5 Easy Steps To Detail Your Car

Going to the car servicing center is great but we all know we can’t always go, so we end up taking care of the car detailing ourselves. But just because we aren’t experts in that field doesn’t mean we can’t achieve professional standard results. Here are some tips to help you detail your car like an expert!

1. Paint Care

Always use microfiber cloths when cleaning your car. It only takes a rough towel or dirt on a towel to scratch your precious paint job. Do not risk it and make sure you’re always using clean microfiber cloth to wipe your car with.

Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint. Having said all that, take it up a notch and invest in a dual action while you’re at it. Perfect for ironing out areas of abrasion, and removing layers of old wax, these motorized polishers will ensure your car always has a smooth, even finish for a lasting just-bought shine.

2. Seat Care

Spills on the cloth seats are difficult to control because of the movement of the vehicle when the spill occurs. Maintaining a steady supply of towels for quick cleanup will reduce the amount of foreign matter that collects in the cloth. Dust mites feed on these substances. People who suffer from allergies will experience discomfort when riding in a vehicle where dust mites have found a healthy food source.

You may wanna get yourself a magic eraser to use in your car. Gently rubbing a magic eraser can magically remove gross sticky things off your vinyl and leather like it’s never been there. This is especially important if you have pets or children that ride your vehicle. Apparently, the spot where your kid or pet sit are usually dirtier and have higher bacteria counts.  Pathogens identified such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter or MRSA are the ones found according to a study conducted at Queen Mary University in London.

3. Dashboard And Console Care

Before starting the process of working on the dashboard and console, set up a plan of action in terms of how to navigate the areas of concern on your dash and console. Also, take note of the surface materials used in these areas.

Dashboards with a mostly plastic composition will require the use of a lot of warm water to loosen dirt and make it easy to wipe off after. Dashboards and consoles with a combination of fabric/leather and injection molded plastic will require you to be more careful and strategic with water usage. In addition, be cautious when using an all-purpose cleaner on parts of the dash that are not fully made from plastic.

The distinctive smell of mildew flooding out of your air vents is usually caused by a build-up of bacteria and mold. This can happen to older cars that have had bacteria growing behind the dashboard for years and in cars that rarely run the air conditioning, as they don’t enjoy the drying effects that it provides to excess water on the coils. So if you do your own car cleaning, make sure you clean your car AC vents too.

As you complete the process, one area that should not be ignored is the steering rack. This is an area where debris and dust can accumulate extensively and may not be easily noticeable unless you really pay attention to that area. The steering wheel also absorbs a lot of oils from your hands and over time, these can degrade the material covering the structure of the steering wheel.

Cleaning those oils at least once a month will go a long way in maintaining the natural look of your steering wheel from when it left the factory.

4. Wheel Care

Your wheels can be tricky to clean but not impossible. There are many wheel designs, but some have more tendencies to have crevices that hide dirt well and make it hard to dig deep. But, just like with any problem in life, taking the right approach will set you on the right path.

There are exhaustive amounts of wheel cleaners on the market, but the best ones are acid-free and those with water-based solutions. Avoid wheel cleaners with overly aggressive formulas which can end up damaging your wheel’s coating, they are also damaging to the environment.

Most wheel cleaners call for you to apply the first coating generously and wait for it to sit for a while before rinsing. For wheels designs that are not conventional, a compact cleaning brush should be used to manually loosen dirt that has accumulated in corners that are hard to reach.

Performance cars with larger brake components (rotors and pads) can accumulate more than typical amounts of brake dust on the wheels. For this type of scenario, used paint clay can effectively remove the brake dust.

5. Window Care

Clean the top most portion of the windows. When you don’t clean this part it comes back ruining your effort to clean because buildup dirt and grime can drip and streak eventually. So roll down the windows and make sure you clean this part first so you don’t forget it later on.

After that, make sure to dry glass surfaces in two directions. Streaks are annoying, it makes it look like you did a sloppy job cleaning your car. To avoid this, try drying the surfaces in two directions. For example, go vertical when wiping first then go over it again in horizontal direction.

