Many of us have heard the term car detailing being thrown around often. Yet, most people don’t know what the service entails.
Typically, car owners assume that it’s similar to car washes. While they may share some elements in common, there’s a difference between the two processes.
So, at this point, you may wonder, what is detailing a car? If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the service. I’ll also cover how often you should do it and the benefits you can expect.
What Is Car Detailing?
Cars have to drive through winding roads, rough terrain, and muddy paths. So, have you ever wondered how your friends and neighbors keep their vehicles squeaky clean?
If your first thought is a drive-through car wash, you’re close, but not quite on the money. Washing the outside of the car is only part of the upkeep.
There are many other elements of the vehicle that you need to maintain to keep it running in top-notch condition.
That’s when car detailing comes into play. It’s the process of cleaning and reconditioning the interior and exterior of a vehicle.
Usually, the service involves using specialized tools to scrub the car from top-to-bottom to make it look like it just drove off a showroom floor.
Although it’s a good idea to remember that car detailing is purely cosmetic. That means the workers won’t perform any body repairs.
What Are the Components of Car Detailing?
At this point, you should have a clearer understanding of car detailing. Yet, you may still struggle with what the process entails.
So, to make your life easier, I’ll cover some of the most notable services included in auto detailing.
Exterior Detailing
The first aspect of car servicing I’ll talk about is exterior detailing. This covers what the outside of your vehicle will go through.
1. Washing the Exterior
Right off the bat, the car detailer will want to clean the outside of your vehicle. So, they’ll break out the sponges, soap, and power washer.
This will remove any mud or loose debris that may be covering the metallic frame. That way, the detailer can get a better look at the car and its paint job.
It’ll help them determine what other cosmetic procedures your car may need.
2. Clay Bar Treatment
Sometimes, a simple car wash isn’t enough to clean the exterior of a car. There’s debris that can be incredibly stubborn and difficult to remove.
That includes grime, tree sap, dust, and even bird droppings. These can dull the shine of your car, and in severe cases, ruin the paint job.
While normal soap is out of the question, a car detailer can use clay bar treatment.
As you can guess by the name, this process involves using a clay soap bar to scrub the vehicle. This cleaner is effective and can remove debris in a flash.
On top of that, it’s soft and malleable, so it shouldn’t affect the paint underneath.
3. Polishing and Waxing the Exterior
Cleaning the outside of your car will only get you so far. There are a few cosmetic issues that no amount of soap can tackle.
For instance, if there are swirl marks or light scratches on your car, a power washer won’t be much help.
So, once your vehicle is spotless, it can move onto the polishing and waxing stage.
Polishing involves using fine sandpaper or a buffing wheel to smooth the vehicle’s paint and give it a shine. This process flattens the clear coat on the car and removes minor scratches.
Because of that, car detailers don’t recommend you polish your car often. Doing so may damage the clear coat and scratch the paint underneath.
On top of that, you need to cover the car in a protective wax layer. This coat will seal in the polishing job and give your vehicle a shiny luster.
Plus, it can repel dust and other debris, so it’ll keep your car looking brand new for longer periods.
4. Treating Wheels & Tires
When cleaning a vehicle, many people forget all about the wheels. Since they’ll roll in mud soon, some car owners feel like it’s a waste of time.
Yet, that’s not the case. Maintaining the tires can prolong their lifespan and improve their performance on the road.
That’s why car detailers will scrub the wheels down. They’ll remove grease and tiny pebbles, and address any signs of wear and tear.
Then, to wrap up the process, they’ll apply tire dressing. This is a chemical that can enhance the appearance of your tires and protect them from degrading.
Interior Detailing
With the exterior of the car taken care of, you can turn your attention to the interior. In this section, I’ll cover what auto detailing can do for the inside of your vehicle.
1. Vacuuming
Every time you open a car door, you’re making a way for a strong gust of wind to blow in dust and debris.
So, even if you like to keep the inside of the vehicle spotless, chances are you’ll find dirt and other crumbs. This is especially true if you like snacking in your car.
