Auto Detailing: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Benefits

Some benefits of regularly detailing your car include increased resale value and extending the life of your car by reducing wear and tear. For the exterior, it helps catch rust spots and other problems before they get worse, which saves you time and money in the long run. Applying a protectant helps prevent scratches and protects paint from sun damage, acid rain and road salt. For the interior, it protects the upholstery and leather from UV damage and reduces allergens that contribute to respiratory conditions. Also, having a clean car improves your mood and reduces stress and anxiety.

DIY or Professional?

Detailing can be done yourself or by a professional. Professionals have high-grade equipment that the average person may not have access to, and they provide specialized cleaning to each area of your car. But they are also more expensive. If you have time to do it yourself, and you have a garage or dry area to work in, you can save some money. If you think you’ll be going the DIY route, invest in some good quality detailing products, such as the TechCare line from WeatherTech, and some detailing tools, such as a pressure washer, microfiber cloths and towels, brushes and a rotary polisher.

Exterior Detailing

Exterior detailing removes bugs, tree sap, road salt, brake dust and other debris that cause damage. Following up with a wax protects your paint and provides a nice shine.

Steps for exterior detailing:

• Wash and dry: Wash to remove dirt and debris, including the wheels, tires and undercarriage to remove any road salt. (Pro tip: It’s best to wash in the late afternoon when temperatures are cooler, so you have time to dry the car before water spots form.) Dry thoroughly. Use a detail spray to help with drying and prevent water spots.
• Wheels and tires: Hose off your wheels to remove any loose dirt. To remove damaging brake dust, spray your wheels with a wheel cleaner and allow to soak for a few minutes. Then use a brush to scrub off the brake dust. Wash the tires with a tire cleaner and rinse the wheels and tires. Dry with a microfiber towel and follow up with a tire shine to protect the rubber.
• Clay and polish: Use a clay bar to remove surface contaminants. Tape off any plastic trim areas that won’t be polished. Polish using a rotary polisher to remove water spots and micro-scratches. Polishing headlights and taillights improve visibility.
• Protectant: Wax or apply a ceramic coating to protect your paint after polishing.
  • Ceramic or graphene coating: Apply surface prep to remove any leftover residue. Apply coating to paint, trim and glass. Follow the instructions on the product to learn how to apply and when to wipe it off. Make sure you have the proper applicators and towels before starting. When finished, check for high spots or missed areas. Correct them and then reapply as needed.
  • Wax: Apply the wax in small sections from the top to the bottom, making sure you achieve complete coverage. Wait about 5-10 minutes and then buff it off with clean microfiber cloths. Fold the cloth to a clean section to prevent spreading the wax back on.
• Glass care: Apply ammonia-free glass cleaner to prevent damage to the rubber. Spray directly onto a microfiber towel to prevent overspray from getting on the rest of the car. Apply polish to remove water spots, then follow with a ceramic or graphene coating so rain beads up and rolls off.
• Soft top care: If you have a soft top, you also need to use a spray ceramic coating on the fabric. Make sure you brush the fibers front to back, back to front, and side to side both ways and apply the coating in between brushing directions for full coverage.

Interior Detailing

Interior detailing removes stains, dirt and odors from carpet, upholstery, leather and hard surfaces and helps to reduce allergens. Glass cleaning is important to provide better visibility.

Steps for interior detailing:

• Floor mats: Remove your floor mats and brush off debris. Then clean with a cleaner made for car floor mats. Rinse and air dry.
• Vacuum: Thoroughly vacuum your car, making sure you use a crevice tool for any hard-to-reach areas.
• Dust: Using a microfiber cloth or duster, dust your dashboard, console, cup holders, door panels and steering wheel.
• Clean hard surfaces: Using an interior automotive cleaner and a microfiber cloth, clean your dashboard, console, cup holders, door panels and steering wheel. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove any stubborn residue. Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners on any touchscreens to prevent damage. Instead, clean with a damp cloth and distilled water or a product made specifically for touchscreens.
• Carpet: Use an automotive carpet cleaner to thoroughly clean your carpet. Use a stain remover to remove stubborn stains.
• Glass care: Using an automotive glass cleaner, spray the product onto a clean microfiber cloth to prevent overspray. Then follow up with a second cloth to clean the glass and reduce streaking.
• Seats: For fabric seats, apply stain remover to any spots. Then use an upholstery cleaner to clean and deodorize the seats. Apply fabric protector to help prevent future stains. For leather seats or other leather surfaces, first clean with a leather cleaner, and then apply a leather conditioner to keep them soft and protect from UV damage.

Now that your car interior is clean, help keep it in pristine condition with protective products from WeatherTech. FloorLiner HP protects your footwells and covers any existing damage, CarCoasters make cleaning your cup holders a piece of cake, Cargo Liner protects the cargo area from spills and stains, and Seat Protectors keep pet hair and dirt off your seats.

Detailing seems like a daunting task, and you may be asking yourself if it’s really necessary. But after you consider all the benefits, you may want to start adding it to your regular maintenance routine.