Car detailing goes beyond washing, waxing, and polishing to protect vehicles from harmful pollutants while upholding their resale value.
Detailing requires knowledge of products, procedures and safety precautions – read on for tips and guides for getting that showroom-worthy finish!
1. Wash and Wax
Maintaining your vehicle by regularly detailing is one of the best ways to preserve its appearance and resale value. Regular detailing stops irreparable damage caused by abrasion and corrosion in its tracks while prolonging its clear coat’s lifespan by protecting against environmental factors and road salts.
As part of any vehicle detailing process, the first step should be scrubbing and washing with low pH soap to remove dirt, grime, or other unwanted materials that have accumulated on its exterior surface. Microfiber towels or mitts should be used when doing this as this reduces any chances of scratching paintwork or marring other surfaces on your car.
After washing, it is recommended to apply a layer of wax. A general rule is to wax your vehicle every three months; this can vary depending on environmental factors and driving habits. Paste wax provides superior protection and lasts longer than liquid options.
2. Polish
Car polish contains mild abrasives that remove a thin layer of the vehicle’s paint along with any scratches or swirl marks, providing a flawless surface for driving and polishing. However, while car polish may make its surface appear flawless, it won’t eliminate oxidation or haze that has penetrated beyond its clear coat barrier.
Professional polishes will restore your vehicle’s gloss, reduce surface damage, and prepare the finish for waxing. Wax provides extra protection from airborne contaminants, bird droppings*, sap and UV rays; additionally it resists water, high temperatures and beautifully reflects light back onto its surroundings.
If your car has severe oxidation or heavy scratches, detailing professionals may use paint correction to enhance its appearance and restore clear coat and paint surfaces. This includes wet-sanding, compounding and polishing processes as needed – it may take more time and effort than washing and cleaning alone but will leave it looking brand new while preventing future deterioration.
3. Shine
Car waxing and polishing services can restore its pristine condition, adding value and saving money in repairs caused by dirt. Regular detailing services keep your vehicle in perfect shape for maximum resale potential and may help extend its life expectancy.
Exterior car detailing involves cleaning and restoring to original condition the surface of a vehicle’s paint, chrome trim, windows, wheels, tires and other visible components on its exterior. Detailers use various products such as detergents, surfactants, acid free degreasers, automotive clay (to remove microscopic surface contaminants) polishes and waxes in order to clean, restore, and protect.
Preserving your vehicle takes hard work and care, and discovering which chemicals and supplies to use is often key in making the task simpler and quicker. Car enthusiasts and professionals often find this task therapeutic; seeing results brings even greater satisfaction!