoff regulations and during the peak of California's "drought"—I relied on rinseless washes to keep my business alive. I was a full-on...
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Wash, Clean, and Protect Your Car in 10 Minutes (No Buckets Needed)
Want to wash, clean, and protect your car in 10 minutes or less? In this video, I'll show you my exact 10-Minute Quick Wash Method that delivers professional results without the hassle of buckets, grit guards, or wasted time. This is the ultimate fast and safe car wash routine for busy people who...
About this show
The Auto Detailing Podcast is a show dedicated to all things auto detailing. Whether you are a weekend warrior, drive way detailer, just starting your detail business, or you have been detailing for many years there is something we can all learn. This show gives you valuable tips, tricks and interviews with todays top detailers across the world. We focus heavily on efficiency and award winning results - We keep it real and make sure every episode gives you multiple take aways to make you a better auto detailer.
Hosted by
Jimbo Balaam interviews guest like Barry Meguiar, Jason Rose, Yvan Lacroix,
Categories