Automotive Detailing Storage Solutions - Let's see em!

[trialrun]

Hi All - I'm in the process of setting up a bay in my garage for automotive detailing. Would love to see what storage solutions and products others are using for inspiration. Figure this could help others as well. Thx!!!

Post away!

 

[jonesg]

I have a bucket , a hose and dish soap.
try to wash it every spring.

 

[aShop]

I cut up some scrap metal an riveted it to a tool box.

 

[Solpainter]

Hi All - I'm in the process of setting up a bay in my garage for automotive detailing. Would love to see what storage solutions and products others are using for inspiration. Figure this could help others as well. Thx!!!

Post away!

This is what I have in my garage. I just detail my own three cars and my three sons. The cart I bought at Tractor Supply and customized the shelves to fit my boxes of microfiber towel types. Spray bottles on the top. The cabinets above hold stock of liquids and other supplies. I purchased the cabinets at Habitat for $40 and sanded and painted.

 

[aShop]

This is what I have in my garage. I just detail my own three cars and my three sons. The cart I bought at Tractor Supply and customized the shelves to fit my boxes of microfiber towel types. Spray bottles on the top. The cabinets above hold stock of liquids and other supplies. I purchased the cabinets at Habitat for $40 and sanded and painted.

Can we see how you have the cart organized and what all you keep in it?

 

[Jgaz]

Nothing fancy for me and I don’t have the floor space for a dedicated cart.
This holder is mounted right by the garage door and holds my most commonly used items.

Made from scraps of plywood. The Griot’s bottle holder was way too expensive for my tastes.
Various towels, sponges, wash mitt, etc stored in the green milk crate to the right of the bottles.

 

[aShop]

Nothing fancy for me and I don’t have the floor space for a dedicated cart.
This holder is mounted right by the garage door and holds my most commonly used items.

Made from scraps of plywood. The Griot’s bottle holder was way too expensive for my tastes.
Various towels, sponges, wash mitt, etc stored in the green milk crate to the right of the bottles.

Mine are made from trash.
This is an old rack switch I cut up.


The bottom is an old tool tray I cut in half. I found it near the trash of a duplex I walk my dog by.

 

[niget2002]

I use a plastic rolling cart I got off Amazon. Bottom shelf holds all my buckets and soap. Top shelf holds my rags, detailing liquids, and buffers.

This is the only picture I have.

 

[frankd]

I can't help with regard to storage solutions. I just keep everything on shelves in the garage. With regard to products... I would 100% recommend a foam cannon if you're not using one already. I have one that works off a garden hose and another that works off a pressure washer. The pressure washer version is 1000% better and I love it.
You don't need a $100 foam cannon. Harbor freight has one for $35. Only thing is that if you'll need to change the orifice to 1.1mm ($7 on amazon).
I have a cheap Ryobi pressure washer. I upgraded the handle and hose and use the foam cannon. It's life changing!
As for other products, I always liked the Chemical Guys products but wonder if they're starting to get a bit over rated now. For a quick wash, I love the turtle wax hybrid solutions ceramic wet wax. you spray it on a wet car after washing, and then dry as usual. It doesn't provide amazing shine, but it seems to last for well over a month and my cars mostly stay outside. I also love Mothers VLR for the interior.
I used to spend a ton of time and money on car care products but after having kids I started looking for faster solutions...which is why I love VLR. I like 303 on the dash and plastic trim.
As for wax, I like collinite 845. Its kind of old school but easy to apply, lasts long, and provides a nice shine.
For polishes I've used all of them and havent really noticed that one was better than the other.

