Detailing 101
If you are new to car detailing, this section provides the basics on cleaning and automotive finish care. Detailing your own car is not difficult, and many find it rewarding to do it themselves. By understanding the tools, products and methods, you can do the job faster and with better results.
Introduction to Car Detailing
Many people mistake car washing with car detailing. Introduction to Car Detailing provides an overview of car detailing and how it is different that a simple wash or wax job on your car.
Introduction to Detailing Chemicals
As we all know, to do any job well you must have the right tools. In car detailing, the right tool often means the right chemical. There are literally thousands of different bottles of car cleaning and detailing chemicals. In Introduction to Detailing Chemicals I break it all down into the basics of the cleaners, polishes and protectants you need to detail your car.
Washing and Drying Your Car
If there is a single maintenance activity that offers the biggest benefit to your car’s appearance, it’s keeping your car clean through regular washing. Washing is the process of removing loose dirt and road film from your car’s exterior surfaces. That means more than just a good hosing. You have to shampoo it with a car wash soap and a sponge or wash mitt. In Washing and Drying Your Car you will discover how selecting the wrong products can do more harm than good.
Using Detailing Clay
When dirt and crud gets a solid grip on your car’s paint, washing alone may not be enough. Pre-wax cleaners and polishes also may not be able to easily remove large, bonded particles. In this case, you have two choices: use a heavy polishing compound, which may scour or remove a lot of your paint finish, or use a clay bar. Detailing clay isn’t a polish or a compound, it is a surface preparation bar that smooths the paint and removes bonded contaminants. In Using Detailing Clay you will discover how safe and easy it is to use a detailing clay bar.
Polishing Your Car
The term polishing describes many different tasks in car detailing. As a result, it is often confusing and misunderstood. In Polishing Your Car I'm going to break it all down and give you a better understanding of when polishing is necessary and the tools, products and techniques needed to do the job right.
Waxing Your Car
It was European coach builders that first applied coatings of animal fats and wax to protect the custom paint on their horse-drawn carriages. This tradition has endured over 100 years and is still a great way to protect and shine your car. Waxing with a natural wax or a synthetic wax (paint sealant) provides an easily renewable, transparent barrier that protects your car's paint finish from a hostile environment. Waxing also makes your car, new or old, look better. In Waxing Your Car, I'm going to debunk a lot of myths and help you pick a car wax that's right for you and your car.
Detailing Your Car’s Interior
The interior of your car takes a lot of abuse. Unlike the inside of your home, which has many times more square footage, the inside of your car gets repeated, concentrated traffic. Each time you get in your car, you drag in more dirt. Each time you eat or drink in your car, you add a few more crumbs and spills. In fact, just sitting in your car, you drop hair, dead skin, makeup and other contaminants. All of this dirt and junk adds up very fast. In Detailing Your Car’s Interior I'm going to show you how to keep the inside of your car looking good without a lot of work. It is not necessary to fully detail the inside of your car each time you wash it. Unless you’ve been to the beach, out in the mud, or tracking in grass and leaves, you can probably get away with vacuuming and a quick wipe-down every couple of weeks.
Maintaining Glass and Clear Plastic
Cleaning your windows is one of the most tedious tasks you will face, but it is definitely worth doing. In addition to being a hazard, the effect of dirty glass can quickly ruin the appearance of your perfectly polished and waxed automobile. After you have completed all other detailing tasks, put the perfect touch on your car by detailing your car’s glass. In Maintaining Glass and Clear Plastic, I'll show you how to do it the fast, easy way.
Detailing and Treating Trim
Over time, car trim that is not maintained will become dirty, dull and worn, making your whole car look bad. Well-maintained trim stands out and makes your car look sharp and more attractive. Common trim items include chrome bumpers, window molding, chrome light rings, chrome door handles, rubber door and bumper guards, window wipers, emblems and antennas. On classic and antique cars, you might also have horns, leather straps, hood ornaments and exposed exhaust manifolds. In Detailing and Treating Trim you'll discover how to keep your cars trim looking great, or restore trim that's a little under the weather.
Maintaining Your Convertible Top
Unlike coupes or sedans, soft top roadsters and convertibles have special requirements. Where the roadster’s and convertible’s fully enclosed brethren sport steel and glass, the rag top car has canvas and vinyl. This simple difference creates a myriad of challenges for the soft-top car owner. In Maintaining Your Convertible Top you will learn how to properly car for your car's soft top for years of beauty and top down driving.
