15 Amazing Ideas For Your Car Detailing Garage Setup and Organization
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Having a well-designed, convenient auto detailing garage is essential to improve your detailing results. Today, I want to share 15 fantastic ideas to implement in your car detailing garage setup. I’m sure that you’ll like some of them since they’ll significantly help you detail vehicles.Â
As you can imagine, some of those accessories may be pretty expensive, and some may not. I’ll also recommend some products, and I’ll try to stay as budget-friendly as possible with my recommendations.
Designing your auto detailing garage isn’t an easy task, and I hope that it’ll become somewhat easier after reading this article. Without further ado, let’s see 15 amazing ideas that I have for you.
1. Garage Floor Tiles
I’m a big fan of garage floor tiles. Probably, that’s because you can customize them in a way you like the most. However, customization isn’t their only pro.
The best thing about garage floor tiles is choosing open-profile (vented) floor tiles. They’re designed to let everything drain away, so you always have a nice and dry surface to work on.
It’s not a small investment, but I think it’s worth it. Most of the time, we’re standing on the floor, and it should be as dry and as clean as possible all the time.
I have thoroughly covered this whole topic, so if you’d like to check more about it, read my article Car Detailing Garage Floor Tiles: What Type Should You Buy?
2. Drainage System
Having a fancy-looking floor isn’t enough without a high-quality drainage system. If you’re washing cars inside your garage, you should have a sound drainage system that’ll take all the water away.
The drainage system is something you should do when building your garage. That way, it’s the cheapest.
However, if you don’t have it in your garage, you can make it and connect it to your house’s drainage system with a little bit of work.
It’s not very cheap to pay someone to do the whole job. I recommend you prepare everything for putting drain pipes, and they pay someone to lay the pipes down and connect them to the house drainage system.
For instance, I would do all the work with a hammer drill (preparing the notches for drain pipes). I think you can prepare it in one day only. You don’t need any special knowledge, and you’ll save pretty much money. Borrow the hammer drill from somebody and do the job. At least, that’s how I’d do it.Â
3. Moisture Resistant Paint For Walls and Ceilings
Moisture-resistant walls and ceilings are extremely important in car detailing garages. Otherwise, walls will attract moisture, which can spread pretty quickly. You can quickly fix it by painting your wall with some waterproof paints.
They’re straightforward to find since everyone uses them in the bathroom. Waterproof paint is a bit more expensive than the standard wall paints, but it’s worth it.
Also, waterproof paints have one significant advantage. They’re easy to clean and maintain. So, if you get your wall dirty, you’ll easily clean the dirt without damaging the paint.Â
However, if you’re using drywalls in your garage, make sure that they’re moisture-resistant too. Usually, water-resistant drywalls are green, while non-water-resistant drywalls are white.Â
To make it clear, water-resistant drywall isn’t completely waterproof if you don’t coat it with some protection (waterproof wall paint).
4. LED Light Bars on Ceiling and Walls
Having LED light bars on the ceiling and walls inside your car detailing garage enables you to have enough light so you always work in a perfectly lit room, so you can see all the tiny details.
Detailing vehicles in a poorly lit area is one of the worst things in the auto detailing world. Most garages don’t have enough light, and you should take care of it.
When you’re washing your car, vacuuming it, extracting seats, polishing, etc., you should always have enough light to see what you’re doing.
The best advice I can give you is to get some LED light bars and install them all over the garage. In my opinion, you should put them on the side and back walls, and on the ceiling too. That way, you’ll have a well-lighted room that’s similar to daylight.
The more similar it’s to daylight, the better. Also, they’ll help you a lot when polishing your cars since you’ll be able to see swirl marks and scratches much better than in a shady environment.
Also, LED lights will help you take some fantastic photos of your work, especially if you have some knowledge of photography.
I have found some fantastic deals on Amazon, and these Barrina 6-Pack LED Light Bars (check the price on Amazon now) are the best choice.Â
5. Water Softener System
Water softener systems remove high concentrations of calcium and magnesium that cause hard water. They’ll also remove other sediments such as chlorine, etc.
By using a water softener system inside your garage, you’ll prevent water spots from appearing on your vehicle after washing the car. If you live in an area with hard tap water, you should use these systems.
Professional water softener systems are costly, and it’s hard for auto detailers to have them installed, especially for hobby detailers.
Since I’m always looking for some budget-friendly options, I have found a system that anyone can buy. Of course, it’s not as effective as professional systems, but it’ll help you a lot.
Camco Water Filter (check the price on Amazon now) is one of the cheapest options to soften the water you use for details. I suggest it to everyone, especially if you’re washing cars outside of your garage. That way, you’ll have the ideal water for auto detailing.
6. AC Unit
Having an air conditioner in your garage is more important than you thought. I think that every auto detailing garage should have it installed.
Benefits of having AC inside your garage:
- You can cool the garage when it’s hot
- It’s great for warming the garage in the winter period
- You can use it to remove warmth and moisture from the indoor air, which removes humidity.
The first two benefits will help you work inside, but the third benefit is the most important one. It’s hard to remove moisture from the garage, especially if you don’t have plenty of windows.
Every modern air conditioner has an option to regulate humidity. By using that option, you’ll quickly dry your garage and remove all the moisture left after washing your vehicle.Â
7. Garage Cabinets
Garage cabinets are essential storage accessories in any garage, so it’s in auto detailing garages. With a big enough garage cabinet, you’ll be able to store almost all of your detailing tools and products.Â
I recommend you have two garage cabinets, and between them, you can put a table on which you can keep various tools that you currently work with.Â
Many companies sell pre-built garage cabinets, but they’re just too expensive. To save some money, you should always buy garage cabinets on Amazon or similar stores and then use your imagination to fit them inside your garage.
