Cleaning tips to regain that showroom shine.

There's no single best way to detail an automobile. The golden rule for the job, though, is in its name. Whether you use a self-serve wash bay or hire a professional, getting your vehicle looking its showroom best is all about paying attention to the details. Here are some tried-and-true tips for refreshing your ride.

• Prioritize interior vacuuming—moving from high to low. If you don't often clean your car, vacuuming can be very time consuming, So it’s a good ideas to get it out of the way first.

• Clean vents, crevices and hard-to-reach spaces with smaller tools, such as toothbrush, pick or compressed air. Hold vacuum in free hand to suck up debris while you work.

• Use a hard-bristled brush to scrub pedals; vacuum dirt and cleaning product that falls to the floor.

• Spray the exterior—including undercarriage—with foaming pre-soak detergent, which loosens and lubricates dirt so it doesn't scratch when washed off. If available, spray degreaser on wheels and rims. Rinse everything using a pressure washer.

• Spray on polish, seal it with a spray-on wax, and perform "spot-free" rinse using deionized, reverse-osmosis water. Dry by hand with water blade and/or microfiber cloth.

• Spray down floor mats and scrub with all-purpose cleaner. For a like-new look, apply floor-mat dressing according toproduct specifications.

• Open doors and wipe jambs, seals and hinges. There's always going to be a bit of water in there after you've thoroughly washed the exterior.

• Wipe down all interior surfaces. To disinfect, use a low-concentration (15 percent or less) isopropyl alcohol–based cleaner.

• Apply protectant (e.g. Armor All) to plastic, vinyl and leather surfaces. Spray product on cloth, then apply "with the grain"; using a circular motion will leave noticeable swirls.

• Use glass cleaner on windows and mirrors, wiping with a microfiber cloth. Polish with a clean, dry shammy towel.

• Spray on tire dressing to rejuvenate tires. Clean rims with product specific to type of metal—steel, aluminum or titanium.

• Give interior a final once-over with vacuum. Move vehicle out into sun to reveal any exterior spots that have been missed. Touch up where necessary.