Your car is probably your second most valuable investment. As with any other investment you want to safeguard it and protect it. Performing regular routine maintenance and detailing your car on a systematic basis, will lead to better performance, higher resale value, and more pride of ownership.
Auto detailing is more than just washing your car and keeping it clean. It involves the painstaking cleaning, polishing, and protection of every crack and crevice of your vehicle.
Interior Detailing
Interior detailing involves the thorough cleaning and restoration of every interior surface of the vehicle. Eliminate dust, dirt, allergens, and other pollutants that can ruin the air quality inside your car.
Protect upholstery by treating it with products that guard against stains, spills, and sun damage. This helps preserve your seats and extends their lifespan.
Remove odours by deep cleaning, perfuming and deodorizing interior surfaces. Vacuuming out dirt, food particles and bacteria leaves your car smelling fresh and clean.
Exterior Detailing
This is where your car starts to shine. Start with thoroughly washing your vehicle. If the engine compartment needs cleaning, clean that first with a high-pressure washer.
Use a proper car shampoo to avoid stripping away any existing wax or paint sealant. Don’t use dishwashing soap, as that will remove any protective coatings that have been applied to the paint.
Pay special attention to your headlights. Over time, these become “fogged” and need to be cleaned. If yours are too badly oxidized, get a headlight restoration done.
Clean your wheels and tyres. Wheels accumulate brake dust as well as the mud and dirt that can coat the rest of your car. Use specialised wheel cleaner solutions and soft wheel brushes to get all the tiny nooks and crannies on your wheels.
Professional detailers might use a clay bar to decontaminate your exterior paint. This will pick up very fine bits of dirt and grime that are embedded in your paint. To determine if you need to decontaminate your car’s paint, run your hand across the surface. If it feels silky smooth, you should not have to. If it feels rough then it is probably a good idea.
Protect your car’s paint with a sealant. You can use wax, sealants or specialised ceramic coatings. Wax lasts about 2 weeks, sealants up to a year or more, and professional ceramics can last up to 10 years.
Benefits
Regularly detailing your vehicle has numerous benefits:
- Value and Longevity – By regularly taking care of your car, you keep it in good running order. This results in less maintenance. When it’s time to sell your car, a “like new condition” is more appealing to potential buyers and will fetch a higher price.
- Tough-to-Reach Areas – by addressing all those difficult areas like the undercarriage, wheels, back lift, and under the seats you make sure your car is thoroughly cleaned. There is a big difference between washing your car and cleaning out every single nook and cranny.
Investing the time and money to have your car detailed will reward you with better driving and more enjoyable car.
