As professional auto detailers, we’ve heard all the common car detailing myths and seen firsthand what the friendly detailing tip your neighbor gives you really does to your car (hint: it’s not pretty). Let’s explore what car detailers do and debunk a few of the most common car detailing myths.
What Do Car Detailers Do?
Car detailers are professionals who clean, restore, and protect the appearance of a vehicle. Detailers work in dedicated detailing shops that may be standalone businesses or part of larger car wash facilities. With the increasing popularity of mobile detailing services, many detailers now operate from trucks and trailers equipped with water tanks that allow them to work at customers’ homes or in office parking lots. However, not all detailers are the same.
Why is Car Detailing Important?
Adding a ceramic coat is the best way to protect your car’s exterior. However, car detailing has its place when you need to rejuvenate your car’s protective layer. One of the main reasons car detailing is important is its ability to restore the appearance of your vehicle. Over time, the clear coat on top of your paint can begin to fade due to exposure to sunlight, making your car look old, worn out, and unattractive. Professional detailers can rejuvenate the paint and remove imperfections, such as swirl marks or light scratches, leaving your vehicle looking shiny and brand new.
What Should a Full Car Detail Include?
You should know what the service includes when getting a full car detail. Auto detailing should consist of thoroughly cleaning and restoring the vehicle’s interior and exterior. This includes professionally washing and polishing the exterior, cleaning and conditioning the seats and upholstery, vacuuming the carpets and mats, and detailing the dashboard and door panels. A full car detail should include cleaning and treating leather surfaces, polishing chrome or metal accents, shampooing floor mats, and removing stubborn stains or odors.
In addition to these standard services, additional add-ons may enhance the whole car detailing experience. These can include engine bay cleaning, headlight restoration, scratch removal, paint protection coatings, or even applying ceramic coatings for long-lasting shine. Each car detailer may offer different customer options based on their individual needs and preferences. Ultimately, a comprehensive full car detail should leave your vehicle looking pristine inside and out while preserving its value and providing you with confidence behind the wheel.
Now that we better understand why the detailing process is important, let’s debunk some common myths.
10 Common Car Detailing Myths
1) It’s okay to use dish detergent to wash your car
This is one of the most pervasive car detailing myths. Detergent may create soap suds, but that doesn’t mean it’s effective at cleaning your vehicle. Dish detergent was not designed for automotive paint and should not be used on it in any scenario.
2) A shiny car is a clean car
There are many ways you can make a car shine without actually cleaning it, so just because your car is still shiny doesn’t mean you aren’t due for a wash. Automotive detailing goes much further than a regular car wash to protect and restore your car.
3) It doesn’t matter what you use to wipe down your car
Many people use old towels or shirts to wipe down their cars, but the fibers in towels and t-shirts are often rough and can scratch up your car’s clear coat and leave behind dirt. Using a clean microfiber towel on your exterior protective coating is best.
4) You can wait until your car is filthy before you wash it
The longer something sits on your car, the more likely it is to cause permanent damage. Biological contaminants like bug splatter, tar, and bird droppings are especially harmful to your car’s paint. If you spot anything that needs to be cleaned, you should wash your car immediately.
5) Wax lasts for years
Wax is a temporary solution. Under ideal circumstances, it only provides a few months worth of protection. If you want long-term protection, you need a ceramic paint coating.
6) Air fresheners remove bad odors
Air fresheners simply mask bad odors. If you want to remove bad odors, you’ll have to get down and dirty with some interior detailing.
7) There’s nothing you can do about water spots
Water spots are challenging, but not impossible, to remove. For a few tips on removing water spots, check out this post.
8) Polishing and waxing are the same thing
The terminology can get confusing, but in general, polishing is something you do that removes minor imperfections, while waxing is something that provides protection. Auto detailing services are not all the same. Don’t assume that the detailer polishing your car also provides protection.
9) You should let your car air-dry
Allowing your car to air dry is a great way to get some nasty water spots, which defeats the purpose of washing it in the first place. Drying your car with a clean, soft microfiber cloth is best.
10) Machine polishing can damage paint
Don’t let this car detailing myth fool you; the professional polishing tools are perfectly safe for your car. That’s what they were designed for, after all!
Are you looking for professional detailing services? Please contact us today at Details Matter to learn more about our prestige car detailing and paint protection services for your car’s interior and exterior. We are certified installers of Ceramic Pro, providing the ultimate paint protection for auto enthusiasts throughout Melbourne, Florida.
