There are several areas on vehicles that I notice get overlooked by professional and amateur detailers alike. Attention to these easily missed items can really elevate the quality of your work and the impression it makes on customers.

Trunk pulls.
This is the area above the trunk latch. It’s out of sight when the trunk is shut, but when opened, it’s fully exposed. Be sure to clean this during the wash, and if residue remains after the wash, clean it out with a detailer’s brush and an all purpose cleaner. No need to buff/polish/wax this spot…just be sure it’s clean when exposed.

Beneath door handles.
This area gets scratched by fingernails and is viewed every time the owner opens his/her door. The light scratching can quickly be removed with rubbing compound, and gives the impression of a more thorough car detailing.

Turn signals.
Turn signals, through frequent use (tens–even hundreds–of thousands of clicks) accumulate skin and dirt deposits. Simply wipe clean with an all purpose cleaner (diluted Simple Green is fine) and clean cracks and gaps with a toothbrush. The customer will certainly notice when touching a freshly cleaned turn signal.

Underside of rear hatches.
SUVs, minivans, and station wagons with hatches have interior panels that often accumulate pet hair, scuffs, and dirt. It’s easy to overlook this area. Look up! Your customer will. Wimply wipe clean with a clean towel and all purpose cleaner.

Shift console
When cleaning below the shifter, be sure to shift it into park and reverse to reveal and clean the mechanism you don’t see when the car is parked. About half of all detailers seem to miss this. It gets immediately noticed when the owner starts his/her freshly detailed car, and shifts it into reverse and drive.

Consoles that can be disassembled
Many center consoles contain ashtrays and cup holders that can be disassembled and removed. You will find coffee, dirt, and debris in these spots. Disassemble everything that can be disassembled and clean it from above and below. You can count on many customers to check these areas.

Between seats.
Crumbs, dirt, and pet hair collect here. Your customer cannot access this area with his/her vacuum. Blast out dirt with an air compressor from these areas, and vacuum it up where it settles. If there are food/beverage spills, wet with all purpose cleaner, scrub with a long handle toothbrush, then blast clean with compressed air. If dirt and spills are excessive, remove the seat, clean, and reinstal the seat.