What is Car Detailing?

Exactly what is car detailing, and how is it any different from a car wash? Well, car detailing is a process that’s far more involved than just your standard wash, which focuses on more surface-level cleaning. Interior car detailing focuses on deep-cleaning the cabin of your vehicle, while the exterior car detailing is more or less a complete restoration of your vehicle’s outside appearance. Having your car detailed can even remove those ugly scratches and blemishes that have been left on your car’s exterior! This is a process that can be done on your own, as well as by professionals, and you can learn more about how to detail a car with the friendly folks at Peters Chevrolet Buick Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat.

Items Used For Car Detailing

Don’t like the car detailing prices you’ve seen around town? Well, you can always go ahead and detail your car yourself! Here are the items you will need to do the job correctly:

• Microfiber cloths
• Vacuum cleaner
• Canned air
• Upholstery cleaner
• Carpet stain cleaner
• Surface protector for vinyl and leather surfaces
• Window cleaner
• A variety of small brushes (such as a paintbrush)
• Washing mitts
• Car-safe cleaner

Exterior Car Detailing Steps

Once you have all of your materials and are ready to detail the exterior of your car, just follow these steps:

• Rigorous Exterior Wash: Using your microfiber cloths, some basic water, and a car-safe washing solution, give your vehicle a standard car wash. Do not use household cleaning solutions including detergents, as these agents may strip your car’s wax. It’s also important to note that you will want to use replacement microfiber cloths as they get dirty so you can avoid rubbing the excess dirt back onto the vehicle’s exterior. At the point that your car’s exterior is clean, wipe it dry using a clean towel.
• Clean the Wheels: Next, you’ll want to clean your wheels to make them shine, and you can use the same solution as before or a wheel-specific cleaning solution. For when you have excess dirt in places that are harder to reach, we recommend you use a brush.
• Wax the Exterior: Once you’ve finished the two steps above, we recommend you wax your vehicle. Once you’ve waxed, be sure to use a brush to clean off any leftover wax.

Interior Car Detailing Steps

Once you’ve finished the exterior, it’s time to deep-clean the inside of your vehicle. Here’s what you’ll want to focus on:

• Carpeting: To start, vacuum your vehicle’s carpeting and, in the case that there are any stains, use a stain remover and brush to clean them.

• Door Interior: With a simple solution of just water and soap, clean the inside of your vehicle’s doors. Don’t forget to dry them with a cloth!

• Windows: Use a window-cleaning solution to spray down the insides of your windows as well as your rearview mirror if it needs it. Wipe the windows completely clean to avoid streaking.

• Upholstery: Next, vacuum your seats and, once again, you can remove any stains with a brush and stain-removing solution. Be sure to keep your car doors open for a while to allow your seats to dry and avoid mildew.

• Steering Wheel Column: You can use a cleaning solution to remove any dust or stains, then allow this part to dry and apply a surface protectant.
• Dashboard and Center Console: Use a cleaning solution for this area, and even make use of small brushes to clean between small crevices and cracks. Again, completely clean and dry off with a towel or cloth.

Learn More Car Tips with Peters Chevrolet Buick Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat!

Think you know now how to detail a car? Go ahead and try it for yourself! We guarantee that if you put in the time and effort, your car will look good as new. Still here? Contact us if you need more information or for questions about a winter emergency car kit. Perhaps while you’re detailing your car, you notice some issues that may require serious repairs. If this is the case, schedule a service appointment with us and visit our Longview service center. We’re located in Longview, which is just a short drive from Tyler and Longview.