People often think that washing a car and making it look nice are the same thing. But that’s not true. Modern Day Detailing goes above and beyond a normal car wash to make the inside and outside of a car look as clean as possible. In car detailing, the cleaning is not done by a machine like it is in car washing. Detailers with a lot of experience wash the car by hand.
Car detailing is divided into two components: Interior Detailing and Exterior Detailing.
Exterior Car Detailing
It involves vacuuming, repairing, and making the tyres, windows, wheels, and other visible parts of a vehicle look better than they did when they were new. Polishes, wax, detergents, and degreasers are some of the products, but that’s not all.
Interior Car Detailing
Cleaning the inside of a car is part of interior detailing. Leather, plastics, vinyl, carbon fibre plastics, and natural fibres are all things that can be found in the cabin. Different methods, such as steam cleaning and vacuuming, are used to clean the inside of the cabinet.
Here is a glimpse of the two components of car detailing:
Interior Car Detailing
Inner beauty is much more important than outer beauty. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that cleaning the inside of a car takes more work and time than cleaning the outside. A dirty cabin on the inside not only smells bad but also makes things harder to do.
Dirty exhaust air spreads allergens throughout the cabin. Stains and grit can make switches stop working, and dirty windows can make it hard for the driver to see. In that case, you need to do more than just wash the inside of a car with water and soap.
There are different ways to clean the inside of a car, depending on which detailer you go to. But the standard ways to do things are:
Vacuuming
The first step in cleaning the inside of a car is to vacuum the seats, headliners, back cargo area, trunk, shelf, and the area above the seats. If you want to get the most out of vacuuming, you should clean the floor mats and the vacuum separately. If you can’t get to a hard-to-reach spot with a vacuum, you can use an air compressor.
Brushing and Steam Cleaning
This is what you use to clean rugs and carpets. The mats are scrubbed well to get rid of any stains or other marks that may have built up over the years. A steam cleaner should be used to do a better job. To avoid mildew, carpets should be left to dry completely.
Glass Cleaning
To clean the glass, a glass cleaner is used. It makes sure the glass stays clear and doesn’t get in the way of the driver’s view.
Leather Trimming
To clean all the leather parts, you can use a leather cleaner, saddle soap, or leather soap. The soapy spots are cleaned with a damp cloth to get rid of the extra soap. If the leather is dry, you can make cleaning it easier by using a conditioner made for leather.
Re-Vacuuming and Wiping
It’s important to vacuum again right after vacuuming. Any dirt that is still in the cabin is cleaned out. Cleansing detergent should be used on a clean cloth to wipe down the dashboard and windows. After all of this is done, a car gets back its original shine.
Perfuming
Lastly, a deodorant is used in the car to make it smell good.
Exterior Car Detailing
Detailing the outside of a car is more than just giving it a quick wash. A good car detailer will make the car shine, fix any small scratches on the surface, and always use a paint sealant to protect the paint.
The common exterior process includes:
Washing and Drying
Detailing is not like a car wash in that it is done by hand. The first step is to spray the car with a powerful, specialised spray. Then, wash the wheels, door jambs, glass, and any other exterior parts that need to be cleaned by hand.
Claying
A clay bar is used to get rid of any dirt, overspray, or other residue that can’t be cleaned off with regular soap.
Polishing
It is normal for a car to lose its polish or shine after it has been used for a while. So, in this step, the original polish is brought back.
Sealing
A sealant or, in some cases, wax is used to give the car a glossy shine.
You can also have the trim repainted, the engine detailed, the headlights polished, the engine pressure cleaned, the bumper fixed, glass chips fixed, and the paint touched up.
Lastly, a car wash and detail should include looking at all the types of paint, past and present damage like flaking, peeling, cracking, and repainting, the car’s exterior condition, and rust, acid damage, and other effects of oxidation. Detailing your car on a regular basis increases its value and makes it look good no matter how old it is.
What Are Common Car Detailing Prices?
Prices for car detailing depend on a number of factors, such as the business’s reputation, how professional it is, the type of detail, and the size of the car. The price goes up as the quality of the service goes up.
