To valet a car before selling it, empty it, deep clean the interior, clean the glass inside and out, wash it with a pH-neutral shampoo such as AutoBead Pure Shampoo and clean the wheels. Finish with a quick detailer like AutoBead Quick Detailer and dress the tyres and trim, just before you take the photos. It is all in our safe wash essentials.
What should you clean before selling a car?
Everything a buyer will look at, sit on or touch: the driver's seat, steering wheel, gear lever, door handles, glass, wheels and the boot. Those are the places that show how a car has been looked after, so they deserve most of your time.
Think about the order a buyer meets the car: the photos first, then the outside as they walk up, then the driver's door and seat, then the boot and under the bonnet. A clean car is also far easier to photograph well.
How do you valet a car before selling it step by step?
Empty the car, vacuum it and clean the interior surfaces, seats and glass first. Then clean the wheels, wash and dry the outside, and finish with a gloss spray and a tyre and trim dressing.
- Empty the car: take out every personal item, from the glovebox and door pockets to the boot floor and spare wheel well. Keep the handbook and service history together in the glovebox.
- Vacuum everything: seats, carpets, mats, the boot and the gaps beside and under the seats.
- Clean the interior surfaces: wipe the dashboard, console, door cards and steering wheel with an interior cleaner on a cloth.
- Treat the seats and any smells: clean marks from the fabric or leather and deal with smells at the source rather than masking them.
- Clean the glass inside: use a glass cleaner and a dedicated cloth so the windows are clear in photos and on a test drive.
- Clean the wheels and tyres: spray a wheel cleaner on cool wheels, agitate with a brush and rinse, then scrub the tyre walls.
- Pre-wash and wash: foam the car, rinse, then hand wash with a pH-neutral shampoo from the roof down.
- Dry and add gloss: dry with a soft towel, then wipe the paint over with a quick detailer.
- Dress the tyres and trim: a satin or gel dressing makes faded black plastics and tyre walls look cared for.
- Clean the outside glass and mirrors last: so overspray from the other products does not end up on them.
Our guide to cleaning a car interior goes through the cabin in more detail.
Which products do you need to valet a car for sale?
A small kit covers the whole job. These are the products we would use, all in stock with us:
Outside the car
Stjarnagloss SNÖ pH Neutral Snow Foam
A double-strength, pH-neutral pre-wash foam that lifts dirt before you touch the paint and is safe on waxes, sealants and coatings.
A pH-neutral, highly lubricating shampoo with no gloss enhancers or waxes, used at 7ml to 10ml in a 15 litre bucket.
Stjarnagloss Hjul Colour Change Wheel Cleaner
A pH-neutral wheel cleaner that tackles brake dust, iron fallout and road grime, changing colour as it works. Use it on cool wheels and rinse it off before it dries.
A polymer spray for clean paint that removes dust, fingerprints and smears after the wash and adds gloss.
A gel-based, anti-sling dressing that protects tyre walls from UV and cracking, with a second coat for a wetter look.
A solvent-free plastic care that restores colour to tired trim with a subtle sheen, inside and outside the car.
Inside the car
A one-step cleaner for plastics, vinyl, metal, rubber and leather that leaves an anti-static, matt finish with UV protection.
Stjarnagloss Glas Professional Glass Cleaner
A solvent-based cleaner for glass and clear plastics, buffed with a dry cloth until the glass is clear.
Maxshine Carpet Lint and Hair Removal Brush
A rubber brush that pulls dog hair and lint out of carpet and boot liners before you vacuum.
Should you polish a car before selling it?
Only if the paint is dull and you already have the kit and the time. A thorough wash, a quick detailer and dressed trim bring most cars up well, while machine polishing is a bigger job that needs practice to do safely.
If you do want to polish, our guide to compound vs polish explains what each one does.
How do you get a car ready for photos?
Photograph it straight after the valet, in daylight and somewhere uncluttered, with the wheels turned so the face of the wheel shows. Clean glass, dressed tyres and a tidy interior all show up in pictures.
Take interior photos with the doors open and the mats in, after the glass is clean, and wipe away any fingerprints on the dashboard and screen before you shoot.
Common questions
Is it worth valeting a car before selling it?
We think so. It costs you some time and a few products, and you end up with better photos and a car that is pleasant to view and test drive.
Should you clean the engine bay before selling?
A light clean and wipe-down is enough. Keep water away from electrical parts and follow our guide to cleaning an engine bay safely if it needs more than that.
How do you get rid of smells before selling a car?
Find and clean the source, dry the car fully and only then use an odour treatment. A strong air freshener only covers a smell for a while.
If the car has been smoked in or has carried a dog, our guide to getting rid of car smells goes into more depth.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team what you are selling and what condition it is in, and we will put together a kit for the job. You can also browse the full AutoBead range, our quick detailers and our tyre dressings.
