Car detailing is an absolute clean up program for your car. Its a perfect sprucing up curriculum and is not just about cleaning, washing and polishing the exterior of the car. It involves a lot of tidying of the interior as well. Routine car detailing is sure to prove beneficial for your car. Every penny you spend for the detailing job (if you go for professional detailing services) and every effort you put in (if you decide to do it on your own) will go on to prevent damages to the vehicle and restore its good looks.
The car detailing job is not all that complicated and you will not need to pick up any special skill or technique for it. The first detailing tip suggested by most car manufacturers and professionals providing car detailing services is to start cleaning from inside. This is essentially a three-step plan involving vacuuming, cleaning and conditioning.
Follow it up with cleaning the car's windows. Some glass cleaner and a clean towel are what you need to clean the windows. Do not ever use used rags to clean the windows!
Once you have covered the interior, continue with the exterior. Start with the dirtiest part of cars - the wheels. There are two different ways for cleaning the wheels. You may either opt for the most prevalent 'soap and wheel brush method of cleaning' or go for 'spray on, rinse off' chemicals. Anyway, whatever be your choice of wheel cleaning method, you need to assure that there is not a speck of salt, dust or debris stuck in the wheel for that can lead to corrosion.
Following the car wash product manufacturer's directions will give you the maximum satisfaction with washing the car's body. Give the vehicle a thorough bath and then lather with sponge and soap solution. Always keep in mind to work your way downwards from the top. Rub the body in soft circular motions and rinse off. Soak dry with a soft towel.
Getting down to the polishing job, you can accomplish it with the applicator supplied with the wax or go about it with a damp cotton cloth. Once you have covered the full body, start buffing, again advancing gently.
Some car detailing tips that will help you avoid any damage to the car are: 1)Never go about the detailing job under direct sun or when the vehicle is hot 2)Never use harsh chemical washes, rough clothes and other abrasive kits
Wrap up your car detailing act by cleaning and polishing the headlights and the metallic fittings.
The secret to car detailing is in the name: it's all about the details. When professionals detail your car, they know all the professional secrets that you might not.
Professional car detailers have all of the equipment ready. They have the detergents and the vacuums. If you don't mind getting together the materials that you will need to detail your car, then consider detailing it at home. You will have to pay more initially to get all the materials, but you certainly won't use up each of your cleansers every time. After the initial outlay, it becomes much cheaper to detail your car at home.
If you want to detail at home, find out what extras the professionals do to give your car the added boost. Often, they do large tasks such as taking out the seats in cars with removable seats to get all of the added grit. If you feel uncomfortable or unable to do such tasks, consider getting a professional to detail your car. You might even not feel up to the basic tasks of cleaning if you are physically limited. This is where professional help is the best solution.
If you choose to detail your car at home, there are a few basics to consider. For a thorough detail, you will want to wash your car, polish or wax your car, clean the interior, and get those windows clean. Car enthusiasts will also clean the parts of the engine that you can see. Remember not to skip your tires or your trunk!
Here are some hints for do-it-yourself car detailers. Use a wet-vacuum. A water-powered vacuum will be able to get the stains out of your upholstery better. If you have a leather car interior, consult an expert (or even call your dealer) before vacuuming. You might be best to simply wipe your car down if you have a leather car interior. When you use a wet-vacuum, always use slightly warmed water to clean your car. This brings out the best possible results.
Another tip to keep in mind if you are detailing your car is to never spray cleaning agents directly on to any surface of your car. Spray it onto a soft cloth or chamois to apply. Don't use anything hard or scratchy on or in your car. You don't want to chip the paint, polish, or finish. Use carpet cleaners for upholstered seats. Take out floor mats and clean them separately.
At a dealership or professional detailer, always ask what is included in the price of the detailing. Sometimes car detailing includes fixing marks to the paint or finish of a car. Other times it is only interior detailing. If you want added extras, sometimes you can get them just by asking. Only for large jobs will you need to pay more money.
Some services that you might enquire about at a professional dealer, or that you might consider performing yourself are things that you might not think of every day. Coating your antenna with graphite helps if your antenna is retractable. Use a q-tip to clean the inside of your vents. Use leather cleaners for leather surfaces (but remember that not all surfaces in a leather interior are actually leather; some are just faux leather).
You might realize that you don't need to have car that is spotless. If this is the case, then cleaning your car at home is an obvious choice. Every once in a while, however, it is nice to do a thorough detailing job. You can't always drive away in a new car, but you can sometimes drive away in a car that feels like new.
In the end, choosing to get your car detailed is a personal choice. There is no right or wrong answer. If you have enough money, and you don't have the time, then having a professional detailer is the obvious solution. If you don't have the money, consider detailing at home.
Both David Maillie & Andrew Dillan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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