 

[aShop]

I can't help with regard to storage solutions. I just keep everything on shelves in the garage. With regard to products... I would 100% recommend a foam cannon if you're not using one already. I have one that works off a garden hose and another that works off a pressure washer. The pressure washer version is 1000% better and I love it.
You don't need a $100 foam cannon. Harbor freight has one for $35. Only thing is that if you'll need to change the orifice to 1.1mm ($7 on amazon).
I have a cheap Ryobi pressure washer. I upgraded the handle and hose and use the foam cannon. It's life changing!
As for other products, I always liked the Chemical Guys products but wonder if they're starting to get a bit over rated now. For a quick wash, I love the turtle wax hybrid solutions ceramic wet wax. you spray it on a wet car after washing, and then dry as usual. It doesn't provide amazing shine, but it seems to last for well over a month and my cars mostly stay outside. I also love Mothers VLR for the interior.
I used to spend a ton of time and money on car care products but after having kids I started looking for faster solutions...which is why I love VLR. I like 303 on the dash and plastic trim.
As for wax, I like collinite 845. Its kind of old school but easy to apply, lasts long, and provides a nice shine.
For polishes I've used all of them and havent really noticed that one was better than the other.

I agree on the foam cannon. Tell us what your washing process looks like with it. I have a $20 pressure washer version I got off amazon. I am sure there is a better experience.
I think most of these car wash products are 75-90% marketing. We are pretty close to just picking the bottle you like the look of and the smell. Most products work really well from most companies.

 

[Colin Len]

I can't help with regard to storage solutions. I just keep everything on shelves in the garage. With regard to products... I would 100% recommend a foam cannon if you're not using one already. I have one that works off a garden hose and another that works off a pressure washer. The pressure washer version is 1000% better and I love it.
You don't need a $100 foam cannon. Harbor freight has one for $35. Only thing is that if you'll need to change the orifice to 1.1mm ($7 on amazon).
I have a cheap Ryobi pressure washer. I upgraded the handle and hose and use the foam cannon. It's life changing!
As for other products, I always liked the Chemical Guys products but wonder if they're starting to get a bit over rated now. For a quick wash, I love the turtle wax hybrid solutions ceramic wet wax. you spray it on a wet car after washing, and then dry as usual. It doesn't provide amazing shine, but it seems to last for well over a month and my cars mostly stay outside. I also love Mothers VLR for the interior.
I used to spend a ton of time and money on car care products but after having kids I started looking for faster solutions...which is why I love VLR. I like 303 on the dash and plastic trim.
As for wax, I like collinite 845. Its kind of old school but easy to apply, lasts long, and provides a nice shine.
For polishes I've used all of them and havent really noticed that one was better than the other.

Agreed on the foam cannon and pressure washer. That said, I do now believe the more expensive ones are worth the $$. My first setup was a cheaper cannon from Chemical guys and a cheap Ryobi PW. When that PW died I bit the bullet with an Active 2.0 with all the upgraded accessories. The accessories (cannon, wand, hose, reel, fittings...) were more than the PW. I was skeptical but trusted a friend who convinced me that I wasn't going to regret it. And boy oh boy was he right. All the accessories sound like they're not worth the $ versus the cheaper options out there but now that I've actually felt and used the products with my own hands I see the value. They're easier to use and save me time - plus just perform way better. The better PW with correct orifice, in particular, was eye opening to me. The flow I'm now getting vs before is a drastic difference.

I also bit the bullet and get a DI water tank. We have SUPER hard water so I previously spent a LOT of time drying and now almost no time drying. Again, wasn't cheap but now that I'm seeing the amount of time it's going to save me I regret not getting one YEARS ago. Ugh, it's aggravating just thinking how much time I wasted over the past decade drying my cars.

Lastly, I'm also moving to ceramic coating from wax. I'm a bit on the fence here still but seems like it's time to see what everyone is raving about. I'm told this is also going to speed up my regular washing/maintenance but we'll see.

 

[SteveL]

Don’t have a lot of detailed shots but this is the pressure washer and garden hose set up. Need to take an updated photo since the floor and walls are finally finished.




All of the chemical supplies are in the upper cabinets in this section and micro fiber towels are in the center section of drawers. Right drawer section has wash mitts, brushes, pressure washer and hose accessories. Right side lower door cabinet houses air compressor.

 

[drx2]

OG Spec?

 

[MarcSeattle]

I use two of those flip-top plastic storage bins. One for chemicals, the other for mitts & microfiber. I just toss whatever chemicals I need at the moment into the microfiber bin and carry it out to the driveway. The dual-action polisher and pads are in another bin since they're not used often.