Because of that, the first step of interior detailing is vacuuming. The car detailer will use an industrial vacuum that can suck up all the dust in a flash.
2. Cleaning Surfaces
With loose dust and debris out of the way, the detailer will move on to deep cleaning. They’ll break out the soap and sponge and get to scrubbing.
This may seem like a simple task at first, but it can be a little complicated. That’s because car interiors consist of many materials.
There’s the leather of the seats, fabric trims, polyester coverings, and metallic elements. Each one of these components requires a special cleaning solution.
For example, when scrubbing the car seats, you have to use a commercial leather cleaner.
3. Carpet and Mat Cleaning
Car mats can get exceptionally muddy in a matter of days. As soon as you step into your vehicle, debris from your shoes will transfer to the carpets.
So, the detailing technician will pay close attention to the mats. They’ll start by removing the carpets from the car and giving them a good shake.
After that, they’ll pull out the carpet shampoo, remove any stains, and leave it smelling fresh as a daisy.
That’s not all! The technician will also attempt to repair any tears or burns on the mat.
4. Restoring Trims and the Dashboard
If you have kids, you know how banged up the trims and dashboard of your car can get. Within a few days, they’ll be covered in scratches and strange stains.
Besides that, cars spend most of their time in the sun. So, the sunlight may cause the vinyl on the dashboard to fade and tear.
Thankfully, car detailers can help with that. They’ll use special products to clean the surfaces and give them back their shine.
Plus, they’ll add a protective layer to stop the vinyl from fading or cracking.
5. Steam Cleaning
While vacuuming and cleaning are effective, they can’t remove all debris. Sometimes, dirt can be deeply embedded into the upholstery of the car.
In that case, you’ll need a more penetrative cleaning method. That’s where steam comes into play.
The hot water vapor can get into every nook and cranny and dissolve dust and debris. Not only will this leave your car interior spotless, but it can have health benefits.
This deep cleaning process will remove bacteria and viruses that may hide in crevices.
6. Glass Cleaning
Glass cleaning is a crucial part of interior detailing. Without it, you’ll find it difficult to see clearly through your windows.
That’s why auto detailing experts pay close attention to all glass surfaces. They’ll scrub the windows, windshield, and mirrors until they’re gleaming.
Plus, they’ll use certain cleaners to ensure that the surfaces stay streak-free.
Once that’s done, they’ll turn their attention to the internal window seals. These are the rubber gaskets that outline the windows.
7. Air Vent Cleaning
Car vents pull in air from the outside and circulate it through your car. That means they can collect dirt and dust from your surroundings.
On top of that, since they’re out of sight, most people forget to clean them. This can create the perfect breeding ground for microorganisms.
Not only can this be dangerous, but it can also give off an unpleasant odor. That’s why your car may smell a bit musty after turning on the air conditioner.
So, auto detailers will use compressed air to push the dust out of the vents. They may also rely on brushes and other tools to clean out the space.
Finally, they’ll top off the service with an air freshener to give you that new car smell.
What Are the Benefits of Car Detailing?
There are quite a few benefits to detailing your car. First up, you’ll keep it in pristine condition. This will increase the lifespan of your vehicle.
Plus, you won’t have to think twice before inviting someone into your car.
Besides that, detailing can enhance the performance of the vehicle. Without the excess dust and debris all over the place, your car will run smoothly.
Moving on, as I mentioned, your car can collect a wide variety of bacteria and viruses. Since detailing can get rid of them, you’ll eliminate health hazards.
Finally, with regular detailing, you can maintain the resale value of your car. This can be a major help when it’s time to trade in your vehicle for a new one.
Wrapping Up
What is detailing a car? The process involves cleaning and reconditioning a vehicle’s interior and exterior surfaces.
Although, this service is purely cosmetic, so it won’t include any body repairs.
We divide detailing into two sections: exterior and interior. The former focuses on improving the outer look of the car.
As for the latter, it cleans and restores the inside of your vehicle.
Finally, there are many benefits to detailing your car. These include increasing the lifespan and maintaining the resale value.
