Winter is brutal on interiors. Mud from boots, damp from wet coats, condensation, crumbs, and months of general life all accumulate. You probably don't see half of it — but your passengers do.
A good APC is one of the most versatile products in any detailer's kit. Dilute heavily for sensitive surfaces like Alcantara, or use neat on stubborn carpet stains. One product, a dozen jobs.
Cold temperatures and constant use dry leather out faster than most people realise. Left untreated, it cracks — and cracks are expensive to repair.
Don't skip the cleaning step. Conditioning dirty leather just seals the dirt in. Clean first, condition second — always.
Glass care is arguably the most underrated job in detailing — yet it has a massive impact on driving. Smeared glass causes terrible glare in low winter sun, makes wipers streak, and makes your interior feel grubby however clean everything else is.
Do glass last. Overspray from other products settles on glass throughout the detail — clean it at the end for a genuinely streak-free result.
Here's one most people don't think about: you can apply paint protection from a garage without a full wash. If your car is relatively dry, a ceramic spray sealant can be applied panel by panel with a microfibre. It protects from winter grime, makes future washes easier, and adds gloss.
This is genuinely the best time to apply a sealant — it bonds to the paint before the spring pollen and tree sap season hits, giving you protection ready for warmer weather.
Spring always catches people out. The sun comes out one Saturday morning and suddenly you want to do the full detail — and you've run out of shampoo, your wash mitt is tatty, and you can't find the clay bar.
February is the best time to audit your kit and order what you need. No pressure, no rush. And think of it this way: the right products protect your car's value and keep you out of the valet — where the real money goes.