What is the Difference Between Cleaning and Detailing?
Car cleaning is a great option for those that want to keep their car looking good between detailed services. It helps remove surface level dirt and can help prevent major messes from forming in the future.
Detailing involves a thorough exterior wash, waxing and options like headlight restoration and leather treatment. It also includes chemical decontamination to safely and thoroughly remove bonded contamination that regular car washes can’t reach.
Exterior
When a car is detailed, it is a much more thorough process than taking it through a tunnel car wash. Detailing includes a full exterior wash, waxing and options like headlight restoration. It can be done 4-6 times a year, and can protect the paint color from becoming faded by road salt and chemicals.
Oh My Auto Detailing use high quality car products and equipment to remove blemishes like rail dust, bird droppings, tree sap and dirt from the paint surface. Then they use special brushes and a gentle washing technique to minimize the chance of scratching the clear coat. This is necessary to maintain the value and resale value of your vehicle.
Using a clay bar is also an important part of the exterior car detailing process, especially if it has been more than a year since your last paint decontamination. This step removes bonded contaminants that cannot be removed by normal washing. It also helps prevent oxidation and corrosion on the metal parts of your car such as exhaust tips, door jambs and wheel wells.
Other steps include a rim and tire cleaning and polishing. This removes brake dust and other contaminants to extend the life of your tires. In some cases, this can even improve your gas mileage.
Then your detailing professionals will focus on the glass and chrome, including the windows, mirrors and trim. They will also clean and restore the wheels, rims and tires as needed. This will keep your car looking great and help it run at its best.
Your detailing professional may also clean and protect the engine with a protective sealant. This will help prevent corrosion and make it easier to inspect and repair any problems. They will also use a specialized cleaner to eliminate oily deposits and buildup.
A detailer will clean every crack and crevice in your interior, including between the seats and seat belt buckles, in the air vents and cup holders. They will even get into the hard to reach areas of your dashboard and console. They can remove stains and odors that are impossible to eliminate with regular cleaning or vacuuming. This is a vital part of the car detailing process, and can make your car feel and smell new again.
Interior
During a detailing job, the technician will use high-pressure water and specialty cleaning products to clean your car thoroughly. The paint is then waxed to keep it looking smooth and shiny, even between detailing appointments. In some cases, a detailer will need to address stubborn contaminants that cannot be removed with regular cleaning. These could include oxidation, rail dust, and overspray. The professional will use a clay bar or another method to remove these contaminants from the car’s surface. Then, he or she will buff and polish the paint to remove sand scratches and bring back the gloss to your vehicle’s finish.
Inside your vehicle, a professional will vacuum and wipe down the interior surfaces, including the carpets and seats. He or she will also clean hard-to-reach areas. This process will get rid of dirt, grime, and any other contaminants that can affect the resale value or your comfort while driving your car.
In addition, a professional will make sure the windows are streak-free and clear, and will clean and refresh the headlights. He or she may also add a protective coating to the exterior and interior to prevent future damage from UV rays, dust, and moisture.
If you want to protect your investment, then a good detailer can also apply a clear bra or protection film to the front and rear bumpers, and maybe the windshield as well. This coating helps prevent scratches and dents in those areas, and it will help your car look newer longer.
Choosing between a regular car wash and a full-on detailing job depends on your budget and how much you value the look of your vehicle. A regular car wash will do the trick if you’re in a hurry and don’t mind a little bit of soapy water on your vehicle’s surface. However, if you’re serious about keeping your car in top shape and maintaining its resale value then a full-on detailing is the way to go. It is worth the extra expense if you plan on selling your car in the future or simply enjoy driving a clean, pristine ride.
Parts
Cleaning is an effective way to keep your car looking good, but it can't eliminate dirt and contaminants that are buried in the paint or interior. Those are the reasons why detailing is necessary in addition to regular washings and vacuuming.
Detailed cars have better resale value because they look brand new for longer periods of time, so it's worth investing in a detailing service to keep your car in top condition.
While washing a car removes the surface dirt, a detailer goes much deeper into the vehicle to make it look like a brand-new vehicle. They use specialized tools that can help protect the car's paint while removing contaminates and preventing scratches. This keeps the car looking shiny and bright and makes it last longer.
In a detailing service, the experts also clean the rims, trim, and windows with special brushes that don't damage the car. They also remove any stains on the car's upholstery or carpets and remove any odors that are present in the vehicle.
A professional detailing service should be done 4-6 times a year to maintain the quality of your vehicle. They will be able to take care of any spots that you miss when doing it yourself or with an automatic car wash. In addition to cleaning the exterior and interior of the vehicle, they will also clean under the hood and the wheels to keep them in pristine condition.
While there are a number of ways to clean your car, most people use soap and water or an automatic machine to get the job done. Taking your vehicle through a tunnel car wash can leave behind a lot of dirt and grit in the hard-to-reach areas. A detailer will go a long way in getting these areas to sparkle and shine like they did when you bought your car.
In a detailing service, the experts will also polish and wax the car to deliver a shining appearance that will stay for a few months until the next detailing service is required. In addition to this, they will also clear coat the exterior to protect it from the weather and other contaminants. They will even buff the leather or fabric seats to restore their luster and apply a protection spray on the interior.
Under the Hood
The engine bay of your car is another area that often gets overlooked when it comes to cleaning. But, a clean engine bay not only makes your car look better but it also helps to ensure that your car performs well and lasts longer. That’s because all the dirt and grime that builds up on your engine can damage things like the insulation on your wiring or even deteriorate your hoses and gaskets. So, regular cleaning is important to protect your investment.
To do this, you’ll need to use a special wash mitt and a flexible detailing brush for those hard-to-reach areas. You’ll also need a high-quality car wax to protect the surface of your engine from the elements. It’s a good idea to purchase a kit with several products so that you have a variety of options at your disposal. However, it’s important to remember that full professional kits can run into pricey territory, so you may want to start with a smaller kit that skews towards amateur use.
Interiors can be a real challenge when it comes to detailing. Many car owners try to save time by shampooing the carpets with the hose and garden nozzle. But, the carpet will just get dirty again as you vacuum it. Instead, car detailers will take the time to spot clean the carpet and then vacuum it. They will also wipe down the dash and consoles, including those little cracks where dirt can hide. They will also use non-silicone dashboard protectant sprays that don’t leave a shiny film on the dash and can reduce glare.
Car detailers will also clean other parts of your vehicle, such as the door jambs and fenders, the wheels and tires, the windshield, and the wiper blades. They will also use special cleaners and polishes to remove tar spots, bug splatters, and other road debris that’s common on our roads. This is why it’s so important to choose a high-quality kit that includes all the cleaning and protection products you need.
Car cleaning is a great option for those that want to keep their car looking good between detailed services. It helps remove surface level dirt and can help prevent major messes from forming in the future. Detailing involves a thorough exterior wash, waxing and options like headlight restoration and leather treatment. It also includes chemical…