How To Keep Your Car In Good Condition All The Time

If you want a clean, sleek, and brand new looking car all the time, seeking car grooming services is a must. Aside from that, it also maintains that value and warranty claim of your car. Although, most people understand the necessity of this, they also struggle with distinguishing the right time to do so. Moreover, you can also follow these tips to keep your car looking good all the time even after you’ve had it for years. People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for an extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean. 

Washing And Polishing

There are car owners who wash their car as often as they can while others drag it as long as possible. But is there really a schedule that you should keep up to when it comes to getting a car wash and grooming? Well, it would have to depend on a lot of factors. Do you drive all day every day? Are you a very busy person? Have you been out on a rainy day lately? All cars accumulate dust, dirt, grime, and all sorts of impurities that can affect your car’s exterior as well as interior, but those questions above makes all the difference on how frequent should you avail car grooming services.

It’s understandable that it’d be hard to squeeze in car washing everyday if you’re busy, but you should at least do it once a week or every time you get a day off and if you really can’t do it yourself then take advantage of  the car grooming services that are widely available in Singapore. If you drive on poor conditions a lot, like when it’s rainy or on rough roads you have to get it done more often than once a week. Doing so can do you a lot more favor than you’d expect.

Sure, we’re talking about car washing. But car polishing is also an important part of keeping your vehicle pristine looking. Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

De-Cluttering Of Mess Regularly

Granted that some people live in their cars, but that’s still not an excuse to let it go looking like a dumpster! You’re not just risking your health with the dirt build up, but you’re also weighing the vehicle down which can affect its performance and a pricier car grooming cost. So you should be on top of decluttering your car. Don’t keep things in there that doesn’t belong there and you don’t even use.

Also, if your car no longer has that new car scent, and you’ve tried a range of air freshening products without success, use a can of compressed air to give the vents a quick blast. Dust, dirt and moisture can build up on the inside of air vents, causing stale odors to circulate through the cabin whenever they’re in use. Imagine driving everyday while smelling that, definitely uncomfortable and can even make your headache especially after a long drive. Compressed air will remove the offending muck, grime and bacteria, giving your car a fresher, more neutral smell.

Being On Top Of Necessary Repairs

Do routine checkups on your vehicle. Doing this will keep you and every car owner out there from dealing with bigger car repair issues. Why? Because just by checking how everything from under your hood to dents and scratches on the body is doing, you’ll be able to detect early signs of problems and get it fixed right away. It can be hard to keep your automobile look clean all the time if it’s full of repairs that needs to be done.

Not to mention that if you’re looking to sell your car at some point in the future, keeping your car looking like you just bought it yesterday will help you get it sold faster at the price you want. You’ll want to keep up with routine service and maintenance so that it continues to run in optimal condition. Most buyers will also prefer to purchase a car that they know has been well looked after. Even if people are buying a second hand car, they would still want one that is in good running condition, looks good, offers decent gas mileage, and suits the passenger and cargo space requirements them and their family. Just because they’re opting for a less pricey vehicle doesn’t mean they should settle for any less than those criteria.

Keep Cleaning Supplies In Your Car

If a spill or bird dropping already happened, there’s no use regretting that. Just wipe it off as soon as you can. Caffeinated drinks, soda or bird dropping all have acid in them that ruins the paint so it would be best if you could wipe them off your paint job immediately.  This is why it’s important that you have cleaning supplies in your trunk at all times. This way you can clean off such things immediately as it happens to leave them no chance of causing any kind of damage.

Unclean car isn’t only unsightly but can also lead to unnecessary car repairs. While it’s easy to assume that this shouldn’t be an issue nowadays since there’s ample access to car polishing here in Singapore, a busy schedule and tight budget makes it more difficult. But if you don’t want the money you invested in your car to go to waste, keeping it clean is a simple but important factor in maintenance.

How To Get Rid Of Water Stain On Your Car Exterior

Swirl marks and scratches are the results of improper methods of removing water stains. While swirl marks happen during cleaning and detailing, it’s actually the products and tools used that does the damage. For example, using dirty wash mitts or sponge is one culprit since even the tiniest dirt trapped in those can cause fine scratches. Another reason behind swirl marks are dirty wax or polish applicator or dirty microfiber cloth.

If you’re very meticulous when it comes to cleaning or detailing your automobile, you may want to at least do the washing yourself. This way, you can be sure that everything you’re using aren't dirty which can be hard to do for car washing stations since they’re handling a lot of cars and changing cleaning materials for each car would be a bit impractical.