I’ve found some fantastic deals on Amazon, and I think this SONGMICS Steel Storage Cabinet (check the price on Amazon now) is one of the best choices. Each shelf can keep up to 55 lbs, and it’s metal so that the water won’t destroy it.Â
8. Wall Shelves and Mounts
Together with garage cabinets, you’ll also need some wall shelves and mounts. They’ll help you keep some stuff that you use very often when detailing vehicles.
I always like to have some pegboard wall organizer on which I keep some tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.Â
Suppose you’re a professional auto detailer, and you sell auto detailing products to your customers. In that case, it’s always great to have them presented on shelves so that every customer can see them.
Wall shelves and mounts, together with cabinets, are the best things you can use for better garage organization.
9. Table For Various Tasks
I highly suggest that you always have a metal table inside your car detailing garage. Also, it should have wheels mounted too.
Why? Well, you’ll often need some tools or products near you when working around the car, and a table to keep them nearby is essential.
For instance, you can prepare all the tools and products required for car polishing, so you have everything in the reach of your hand.
Tables are one of the cheapest investments, and they’ll help you the most to reduce the time of cleaning vehicles.
10. Large Sink With Hot and Cold Water
Having a large sink with hot and cold water somewhere in the corner of your garage is beneficial. When detailing cars, you’ll very often need to wash something quickly or drink water.
Of course, you can always use the water from your hose, but I think it’s much more convenient if you have a sink where you can wash and rinse buckets, quickly rinse microfiber cloths, dilute various chemicals for cleaning, etc.
Also, it should have a warm water option to use warm water when needed. For instance, you can fill car wash buckets with warm water since warm water removes the dirt quicker and easier.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to clean yourself before coming back to your house so that your wife doesn’t scream at you for making the house dirty again.
11. Mounted Hose Reel
A mounted hose reel is extremely important if you want to keep your garage clean and organized.
There’s no worse thing than wrapping a garden hose after the job is finished. I have always hated it throughout my childhood, and that’s why I use hose reels whenever I can.
Mounted hose reels aren’t very expensive, and they’re easy to mount and install on your water system. I recommend this BSTOKCAM Wall Mount Hose Wheel (check price now).
They’re great because you can use them to wash and rinse the car directly or connect them to your pressure washer and then wash the whole car.
Mounted hose reels are beneficial if you’re washing a car outside of your garage, too. It’s both a store and use location for them, and it’s a time and space-saving investment.
12. Extension Cord Reels
Mounted retractable extension cord reels are as crucial as hose reels, even more probably. You need electricity for most of the auto detailing tools and equipment.
By using a mounted extension cord reel on your garage walls, you’ll prevent getting stuck on the cables all the time, and it’ll be easier to store them after you finish with detailing.
Mostly, having only one extension cord reel is entirely enough to cover all the needs inside your car detailing garage. However, I recommend having two cord reels, each on different corners of the garage.
Just make sure always to choose a retractable extension cord since it’s much easier to use it, and you’ll need less time to retract it once you finish.
13. Trash Can on Wheels
Every garage has a trash can, especially when we talk about auto detailing garages. However, if you’re an auto detailer, you should have a trash can on wheels.
Whenever you start cleaning a car, there’s always plenty of garbage that should be removed from the vehicle.
If you have a large trash can with mounted wheels, it’ll hugely help you remove all the garbage from any vehicle quickly. I recommend checking this Garage Trash on Wheels (check price); you can pick the size that suits you the most.
Just don’t forget to put some trash bags inside for a quicker emptying of a can.
14. Vehicle Lift or Jack Stands
Vehicle lifts or jack stands are important tools for any serious car detailing garage. Their primary function is to elevate the car, providing you with easier access to its underbelly and wheels.
3 reasons why you should consider buying vehicle lift or jack stands:
- Wheel Restoration & Protection: Lifting the car makes it simple to clean, polish, and coat the wheels. It ensures every part of the wheel, including the often-neglected wheel wells, is accessible and treated properly.
- Undercarriage Care: The bottom of a car often gets overlooked. With the car elevated, it’s easier to give the undercarriage a thorough wash and apply protective coatings if needed.
- Safety and Precision: Elevating the car means you can work with better visibility and reach every nook and cranny, ensuring a comprehensive and professional detailing service.
15. Security System With Cameras
While a security system with cameras might not be the first thing that comes to mind when setting up a car detailing garage, it’s an investment you won’t regret.
Auto detailing tools can rack up quite the bill. With all the specialized equipment and products, your garage becomes a treasure trove. And treasures, as we know, can attract unwanted attention. By installing a security system with cameras, you’re adding a layer of protection to your valuable assets.
Cameras act as a deterrent. Potential thieves often think twice when they spot a camera, knowing their actions are being recorded. But if someone does decide to break in, having clear footage can be invaluable. Not only does it aid the police in their investigations, but it also speeds up the process of identifying and catching the culprits.
Especially for those in areas with higher crime rates, a garage security system isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity. It’s about safeguarding your investment, your passion, and your peace of mind. So, while it might not polish a car or clean an engine, a security system with cameras is a tool every auto detailing garage should consider.
Final Word
Any auto detailing garage organization isn’t straightforward initially, but it’ll help you become a more productive auto detailer once you finish everything.
I know that there are plenty of more tips and tricks you can use, but these are some of the most important ones, and I think every car wash garage should have most of them.
I hope you’ll implement some of those ideas in your garage and improve it a lot – both for better appearance and usability.
Workspace has always been one of the most important things to organize. If you have an organized workspace, you’ll be more likely to work better. It doesn’t matter if it’s an office, a garage, or any other space in which you work.
