A Beginner's Guide to Car Detailing
So you want to detail your car and don’t know where to start? Well, you’re in luck my friends because this post will get have you on your way and cleaning your car like a professional. We give you a detailed guide on how to detail your car. Sorry for the pun, but I couldn’t resist.
Cleaning your car regularly will extend its lifespan to keep your vehicle looking and running in tip-top condition. Then when it comes time to sell, you’ll get a better price. Now let’s get down to business.
Cleaning the Exterior
I always start by washing the exterior of the car.
You will need:
Two buckets
A hose
Soap
Wax
Tire polisher
A big sponge
A chamois
Fill one bucket with soapy water and one with clean water. Why may you ask? Well, I’m about to get into that. The soapy water removes dirt and grime. After each soapy water application, rinse your sponge in the clean water. Doing this will prevent dirt fragments from scratching your car while you wash it. Do this all over the vehicle until it is squeaky clean. Then before your car dries get in there with chamois and thoroughly wipe off the excess moisture. Try not to leave any streaks if you want to look professional.
The Tires
For the tires, use the same technique as you did with the paint job. First with the soapy sponge and then rinse in the clean water. After you have the tires looking spic and span wait for them to dry before applying the tire polisher. The tire polisher will not only have your tires looking shiny, but it also acts as a barrier and keeps the dirt at bay.
The Wax Job
As Mr Myagi from karate kid says “Wax on, wax off.” He was a brilliant man, and that’s precisely what you will have to do to wax your car. Wipe the wax on with a rag then wipe the wax off with a clean cloth. Waxing your car will bring the paint job back to life. If you’re good at it, you should be able to see your reflection in the paint job.
Giving your car a wax job is not only for aesthetic appeal. The wax creates a protective layer on the paint job of your vehicle and also prevents minor chips and scratches. You should wax your car every two to four weeks, so your vehicle is protected.
Cleaning the Interior
The interior clean is an entirely different beast to cleaning the exterior. Think of it more like cleaning your bedroom but instead of a room it’s a car.
You will need
- Two buckets
- A rag
- A vacuum cleaner
- Interior cleaning products
First, you should remove all the rubbish from your car. Yes, that includes all the lost Maccas fries from under the seat. Then get your vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment and thoroughly vacuum your vehicle until it is spotless. Don’t forget to vacuum the seat and centre console. Then it’s a matter of doing the soapy bucket, clean bucket trick with the interior. Make sure to ring out your rag thoroughly to avoid excess moisture in your car. Too much water will seep into your upholstery and go mouldy.
After your dash and upholstery are clean. Use an interior product like Armourall to coat your dashboard. Like the wax on the paint job, this will create a protective coating over your dash and keep it safe from perishing in the hot Summers sun.
If all this sounds like too much time and effort, you can always call on the help of a mobile car cleaning service. They come around to your house and do all the dirty work for you for a reasonable price. Plus, they have all the right tools and will more than likely do a better job than you.
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