Detailing your car can be a minefield of learning curves if you don’t have the correct experience or adequate knowledge to get the job done. Detailing doesn’t just mean a quick spit polish, it entails a wide range of services including a soft mitt rubdown, clay polish, anti corrosion sealing, and a soft cotton or soft brush swab. Every nook and cranny is catered to when the job is done properly and no stone should be left unturned. There are specific tools and equipment for each particular part of the cars anatomy. The wheels need a different kind of polish from the paint job, not to mention the tires, door seals and windows. So before you plunge head first into the bucket of soapy water, lets outline some of the big mistakes people make when trying to achieve the perfect shine to their vehicle.
- A bad workman always blames his tools. When you detail your car, this statement couldn’t be more true. Using the right tools and specialized equipment for the job is extremely important. Your car is a sensitive beast and certain parts of the body need to be treated with the utmost care and consideration. For example, a lot of people use the same sponge or soft mitt to clean wheels and tires as they do for polishing the body of the car. This is a big no-no. Not only is it ruining your sponge or mitt, but you’re potentially dragging all that grit and brake dust onto the surface of your car body, and scratching the delicate paint job. Try to use a wheel brush to clean the wheels and keep the mitt or sponge for the main body. Using a microfiber cloth or even a diaper is a great way to remove wax from the car body.
- Don’t drag the hose across the car. This might seem obvious, but this is a big one. Avoid the hose coming into contact with the paint job of your car. It carries grit and scratches the surface. Too many beautiful vehicles have been damaged because whoever was rinsing the car down wasn’t paying attention to the hose pipe dragging behind them.
- Chemical time. When using specialized chemicals for detailing your car, it’s important to remember that some of these chemicals need “dwell time” to get the job done effectively. Don’t just immediately rinse the chemical off once it’s applied – there needs to be a period of settling, particularly with a leather interior. Think of it as a conditioner for your hair, wait a good minute or two so that the porous surface soaks up the chemicals. If you’re unsure of which chemicals need dwell time, be sure to read the instructions. Certain chemicals don’t need that extra time to soak in. Allowing the chemical to do it’s thing means you won’t have to scrub so hard to get those nasty marks off the paint job or the interior, and therefore you reduce the risk of damaging your car’s surface.
- Window smears. The windows are the most difficult part of any car to keep clean. They are the first thing to smear and they’re the thing you’re staring out of the most, so it’s very easy to notice those unwelcome marks. Be sure to dry the windows thoroughly with towels or even newspaper. Keep a set of towels specifically for this task and make sure they aren’t being mixed with the chemical towels and dirty cleaning rags. There is nothing worse than going to dry your windows and realizing there is a blob of wax or grime on the drying towel.
- Go pro or go home. It’s always best to consult a professional when getting your car detailed. It’s worth getting in touch with someone like Word Of Mouth Auto Detailing Services. The knowledge that the professionals have will always far outweigh your neighbors, or that of some internet chatroom. In most cases, when you see that shiny BMW whizz by you on the freeway, it’s detailed by the best in the business. You just can’t beat that kind of quality with a bucket and a rag.
Average Rating