People who love their car usually spend hours detailing in order to keep it looking new for a prolonged period of time. Still, the effort is not enough. Even spending a fortune to get the most quality wax possible is not going to help you if you don’t know how to prepare the car for waxing and apply the wax properly. In other words, when it comes to detailing a priority list, knowledge comes before anything else. The experience will come in time but in order to start working towards it, you need to have a basis. Here are some detailing tips that will get you started.
- Applying the product to the towel
Applying products directly to the bodywork of the car may have some negative effects. Namely, the concentration of the product may be too strong. Instead, apply it to the towel. This is really the subtlest, the simplest method of controlling the quantity of the cleaning product used. In other words, other than keeping your car safe, it’s also something that allows you to avoid making a mess and spending more chemicals than needed. The choice of the towel is also quite important. For instance, terry towels and microfiber towels are completely different things.
- Waxing doesn’t do miracles
While waxing can help your car get an unprecedented level of shine, the truth is that, on its own, it doesn’t do miracles. The advantages of car waxing are that it’s A) easy for any car owner to use accurately (with some tutorials and a bit of practice) and B) quite rewarding in terms of overall visuals. The problems are that it’s not as protective as a synthetic sealant. This means that you’ll have to apply it much more frequently. So, it all depends on what you see as a priority – simplicity of use or durability.
- Focus on tires and rims
One of the car parts that are most commonly skipped or neglected are the rims and tires. The problem is that muddy rims may ruin the impression that your pristinely clean car makes. So, how do you clean tires and rims? First of all, you should start at the bottom. Next, get some potent wheel cleaners that you can get virtually everywhere (even at your local gas station). Once you’re done, you can also consider waxing your wheels. This is something that not a lot of people do even though it delivers consistent results.
- Take it to professionals
All of this takes so much time and effort but the biggest problem lies in the fact that the results aren’t always guaranteed. Unless you’re using proper techniques and quality products, the end result might not be as impressive as you have hoped for. This is probably why you should look for a car detailing service in your area. Also, keep in mind that this can serve as a reference point for your future DIY detailing. Take a photo of your car after you return it from detailing and try to get as close as possible to this the next time around. It’s that easy.
- Interior takes a lot of time
When cleaning the interior, you need to spend so much time and energy. This is why you should either take the car to a professional or make sure that you have enough room in your schedule. Keep in mind that the interior usually has sensitive materials like leather and scratching them may end up costing you far more than you originally intended to save by cleaning it yourself. Take your time and treat your car’s interior as gently as possible.
- Glass surfaces should be dried in two directions
When drying your glass, you’ll be faced with the question of whether to go for horizontal or vertical strokes. Ideally, you would use both, one for the interior and one for the exterior. This way, you get the best possible pattern and unparalleled, natural-looking clarity of your windows. Keep in mind that under different sunlight, this can be more or less transparent.
- Hand washing can damage the car
No, hand washing is not always a superior option. In fact, if you’re not careful enough, you can end up damaging the paint. The problem lies in the fact that every car is manufactured and even finished differently. This would require a different product. For instance, if a wheel is finished and you use acid wheel cleaner (which the majority of people do), you might end up damaging the finish quite badly. The use of car shampoo may damage the pH of your car’s surface. This is why neutral pH car shampoo is best used before waxing.
In conclusion
The very last thing you need to keep in mind is the importance of exercising consistency. Detailing needs to be repeated every now and then. If you have a problem finding time for this, you might want to look for a compromise. You can combine DIY detailing with professional detailing, thus having to pay for the full price every other trip. Just make sure that you’re aware of all the dangers and proper techniques before trying your hand at something so delicate.
