If you are wondering how professional car detailers get vehicles so thoroughly clean, we’re going to share some of their secrets so you can tackle the job yourself.
Learn some car detailing secrets to get showroom ready results inexpensively at home.
Interior Detailing
Work from the Top Down
Detail the interior of your vehicle from the top down to reduce kicking up dust and dirt from settling on already-cleaned surfaces.
Work down the dash and interior panels, leaving carpet and upholstery cleaning for last.
Clean Vents
For dust-free, fresh vents, use a can of compressed air to blow out dirt, dust, crumbs and drying up extra moisture. You’ll notice much cleaner smelling air coming from the vents when you run the heat or air conditioning.
For stubborn dirt, use vinegar or alcohol moistened Q-tips run along vent surfaces.
Clean and Protect Vinyl Surfaces
Use a protectant vinyl cleaner sparingly because it can leave behind a residue which attracts dust like a magnet.
Spray microfiber cloth with a matte-finish cleaner/protectant to reduce slippery surface residue and glare on the dash, steering wheel, and storage compartments.
Remove Odors and Freshen the Air
Protective scented wipes not only clean and protect interior surfaces, but give your vehicle a fresh, clean scent. Use once a week for best results and continuous fresh scent.
Barely-there air fresheners that clip onto your vents give your car a fresh smell when running air through your vents.
Floor Mats
Remove and scrub the floor mats and dry with a microfiber cloth.
Vacuuming
A good vacuuming of your vehicle’s seats and carpeted floors make a big difference very quickly.
After removing floor mats, lightly vacuum all those crumbs, hair, and dust.
Go over carpets with a small whisk broom which loosens up even more ground in debris. Follow up with a thorough final vacuuming.
Steam Clean
The purchase of a handheld steam cleaner will pay for itself many times over when using for car detailing.
Steam cleaning helps lift old spots and stains, while freshening up your vehicle’s interior. It loosens settled in dust and dirt, which can easily be swept and vacuumed away.
Save the steam cleaning as the very last step of the interior detailing process, to make sure it dries completely, and you don’t introduce new dirt onto the damp interior.
Exterior Detailing Secrets
Tires
After power washing tires to remove dirt and debris, spray tires with a no scrub wheel cleaner to further dissolve grime and clean them. If you prefer, clean tires with a tire cleaner and special cleaning brush.
Rinsing, Washing and Waxing
Before washing your vehicle, always start with a clean water pre-rinse before soaping up and washing. A clean water rinse prevents the possibility of rubbing dirt, dust, and debris into the paint finish.
Leave the dish soap in the kitchen because it’s harsh to use on paint. Instead, opt for a vehicle specific soap that keeps your car finish safe from spots and protects paint.
Wash with a microfiber cloth or mitt which works well to remove dirt and is better at protecting your vehicle paint and finish.
Rinse the microfiber cloth after each wipe in a bucket of clean rinse water. When rinse water becomes dirty, empty and re-fill with clean rinse water, typically when you begin to clean the other side of the vehicle.
After washing completely, dry vehicle with a clean microfiber towel which gives you a spot and streak-free finish. This works well to completely dry the vehicle in addition to removing any remaining dirt.
Polishing
Before waxing, use a dual-action polish to work out light scratches or marks. Apply a clean microfiber mitt or cloth and apply in small areas. After working the polish into the surface, remove while it’s still wet or after about a minute.
For removal of somewhat deeper marks or scratches before polishing, remove any light scratches by using a scratch removal kit.
For those who don’t want to hand polish, a polishing tool will also do the trick.
Waxing
Armed with a good synthetic wax and microfiber mitt or cloth, apply the wax working from the top of the vehicle down.
Remove the wax and any leftover waxy streaks with clean microfiber towels.
Glass Cleaning
After your vehicle has been cleaned and detailed inside and out, clean the glass. A car glass cleaner works better at tackling road dirt and preventing steaks.
Conclusion
Professional looking detailing keeps your vehicle clean, retains its value and looks great.
For deeper scratches, damage, or complete restoration of vehicle body or paint, call Downtown Collision in Santa Rosa.