Words by Allen Brown
Cleaning your car generally means removing dirt from both the interior and exterior. Detailing, however, takes it into another level by getting your car into its original form and look. It deals with poring every nook and cranny of your car to get rid of dirt, grease, dust, and grime that’ll age your car poorly.
Karolina GrabowskaSTAFFAGE
It is common to have it done by professionals because they have the equipment and expertise in achieving that brand new feel to your car. But there are things that you can do on your own if you’re into keeping your car look new. You can get tips and tricks from a car detailing guide to help you along in getting results on par with those done in professional shops. The guide will take you into the different aspects of car detailing, the tools, and how to proceed in rejuvenating your car’s appearance.
1. Paint Maintenance
Paint is not only sensitive but also heavily exposed. Detailing it involves a three-step process that cleans, protects, and polishes the paint of your vehicle. During cleaning, you’ll wash your car’s exterior to get rid of dust, grime, and other debris. Then it’s the application of a clay bar, this takes out particles in the clear coat like tar and dirt. Then you might need to polish to remove any marks and imperfections, before being waxed to protect your work.
2. The Undercarriage and Wheels
The undercarriage and the chassis along with the rest of the exterior require regular cleaning. This includes the inside of the wheel wells and the major suspension components. Splash guards and the inner side of the fender liners should also be addressed by applying a plastic protectant. The wheels and tires should also be washed before applying the protectant. This will improve the luster at the same time prevents corrosion and breakage.
3. The Engine
The engine bay will be cleaned with water carefully, then applied with a degreaser, and rinsed again to finish. When it dries a substance composed of silicone, plastic, and rubber protects it from cracking.
4. Interior Detailing
This usually involves cleaning all the carpeting, seat covers, and the surfaces of the interior. You can do this by applying shampoo or use a steam cleaner. Also, you must clean and dress properly all plastics and vinyl. The leather should also be conditioned and cleaned to prevent it from cracking and to remove stains. Proper detailing will clean every corner of the interior most especially those hard to reach places that can’t be addressed by regular cleaning.
5. Exterior
It is important to clean and polish headlights, taillights, and the chrome part of the exterior as part of the detailing process. You can apply a polishing compound over the headlights and taillights, and protect it with a plastic sealant. The chrome should be dressed with a protectant to prevent it from fading or breakage.
Car detailing doesn’t only improve the looks of your vehicle, it also has functional and safety advantages. A clean engine will have better mileage and the smooth exterior will reduce drag and will get you more miles with your fuel. Among other things, you will address certain safety hazards as you pore through every inch of your car. A clean interior assures that you breathe clean air and achieving a clear windshield will give you better visibility. Whatever is the case, it pays to have your car restored to its former beauty.