Car Care Passions and Challenges

The key to understanding proper car care is education. I have put together this short Step by Step guide to get you started.

Step One

Clean ...
The one step that gives the greatest benefit over an automobile's entire life, it's simply keeping your vehicle clean. There are many products available to you and the choices can get confusing. So the best advice I can give you is to try to stay with one brand instead of many different manufacturers' products, some of which don't work well with others. Start with a safe, thorough cleaning with products that work and won't harm your health or the environment either.

Tips: use sprayers instead of aerosol cans; use self-venting gallon tap spouts for smooth flowing of product to dispense easily into smaller bottles; gallon pump head dispensers for thicker liquids work great; enjoy the convenience of disposable paper funnels and wall-mounted dispensers; use only a safe solution when removing adhesive goo [oily based products like peanut oil or WD40].

If you've been using brands of polish and wax that may contain silicone and synthietic oils you will need to remove the old wax and polysilicones for a squeaky clean start to waxing. Most car care systems may not bond with these siicone-laden products. It's important to use a good paint prep to remove all of the old waxes, polysilicones, and oils so the new products can properly bond to the surface. Proper preparation is 90% of a good finished job.

Tips: polishes help restore the paint finish by removing lightly oxidized paint and dirt that has gotten ground in; waxes seal the painted finish and protect it from the environment.

Crystal Clear Windows
A simple thing that makes driving safe and fun, but not always easy to achieve. Perfectly clean windows also allow your windows to "defrost" much quicker. You want to use a window cleaner which does not contain dyes, perfumes, or any other chemicals to contaminate your window surface. This is very important, as contaminants contribute to hazing!

Tips: use a clean terry towel to apply product and remove dirt; immediately use another clean towel to buff the window; then do a final buff with a lint free towel instead of paper.

Cleaning Tools
Having the right tools for the job, any job, makes the whole experience pleasurable. This is your time to relax and unwind. So, make sure you have a collection of superior quality cleaning tools that not only last a long time, but are a joy to use and make your car care therapy sessions much more fun.

Tips: use micro fiber wash mitts and pads; genuine sheepskin wash/dust mitt; boar's hair brush and handle [for cleaning big vehicles]; wheel well brush for hard-to-reach areas; protect your knee or butt from the hard floor or driveway with gel-filled knee pads; keep hose from catching under a tire with anti-hose catchers.

Stop by next week for Step Two -- Wheels & Tires. If you haven't already done so, register at our Mobile Onsite Detailing site to receive updated information and discounts.