Another cause would be removing missed patches with a drying cloth. It happens to the best of us: you rinse your car, only to find you’ve missed a bit. But, instead of reaching for the cleaning cloth (the recommended solution), you attack the spot with your drying cloth – a big no-no. By rubbing a mucky mark with a dry cloth, you’ll effectively work the dirt into the paint, or at the very least cause a stubborn swirl mark. Remember – never clean your car with a dry cloth.

Now, if you’re still getting those swirl marks even when you’ve made sure the cleaning cloths and applicators are clean, the problem could be your car’s surface itself. If your paintwork has embedded contaminants, polishing the surface and waxing it will only drag those harmful particles round and round, thereby creating those nasty swirls. This is where prepping your paintwork prior to waxing and polishing becomes very crucial. Start by running your fingers along the body of the car, if it’s smooth all throughout then you’re good to go. If not, grab a clay bar and special lubricant and then move the bar in a back-and-forth motion (without exerting pressure) to remove embedded particles. When the clay gets dirty, you fold it to reveal the clean surface and continue. After your vehicle is done, the paintwork should feel as smooth as glass.

Causes Of Water Stains

Mineral And Dirt Deposits

Mineral and dirt deposits comprise the first category of water stains. These are mostly a result of trace minerals present in rain, sprinkler systems or in the car cleaning water, which remains to your vehicle exterior surface when it is washed but not dried off.

Corrosive Liquids

This type of water stains refers to etchings or craters that appear in the paint due to some corrosive liquids such as air con water discharge coming in contact with the car surface, which can lead to deterioration of the car paint and even the lacquer.

Ways To Remove Water Stain Properly

Wash It Thoroughly

People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage or imperfections like swirl marks from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, bird poop and water. When left unattended for an extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean. 

Seek Car Polishing

Polishing is one of the most misunderstood paint care procedures and as a result many individuals skip this important step. Polish is an abrasive compound, which, when worked into the paint using the hand or a polisher, shaves off imperfections of the paint. It levels out the surface and makes it smooth, thereby preparing it for the next step of applying wax or paint sealant. If you wax without polishing the surface first, not only will the paint look dull, but you will also notice that the wax layer will wear off quicker than usual. So ultimately it is a huge waste of your time and resources. Because polish is abrasive as mentioned above, it is important to master polishing techniques especially if you are using a rotary buffer, or you risk burning right through the paint.

Apply Wax

Once you’ve polished all the areas you need to and you’re happy that you’ve removed all the polish, you can wax your car. This will protect the paintwork against water stain and future damage and give you a beautiful shiny finish which can last up to 12 months. It takes time to apply as you need to apply in small amounts and buff but your patience will be rewarded with a brand new and shiny looking car.

Why It’s Best To Leave Your Car Detailing To The Experts

People like to DIY whenever they can, but there are things that are best left to the experts. While some areas of car detailing can definitely be DIY-ed easily, you’d still want to see a professional the rest.

Getting your car groomed professionally is how you keep your car looking pristine from inside out. It’s understandable that it’d be hard to squeeze in car detailing as regularly as you should when you’re busy, but whenever you can then might as well take advantage of  the car grooming service that are widely available in Singapore. If you drive on poor conditions a lot, like when it’s rainy or on rough roads you have to get it done more often than once a week. Doing so can do you a lot more favor than you’d expect.

Proper Techniques And Tools

Detailing a car is a meticulous task. The tiniest dust or dirt that sticks on the paint can get in the way of a smooth finish. This is just one of the things that seems like an easy thing to take care of but can actually be overlooked easily, especially if you’re not used to this kind of task. But with professionals who do this for a living, and are trained to do this properly as well as knowledgeable with the right tools and techniques to ensure a smooth finish, they can do it, with careful precision, basically in their sleep because it’s already second nature to them.

Potential To Save Money

People assume that going DIY always saves money, but it may surprise you that that’s not always the case. Unless you are specifically skilled with auto detailing and servicing, where you’re sure you won’t have to redo it, make a mistake, or waste materials with trial and error, then you’d save more money it you seek a professional for the job.