HDX Clear 12 Gal. Flip Top Storage Tote 211512 - The Home Depot

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[SteveL]

OG Spec?

Got the Active 2.0 direct from Active, but the pressure washer hose & reel did come from OG. All other fittings, pvc, ball valves, Eley hose & reel, etc were sourced through various sources. Very happy with the outcome!

 

[drx2]

awesome job. Looks great

 

[Houdini5150]

If you can swing it, a detailing seat... Works well when doing wheels and guy can use during car maintenance

 

[frankd]

I agree on the foam cannon. Tell us what your washing process looks like with it. I have a $20 pressure washer version I got off amazon. I am sure there is a better experience.
I think most of these car wash products are 75-90% marketing. We are pretty close to just picking the bottle you like the look of and the smell. Most products work really well from most companies.

I use all quick connect fittings with the pressure washer and have a splitter for my hose, so one end has the regular garden hose and the other for the pressure washer. My process is probably similar to others that use the foam cannon. I spray the car down at first to remove any loose debris, then starting with the top I hit it with the foam cannon to get some suds on the car, let it sit for a minute, then wash with a microfiber wash mitt which I keep in a bucket of soapy water with a "grit guard" at the bottom. My only complaints with the harbor freight foam cannon (and they're very minor) is that its top heavy, so it falls over easily when its less than 1/2 full. Also, the adjustment for the spray pattern on the foam can get a little fiddly. Otherwise I love it.

Also, one more thing that I love- the nanoskin wash mitt. A friend of mine recommended it a few years ago. I was hesitant to use it because I didn't think it would be effective and also worried it might scratch the paint. After using the nanoskin I'll (almost) never use a clay bar again. I do was the car first before using the nanoskin and then another quick wash with the nanoskin.

 

[CSRPenFab]

If you can swing it, a detailing seat... Works well when doing wheels and guy can use during car maintenance

Agreed! My favorite addition to the shop was my Vyper stool that replaced the POS Harbor Freight stool I'd tolerated for far too long! The Vyper rolls great on my RaceDeck floor and makes ONR washes of the Boxster S very easy.

You can also see my car detailing supply rack in the background between the garages. It's a simple two shelf frame of fir 1x4's put together with pocket hole screws. A bungee run through both sides keeps the bottles in place.

 

[mike93lx]

If you can swing it, a detailing seat... Works well when doing wheels and guy can use during car maintenance

Doesn't need to be all that expensive. I've had a Harbor freight rolling seat for years that is invaluable for all kinds of projects on the cars.

 

[HogDude]

Agreed! My favorite addition to the shop was my Vyper stool that replaced the POS Harbor Freight stool I'd tolerated for far too long! The Vyper rolls great on my RaceDeck floor and makes ONR washes of the Boxster S very easy.

You can also see my car detailing supply rack in the background between the garages. It's a simple two shelf frame of fir 1x4's put together with pocket hole screws. A bungee run through both sides keeps the bottles in place.

Ditto on the RaceDeck, especially the Free Flow. Not quite able to spring for the Vyper. Okay then, the old Craftsman it is! Not even adjustable. Doh!

 

[shakenfake]

As a birthday gift about a year or so ago I was given the Chemical Guys duffel bag and polisher. I use the bag as a storage space and can fit all my cleaning products in there. Next to it I keep a Craftsmen bucket full of MF towels, sponges, polishing pads etc.

 

[trophyburro]

Don’t have a lot of detailed shots but this is the pressure washer and garden hose set up. Need to take an updated photo since the floor and walls are finally finished.




All of the chemical supplies are in the upper cabinets in this section and micro fiber towels are in the center section of drawers. Right drawer section has wash mitts, brushes, pressure washer and hose accessories. Right side lower door cabinet houses air compressor.

Who makes the cabinets? wow nice

 

[SteveL]

Custom white powder coat from Garage Living.

Modular Garage Storage Solutions | Signature Cabinets

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