For one to begin auto detailing one just needs to understand that it is nothing more than a very thorough almost nitpicky type of car cleaning that one’s auto both needs and should have done on a regular basis.
Every season is a good schedule for one to begin utilizing a new plan of action towards their auto detailing needs as it is easy to remember when a new season is upon them. Once the car and it’s owner are accustomed to the used to the new schedules cleaning event one will be amazed at how much more frequently cleaning and detail their car will actually occur.
Families
If you have families or children in the household be sure they also become involved with the cleaning and detailing of the family automobiles. The primary reasoning for including them would be that as passengers in family vehicles they have also become guilty parties in the mess and build-up of debris allowed to develop within each of the autos.
This is a great way for them to learn just how easy it is for a little, tiny mess to become spread and as such destroy, the prettiness, and new car aspects, one wishes for their car to maintain. Shockingly, soon the family will be making their normal everyday messes slow allowing the car's interior to maintain a much cleaner overall look and appeal.
How to Wash a Car
Washing a car is no different than making certain that the body regularly receives a shower. This car “showering” enables the removal of foreign debris such as dirt, dust, and even bird poop that are very bad for one’s paint. Remind the family that as they shower often the autos must also be cleaned as well.
Pro’s Tip
It is best for the vehicle to wash it as soon as any foreign objects have made a place in the car. The longer you allow dead bugs, atmospheric elements, dust and such to stay on the car the more damage it is doing to the paint.
Pro’s Warning
Do not make the mistake of using dish detergent! It is known for stripping the protective wax coating from your car. This can cause exposure to scratches, nicks, and stains to your car's finish.
Car Wash
The best car wash to use is one that will preserve your car’s finish by bringing the dust, dirt, minerals, and other elements to the surface as the water evaporates. A car needs a wash that is specially formulated to protect the paint and clearcoat.
To test if your car is truly clean run your dry hand softly across the car. If you feel rough spots your baby needs a bath. Wash the car when it is cool and has been sitting for a while. This prevents the cleaning products from drying into the paint.
How to Wax a Car
How to properly wax a car seems to not be as common of knowledge as in years past thanks in part to the spray car wash and a large number of places that will wash and detail one’s car for them.
With this in mind, the following steps incorporate best overall means and way in which to wax one’s car themselves.
- Step 1: Make sure that the car has been freshly washed and dried. Water drops cause streaking and very tough buffing.
- Step 2: Apply the selected wax in an area that is shaded to prevent drying too quickly. It is best to do small sections of the car at a time. Be sure to check and follow the wax product specifics as they will vary.
- Step 3: Apply the thinnest amount of wax possible to get the best shine in a straight up and down motion with the lightest pressure possible. Thicker amounts of wax are tougher to remove and often cause spotting or streaking.
- Step 4: Allow to dry or not to dry dependant on the product directions. Again be sure to refer to the product being used for specifics.
- Step 5: Buff the wax haze off using circular motions. Always use the softest and plushest buffing microfiber towels. If the towel begins to drag it is time for a clean section or clean towel. The inexpensive and disposable towels will work just fine.
- Step 6: Apply a second coat if needed after thoroughly buffing per product directions. Be sure to follow product recommendations in regards to the second coat.
- Step 7: Use a detailing spray to remove streaks or smudges and finalize the waxing job. Following the recommendations of the detailing, spray and repeat the spray process to keep the freshly waxed look for a longer period of time between waxes.
The Best Wax
The best wax to use be it liquid or be it paste is solely up to one personal choice and discretion. Wax replaces missing clear coat that your car received before leaving the factory and is a great way to help protect against paint stains and scratches.
Pros add a second coat of wax to your car before they are finished. This is done primarily to hit any spots that they might have missed the first time around. Buffing wipes off extra wax so it is really not necessary to add additional coats when doing the waxing oneself.
If your car is outside on a daily basis it is recommended to wax it each and every season. This will make your car’s paint last the length of the time the car is able to run in most cases, often outlasting the mobility of the running time.
The Best Polish
The best car polish needs to be paired with an osculating buffer or polishing machine. This will brighten the paint and make your car look newer at the same time. It is recommended to avoid the rotating polishing machines that the pros use as if one is not careful they can damage the paint.
How to Detail a Car
The above steps used for washing and waxing a car in half of the work in the detailing process. The other half includes the interior and exterior fine details, such as, cleaning the “grooves” in the steering wheel, polishing the dash and the seats, getting the spots out of the carpeting or flooring, ensuring the tire shine, and overall bling of one’s auto making it appear as close to showroom cleanliness or better.
Interior Detailing
When cleaning the interior of the car one often has a hard time getting certain spots clean. The following are a few tips and tricks that might become your new household secret enabling you to have the cleanest car on the block.
Ducts and behind the vents can be cleaned with high pressured air. This prevents the buildup of dust that leaves unwanted aromas behind. If you want to maintain the new car smell as long as possible then this is the trick for you.
Clean the glass last. Use a non-ammonia based glass cleaner as the ammonia is bad for the interior of the car including the door panels, dash, and any other spots that it might drip or spray upon.
Q-tips are a wonderful item for getting into those spots that cotton rags cannot. A good example of this type of spot would be around the logo or car decal that is on the door panel or glove box. One will be amazed by the buildup found there.
Cleaning the “grain” of car dashes, armrests, consoles, etc try using a soft tipped toothbrush. This enables a more thorough cleaning while removing the ugly buildups and allergens. New car looks are awaiting with this trick.
When doing auto floors take canned or compressed air to “blow out” the spots the vacuum misses. This is especially helpful if your auto has the grooved leather in the foot area.
Exterior Detailing
When cleaning the exterior of the auto be certain that you are cleaning in the proper order. Improper cleaning order can easily damage the paint and clearcoat. Clean from the ground up is a great protocol to follow if you are uncertain the proper order.
A great way to remove salt and tar from the vehicle and make it shine as if one just spent hours on waxing and buffing is to use the old timer's trick of kerosene. Spray the car with the kerosene, let it sit for a few minutes but not too dry, rinse with water, and then chamois the car dry. It will not damage the car.
Tires and Wheels
Begin with the wheels and tires. Use nonacid products so as not to cause oxidations or pits to bare alloy wheels. Makes no difference if using sprays or foams, as it is dominantly just personal preference.
Brake fluid is a great trick the old timers have used on tires for years. If you are wanting a nice shiny tire with a product that you typically already have on hand than brake fluid might just become your new best friend.
Reuse and Recycle
Reusing and recycling are always a great thing for the environment. Car care and upkeep is a great area to help be a little “greener” as well. The following are a couple examples of ways to be green, reuse other items, and recycle all at the same time.
Rather than buying cotton cleaning cloths save those “tighty whities” and cut them into useable squares. We all know that they get stains or holes but the remaining areas are still very usable. The lady in your life will be more than happy to toss you the pairs that no longer pass the wearable level.
Does the laundry eat a sock or two? Use the remaining or odd sock in the car detail kit. They make a great “green” cotton product and a good use for an otherwise trashed item. This only works for those socks that are soft and white as you would hate to take a chance of the color fading out of the crazy colored socks that the younger generations tend to wear.
Conclusion
Auto detailing conclusion is more defined than that of other categories in that the better the overall detailing a car receives the value of the vehicle in regards to conditioning and resale values. Typically, the car that receives the best auto detailing during its lifetime also receives the best overall care in regards to the car's upkeep, condition, and maintenance.
