We're all looking for that perfect finish — a finish that stands the test of time. But with so many different car detailing and finishing products out there, how do you know where to begin?

To help you in your quest, we've compiled a list of the top five products to keep your car looking its best for longer. Take a look.

5. Wheel and Glass Cleaners

We include wheel and glass cleaning products on this list because keeping your car looking its best should be a comprehensive process. The slightest blemish here and there can make all your hard work come to nothing. This is why it's important to get the wheels and glass of your vehicle in perfect condition.

Your vehicle's glass is tough and hard-wearing. You can rely upon it to stand up to heavy weather conditions, remaining strong and doing its job throughout. However, rain can leave water spots on your glasswork. Mineral deposits in rainwater get left behind on the glass even after the water itself has been wiped away.

A good-quality water spot cleaner is crucial to keeping your glass looking its best for longer. Use the water spot cleaner to remove these mineral deposits and restore your glass to its original condition. Water spots can also appear on your car's bodywork — use a specifically-designed water spot cleaner, rated for use on painted surfaces, to remove these.

So, what about the wheels? After all, wheels bear the brunt of your adventures in your vehicle, remaining in contact with road or off-road surfaces and sustaining more than their fair share of wear and tear. It's no surprise, then, that you need a quality wheel cleaner solution to get those hard-working components looking their best. 

This solution will cut through the often caked-on dirt and grime that can be difficult to remove with ordinary cleaning materials. Incorporating these car finishing products into your regular cleaning repertoire will yield professional-level results for your vehicle.

4. Protection Prep

Preparation and a forward-thinking approach are critical when it comes to keeping your car looking its best. This is why protection prep is such a key addition to your car finishing products toolkit.

The prep itself works by removing any oils or dust found on the car's bodywork. Make sure you use protection prep after cutting and polishing your car, ready for the application of a protective coating.

Use a spraying tool or affix a spray-head attachment to your prep bottle. Then, apply the solution evenly to your surface. Most prep solutions will also work great as glass cleaners or on delicate components. However, always check the instructions and guidance on the bottle label.

After applying the solution, wipe the surface down with a damp towel to remove any excess. You can then use a dry cloth to buff the surface, completing the final step of the prep process. The vehicle is now ready for polishing and finishing, and you will be able to get the best results from your car products when you use a high-quality preparation solution. 

3. Polishing Machines

So far on this list, we've looked at the kinds of cleaning fluids and solutions you can use to get a great quality finish. But for the number three slot, we're going in a slightly different direction. This car product is a piece of hardware that helps you go that bit further with your car detailing project.

We know you love your car, and you're more than willing to put in the 'elbow grease' required to get the best results possible. However, we also know that there's nothing wrong with getting a bit of mechanical help where it matters. This is exactly what polishing machines provide to New Zealand's car enthusiasts.

You'll find that the whole process becomes much easier and more convenient when you have a good-quality polishing machine on your side. But this is only part of the advantage of these handy pieces of kit. When you use a polisher, you'll find that you are able to achieve a far more even and more consistent polish across the whole surface of your vehicle. And, you'll discover that the results you achieve are noticeably better than if you had polished the vehicle by hand.

2. Polishing and Cutting Pads

You want to achieve an optimal finish for your car, and you want this finish to last. With this in mind, we've included polishing and cutting pads at number two on our list of the top car finishing products. These pads provide you with an array of different capabilities and finishing options. This versatility is invaluable as you target the best results possible for your car detailing.

Cutting pads are the heavy-duty pad option. They are designed to remove imperfections on the surface of your car's paintwork, including those that may be stubborn and difficult to remove by other means. Despite their aggressive action, these pads should be suitable for most painted surfaces on your vehicle. Still, it is always important to read the labelling or usage guide carefully and to seek professional assistance where required.

Polishing pads, on the other hand, work more on the light-duty side of things. Their construction is a little less aggressive than that of the cutting pad, and they are not designed to remove blemishes and imperfections in the same way. Instead, they are intended to polish and bring your vehicle's paintwork to a brilliant sheen.

Pads can be combined with the polishing machines mentioned above to achieve a comprehensive set of results. 

1. Polishing Compounds

It's difficult to choose an out-and-out winner on a list like this. All of the car detailing products listed here are assets in your quest for a vehicle that looks its best and stays looking its best. However, we do need to choose a number one, so here it is — a good-quality polishing compound.

The polishing compound is the 'special sauce' that gives you optimal results from your finishing. It is a thick, waxy substance that contains an abrasive element, intended to achieve polishing that goes above and beyond the normal. Just like pads, there are different grades of compounds available, depending on your needs.

Cutting or rubbing compounds tend to be more abrasive, and they are formulated to remove noticeable blemishes and marks on the surface. Again, always check out the guidelines included in the product's packaging before use. Seek professional assistance if in doubt.

Polishing compounds themselves are a little less coarse, containing less of the abrasive element that makes cutting compounds so aggressive. These compounds are what will really make your car's sleek lines shine on through.

Find the Car Finishing Products You Need and Get the Best Results for Your Vehicle

It's almost impossible to distil all the great car products available to you down to a neat top five. To learn more about the different products and options at your disposal, check out our listings here or reach out to our team today.