Auto detailing is an enhancing process through which an automobile will undergo an extreme thorough cleaning, polishing and waxing, both inside and out to create a good quality of detail, making the automobile look brand new. Anyone can practice auto detailing for their own personal needs. Most of the time, it is performed to prepare a car for a car shows, where features of participating cars will be judged.
Aside from enhancing the appearance of the car, detailing helps preserve the car in its good condition, thus increases its resale value.
Exterior Detailing – this involves cleaning the car’s chrome trim, windows, wheels and tires. Also it brings back shine to the car’s paint. Exterior detailing basically uses different products such as detergents, detail clay, waxes, polishes, and various applicators and special cloths.
Interior Detailing – this involves a thorough cleaning of the car’s seats and compartment. The standard machine that is normally used is the Vacuum cleaner. Steam cleaning, liquid cleaners, and brushes are the ones that can be used to remove stains on upholstery.
What are the components of Auto Detailing?
The three main components of auto detailing are Cleaning, Polishing, and Protecting.
Cleaning refers to removing or washing off foreign surface particles from the exterior parts of the car. Basically it requires a thorough washing and a quick detailing. A clay bar is usually the solution if there’s contamination (due to industrial fallout, air particles, dirt particles, tar, and animal droppings) or dirt within the clearcoat that is hard to remove. However, the car should undergo a weekly washing for it to really be cleaned.
Polishing refers to removing fine layers of clearcoat, and scratches and swirls from a paint surface due to improperly washing or dying the car. It normally involves mechanical polishes by hand or with the use of a machine and special polishing pads.
Protecting refers to applying protective materials that prevent foreign particles from adhering to the surface of the car, such as water, bugs splatter, tar and dirt. Protective materials could be in liquid o paste form; commonly used are waxes and sealants.
