There are means of transportation that can be used if you want to go somewhere for personal, business, leisure, or emergency use. One mode of transportation if you want to travel by land is using your car if you have one. Driving is fun as you can go anyplace you want but you need to be cautious enough in driving as there are reckless drivers and you need to follow street signs and traffic rules. Aside from being focused and obedient in driving, you need to ensure that the car you’ll be using is in good condition, that’s why checking it before you drive is a must. To maintain the car in its best condition and to be used for long years, car detailing is one of the important things you can do with your car. This article helps you with the things to do, its process, and the CAR DETAILING SAMPLE CHECKLIST.
WHAT IS CAR DETAILING?
It is the act or application of deep cleaning to your vehicle like a car to maintain its condition and restore it to a mint condition as closely as possible. Cleaning your car using soap and water is a good practice but car detailing goes deeper same with how detailed instructions are given by teachers when you are taking a test. It is like going into a spa and getting the right and full treatment you’ll need. Like cars, cleaning only the outer area or those spaces that can be easily seen is not enough as you need to do the detailing application like working harder to get those hidden grime and dirt that possibly building up.
THINGS YOU WILL NEED OR CAR DETAILING SAMPLE CHECKLIST
These are the following things you need to prepare to detail your car properly:
* washing car soap
* one bucket for clean water and one for dirty water
* car washing mittens or sponge
* towels for drying like microfiber
* coating product or wax and pads applicator
* water hose with steady and enough water supply and attachment of spray nozzle
* rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner
* brushes for tires
* tire shine
* carpet cleaner or shampoo
* carpet steamer or vacuum cleaner
* spray for interior detailing
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
In cleaning the interior, the following areas you need to focus on are the console area and the dashboard including the vents, pedals, and steering wheel; the upholstery like the seats, carpets, floor mats, and ceiling; and inside of glass areas like the windshields and windows. The difficulty level of cleaning your car interior depends largely on how you keep cleaning these areas.
THE PROCESS OF CLEANING THE INTERIOR
1. USE A VACUUM.
First, you need to remove all the trashes and large items inside your car. Then use a vacuum and start cleaning on the top going to the bottom portion of your car as dirt might be hidden underneath. Ensure that you run the vacuum in any interior areas including the car seats and floor mats.
2. CLEAN THE UPHOLSTERY
To find those unclean areas that need special treatment, identify first any seen strains. One area that you need to pay attention to is the driver’s portion since this part is used most often. Use interior cleaners and car upholstery in getting the desired deep clean. For extreme situations, you can also use a steamer. Recheck any stains or missed portions of your car such as beneath floor mats or under the seats.
3. PROTECT THE PLASTICS
Various plastics in your car like its dashboards and hard plastics can be easily susceptible to sun damage, so using a detailing spray for its interior helps in protecting them. Using the spray and microfiber towel, wipe down all hard surfaces. Ensure to remove all plastic in the console area and dashboard including the underneath space on your windshield. Use cotton swabs for tight areas like cup holders and air vents.
THE EXTERIOR PART
Your car will always experience intense low or high temperatures, direct sunlight, or natural elements like sand, rain, mud, dirt, and snow. The exterior parts are susceptible also to other unexpected sources such as bird droppings, bugs, stones when driving on a rocky road, dust, and tree sap that can cause damage to your car paint. To avoid these things to happen, always park in a covered place and if possible once a week, detail the exterior part of your car. These are the following areas you need to pay closely when detailing the car exterior:
* any exterior area that involves glass like the windows, windshields, headlights, side mirrors, sunroofs, and tail lights.
* all surfaces that are painted like the doors, trunk, hood, roof, and quarter panels.
* wheels including bolts, nuts, rims, and tires.
* other areas such as door jambs, gas tanks, license plates, and tailpipes.
THE PROCESS OF EXTERIOR CLEANING
To make all exterior parts clean, take your time following these steps and hit all those spots where there is grime.
1. WASH AND DRY
Use your hose to rinse off the car and take all loose dirt like grease, grime, or other debris. Mix soap into the water in one bucket and the other one must have water on it in cleaning and rinsing your sponge or mitt. Use your sponge in applying the soap mixture when your car is still wet. Start on the top portion going down below wherein you can find the dirtiest portion of your car. Rinse off once more and use the microfiber towels for deep drying.
2. APPLY WAX ON THE PAINT
Use a quick coat product in cleaning, sealing, and protecting the ceramics that composed your car’s paint. First, dip the applicator pad in clean water to get it wet and apply wax on it. Use the pad in rubbing the wax and wait until it dries into a haze. Using a microfiber towel, remove the wax. Repeat this process for the hood, roof, doors, trunk, and quarter panels.
3. CLEAN AND DRY ALL GLASS AREAS
Ensure to clean not just the outside glass windows but also the inside part using a microfiber towel and glass cleaners.
4. CLEAN AND POLISH THE WHEELS
This is one significant part of detailing wherein after you wash your car, the wheels can still be uncleaned. So much effort for deep cleaning and polishing is important.
CAR WAXING
Aside from detailing your car, another way to maintain its best condition is by car waxing. This is the best way to deflect debris and dirt and seal in the luster of paints to make your car look brand new. The benefits of waxing your car are it protects from scratches, prevents fading, and creates a glossy look.
