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Auto detailer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical auto detailer skills. We ranked the top skills for auto detailers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 36.8% of auto detailer resumes contained shampoo carpets as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an auto detailer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 auto detailer skills for your resume and career

1. Shampoo Carpets

Shampoo carpets is the procedure of cleaning a carpet using a special liquid manufactured to clean carpets and rugs. This process is especially useful to remove thick mud and dirt and another grime.

Here's how auto detailers use shampoo carpets:

Detail vehicle according to the customer s specific instructions, shampoo carpets and upholstery, vacuum floors and seats.
Wash, wax, machine polish, shampoo carpets, leather repair, wet sanding, windows.

2. General Maintenance

General maintenance is the regular check-up and repairs of machinery, buildings, and other mechanical equipment. General maintenance is performed by repair workers who are skilled to handle the day-to-day defects produced in the machinery. General maintenance aims to make sure the items remain in the best operational conditions. Usually, a set of planned activities are performed regularly by an expert to monitor the maintenance.

Here's how auto detailers use general maintenance:

Performed general maintenance of auto dealership and dealer-owned properties, keeping assets in working condition for business needs.
Perform general maintenance, carpet cleaning, painting, caulking, and light cement work.

3. Service Tools

Here's how auto detailers use service tools:

Maintained proper function of all service tools and equipment.
Inspect the vehicles thoroughly Maintain the proper function of all service tools and equipment.

4. Customer Vehicles

A customer vehicle is a medium used to convey the message to a targeted audience. They are specific networks within a medium that you use to communicate your message.

Here's how auto detailers use customer vehicles:

Vacuum, Wash and completely detail customer vehicles, Customer interaction
Promote and represent Auto Spa at various community events, and restore the interior and exterior look for customer vehicles.

5. Engine Compartment

An engine compartment is a designated place in an automobile hosting the engine and other elements. The engine compartment surface may differ depending on the engine variant and model.

Here's how auto detailers use engine compartment:

Cleaned engine and engine compartments to remove grease and grime, applied special purpose cleaners to remove foreign materials.
Cleaned engine and engine compartment with steam-cleaning equipment and cleaning agents to remove grease and grime.

6. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how auto detailers use customer service:

Provided excellent customer service and created a wonderful experience for each and every customer.
Delivered friendly, competent customer service by exceeding customer performance expectations.

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7. Vehicle Exterior

Here's how auto detailers use vehicle exterior:

Cleaned and refurbished new and used automobiles Washed vehicle exterior to clean cars Responsible for the constant maintenance of the vehicles
Washed vehicle exterior to clean cars, using cleaning solution, water, cloths, and brushes.

8. Auto Body

Here's how auto detailers use auto body:

Executed light auto body preparation for repair and auto detailing
Performed auto body painting and refinishing using sprayers

9. Foreign Materials

Any foreign body that may disrupt the working of a mechanism or being can be referred to as foreign material. Alternatively, it can also refer to any substance that is not locally available for use.

Here's how auto detailers use foreign materials:

Applied special purpose cleaners to remove foreign materials
Utilized experience and judgment to remove foreign materials that normalcleaning procedures do not remove, while following product manufacturerrecommendations.

10. Air Compressors

An air compressor is a power tool used to convert power into potential energy, which is generally stored in the form of compressed air. Air compressors have several methods of pushing more air into a cylinder, thereby increasing the pressure. The compressor stops when the pressure reaches its upper limit and remains in the tank until demand occurs.

Here's how auto detailers use air compressors:

Vacuum inside of vehicles to remove debris, clean upholstery and surfaces, use air compressors and clothes to dry surfaces.
Washed, waxed and buffed the exterior of vehicles and dried car surfaces using air compressors and cloths.

11. Loose Dirt

Here's how auto detailers use loose dirt:

Vacuumed vehicle interior to remove loose dirt and debris; Cleaned upholstery and rugs.
Vacuumed interior of vehicles to remove loose dirt and debris using vacuum cleaner.

12. Stain Removal

Here's how auto detailers use stain removal:

Full vehicle detail to include shampooing carpet and stain removal, interior trim, exterior wash and wax.
Wash, wax, buff/polish, clear coat repair, scratch removal, interior carpet and upholstery stain removal

13. Leather Surfaces

Here's how auto detailers use leather surfaces:

Applied revitalizers and preservatives to vinyl or leather surfaces to protect interior components.
Cleaned upholstery, rugs, and Applied revitalizer or preservatives to treat vinyl and leather surfaces.

14. Buffing Machines

Here's how auto detailers use buffing machines:

Wiped and buffed surfaces to protect them and preserve shine, using cloth and buffing machines.
Waxed and buffed vehicles using specific cloths and buffing machines.

15. Resistant Chemicals

Here's how auto detailers use resistant chemicals:

Treated fabrics with spot and stain resistant chemicals to preserve and protect interior components.
Treated fabrics with spot and stain resistant chemicals to preserve and protect interior components.

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What skills help Auto Detailers find jobs?

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List of auto detailer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an auto detailer resume and required skills for an auto detailer to have include:

Shampoo Carpets
General Maintenance
Service Tools
Customer Vehicles
Engine Compartment
Customer Service
Vehicle Exterior
Auto Body
Foreign Materials
Air Compressors
Loose Dirt
Stain Removal
Leather Surfaces
Buffing Machines

Resistant Chemicals
Clean Upholstery
Oil Changes
Body Shop
Customer Delivery
Door Panels
Floor Mats
Suvs
Clean Windows
Engine Components
Relevant Equipment
Wet Sand
Buffs Surfaces
Buff Vehicles

Customer Cars
Rental Cars
Sales Lot
Clean Cars
Restore Color
RV
Body Surfaces
Spray Guns
Vinyl Tops
Car Lot
Car Interiors
WAX Vehicles
Dry Surfaces

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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