There are countless tips and tricks handed down within the industry. It used to be that the only way to learn these things was to develop them yourself or to have that knowledge passed on by a mentor. In our digital age, tips and tricks are passed along daily from one side of the world to the other on detailing forums and facebook pages. Below are some of the methods I use regularly to speed up my detailing process. Most are free and some have a cost associated with them, but I've tried to provide economical suggestions that will have a very quick return on investment when considering the time saved.
Use an alternative wash method. The 2 bucket method is great and is very safe and effective. For maintenance washes of pristine vehicles, it is the ideal way to avoid any wash induced defects. But for lightly soiled vehicles, an alterative wash technique like a rinseless wash can cut the was time by 50%-70% and provide a near equal result.
Agitate tight areas while pre-foaming. If you are the type of person that loves a foam party, then you may find yourself standing around for a few minutes while you let your foam dwell. You can use this time to do the rest of your set-up, but I prefer to spend it using a small detail brush to agitate tight areas like the gas cap, under door handles and the wiper cowl.
Utilize quick connect fittings and valves on your hoses. Between filling buckets, connecting to power washers, normal trigger sprayers, etc, you may be shutting off the water half a dozen times and screwing/unscrewing twice that many fittings. It's much faster to screw these fittings on once and then pip them on and off in an instant while you are working.
Clay your car while it's wet. If you are planning on claying your vehicle, then don't both drying it. You'll be getting it wet again with clay lube and then wiping it dry, so skip the first drying step and use a little more clay lube. If you are using a clay lube concentrate, it's probably costing you $2 or less per gallon so it's not going to break the bank and it will save you 20 minutes easily.
Use a clay wash mitt. This is one I don't personally endorse, but it does speed things up. You have to be pretty meticulous about keeping your wash water clean if you plan to use this method. The idea is to use the fiber side of the mitt to wash and then immediately use the clay side to clay the car at the same time. It will be just about as fast as you can get with claying except for perhaps a DA pad on a machine. Alternatively, use a clay towel or DA pad.
Apply your wax or sealant with a machine. This saves both time and elbow grease. You can get very even coverage of your sealant or wax, use much less product and do it in half the time or less.
Use a wipeless spray sealant. These products are awesome. Spray on, rinse off and dry....your paint or wheels are protected. This type of product can be used for all parts on the car, but I find the biggest benefit is on wheels, where sealant application is tedious. I can have my wheels sealed in about 30 seconds each.
Use compressed air to blow out seams. A quality compressor is a big investment, but there are other ways to get compressed air. A leaf blower can serve the same purpose much more economically. Blowing water out of seams, cowls and other tight and intricate spots will save time versus trying to wipe them dry.
Use an All-in-One Dressing. There are a few products on the market now for rubber and plastic that will clean and protect it in one step. With some products, this is a compromise. You will get good cleaning or good protection, but not both. One Exception is Blackfire AIO tire and trim protectant. It's strong enough to remove old wax residue and will last for several weeks.
Use a spray wax as a drying aid. I prefer to dry my vehicles with compressed air and a blower, but there are always some drops of water left. and I want to make sure the car looks perfect. Instead of drying the car completely and then applying a spray wax, do it while the car is wet. The spray wax will act as a lubricant to reduce the potential for wash induced defects, promote streak free drying and protect the paint all at the same time.