Different packages for cleaning a car are sold at different prices. A basic package includes vacuuming, cleaning the windows, cleaning the tyres, cleaning the trim, waxing, and washing the car. For a package like this, the average price for an average-sized car is $50 to $75, but the average price for a van or SUV is $75 to $150.
For a better package, the car is cleaned with more care and attention to detail. Because of this, you should expect to pay more. Almost always, the price is more than $175.
Whatever the price, it is good that you make the most of your money by:
Using Materials Wisely
If you decide to detail your own car, use materials sparingly so you can use them more than once. This will save you money because you won’t have to buy materials as often. Also, make sure you do everything exactly as it says. For instance, most detergents need to be diluted with water. If you don’t carefully read the instructions, you will have to keep buying new supplies.
Buy Discounted Materials
Do a lot of research on all the products you need to detail a car to save money on the cost of materials. Most of the time, you can find places to buy materials that are both cheap and good. Even if you decide to go to a place that does car detailing, make sure you do your research so you can find one that does good work at a price that isn’t too high.
Regularly Detail Your Vehicle
Detailing your car regularly keeps it in good shape and clean. If you don’t clean it for a long time, you’ll have to pay more to clean it because dirt will have built up. Also, you won’t be able to use the same materials more than once because they will be out of date by the time you finish.
Why is Car Detailing Important?
It is very important to take your car to a car wash. But you should clean your car every once in a while. A clear coat is always put on top of the paint on a brand-new car. Due to the sun, that coat will lose its colour over time. Without the coat, the car looks old and worn out.
Detailing a car is good for both the car and the person who owns it. First, let’s look at what the car has going for it:
How Car Detailing is Beneficial to Your Vehicle
Extends the Lifespan of Your Vehicle
Detailing a car gets rid of any dirt or debris that might have hurt the leather, vinyl, chrome, or paint. In that case, detailing the car helps it lose value less quickly.
Improves the Car’s Physical Appearance
When you buy a new car, the shine lasts for a while. Even if you wash your car often, it will lose its appeal over time, no matter how clean it is. Your car’s original look can be brought back with car detailing. A skilled detailer or technician will check every part of the car for dust, dirt, scratches, odours, etc.
Maintains the Paint Condition
Debris, dust, dirt, and other things can damage the paint on your car. With regular detailing, a coat of wax is put over the paint to protect it from scratches. Wax brings back the shine of a brand-new car and protects it at the same time.
Allows Your Engine to Run Cooler
When you detail your car often, dust, leaks, and dirt are cleaned out of the engine. These parts make sure that the engine runs better.
Extends the Resale Value
Car detailers make sure that your car looks its best right before you sell it. Professionals with a lot of experience know what the market standards are and what customers want, so they can help you make your car better. So, when you decide to sell your car, you’ll get more money for it if you have it detailed.
How Car Detailing is Beneficial to the Car Owner
Satisfaction – It’s more fun to drive a clean car than one that’s dirty. A clean car shows what kind of person you are. It shows that you care about your car and makes you proud and sure of yourself when you’re driving. Also, if you use your car for business, it will show that you are a clean and neat person.
Saves Money – Detailing your car regularly can save you money in a number of ways over time. One way is that if the car lasts longer, it won’t need repairs as often, which saves money. Second, since the engine runs smoothly and well, less gas is used. Third, headlight restoration makes the lights brighter, which makes the vehicle perform better. In the end, costs for maintenance go down.
Provides a Healthy Ride – A car’s carpet or air vents can get filled with a lot of dust. Auto detailing keeps your car clean and free of dust and other allergens. A thorough car wash also reduces the long-term effects of being exposed to the environment and the number of people who get sick.
Reduces Cases of Accidents – The car wash detail makes sure that all the haze and dirt are gone so that the driver can see clearly. Because of this, the chances of getting into an accident are much lower.
Modern Day Detailing for car detailing in West Palm Beach is one of the best places to get your car cleaned up if you need that service. They have different packages that offer different services at prices that are easy on the wallet. Don’t be afraid to get in touch.
Find a Modern Day Detailing near you if you want to learn more about car detailing and/or detailers.