Time

DIY-ing will consume a lot of your time, whether or not you are skilled in automobile grooming. But if you haven’t done this before, there is a big chance this t

ask will not only take you days to finish on your own considering you’ll have to invest on the tools as well as research on proper execution, but there’s also a fair chance you might screw it up and do it all over again. But if you let an expert do this job, you’re not only sure it will be done perfectly and quickly but you won’t have to put your daily routine and tasks on hold.

Improved Customer Service

Like any service provider, they always work towards customer satisfaction and try to exceed their customer expectation because when customers are happy then it’s good for business. Therefore taking your vehicle to professional car detailing and servicing not only guarantee a job well done but they can also give you tips to properly care and clean your newly detailed car.

Keeping Your Car Clean Ensures Your Safety While On The Road Too

If the rest of the benefits of professional car detailing doesn’t matter to you, this one should. Driving doesn’t seem like a life-threatening activity because you’re essentially just going from one place to another. But the thing is that, car accidents ranked as the 9th leading cause of death worldwide according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, so you shouldn’t take driving too lightly. This is because not a lot of people underestimated the value of running a car check before hitting the road. But also because people underestimate dirt on the windshield alone can affect your visibility while driving which can lead to an accident. Even a problem as simple as this can turn into a seriously dangerous mishap when you’re in the middle of the road, especially a busy one.  What more a crack or a more serious blemish? This is why it’s important that you take your car on a regular maintenance and car detailing to make sure you avoid this.

You Can Rest Assured That It’s Been Thoroughly Cleaned Which Means Avoiding Illness

Whether you accept it or not, billions of creatures we can’t see lurks around your car like germs and allergens. And that’s even after you just had a car wash, so how much more if you're the type who hardly ever do car wash and just waits for rain to kind of do the job for you? (I know this sounds ridiculous but people like this truly exist!) Letting dust, dirt or debris accumulate in your vehicle for a long time is not good because your body absorbs that in one form or another. This practically means you’re slowly putting your health in jeopardy especially if you get sick easily. So if you’ve had the chronic cough or cold, try taking your car to a detailer more regularly and you’d be amazed how the coughing and sneezing starts to fade away.

Things Your Car Encounter Daily That Can Damage Its Paint Job

Paint doesn't just give color to your car and make it look like new, but it also protects it from premature rusting and corrosion. This is why it is very important to protect your paint from things that causes premature damage and fades it sooner than it should like ultra-violet rays, chemicals, and natural pollutants. More importantly, car repainting can be expensive! The thing is, sometimes it’s not those things that causing damages on the paint but the car owners mistakes and carelessness.

If you don’t like to spend a huge amount of money trying to fix your car’s paint, then better do a better job at protecting your car’s paint and watch out for these everyday things that could lead to serious paint job damage like nasty blistering and rusting as well as a huge car repair bill.

Splatter Bugs

Splattered flying bugs and car fronts just seem to go together, especially during the summer.  Those dead bugs might appear harmless, but they actually can do serious damage to your vehicle’s paint due to their bodies’ acidity.  Not removed immediately, bug body imprints can actually become etched permanently into the top layers.  Experts advise washing them off right away using a bug and tar remover, soft wash cloth and old-fashioned elbow grease.

Bird Droppings

Parking in a covered lot or a spot with shade is good as it keeps your car away from direct sunlight that can damage your paint job. However, if the shade that you can find is under a tree, forget it. You’d be risking bird droppings and that can be just as damaging. This is why you should have a car cover in your trunk at all times.

Coffee And Soda

People tend to use the roof of their car as a table and puts drinks on it that often lead to spills. Coffee and soda contains acid in them, spilling them on your car’s paint can definitely cause damage. So start kicking this habit from now on.

Sunlight

While you may not have to worry about slippery roads driving which can be dangerous, it’s the heat of your car that you should be worried about when the sun is out. This is why aside from preparing thick towels to place on the seats, and windshield cover, it’s also important to try to park your car in the shade as much as possible and invest in paint protection especially in such a sunny country like Singapore. Unless you’re fine with your car paint blistering and peeling as well as premature fading and cracking of your car interior.

Small Stones And Rocks

You might want to avoid driving on rough roads if possible since small stones or rocks may hit the surface of your ride which can result to scratches. Or if there’s no other route, just drive more carefully.

Things That You Can Do To Keep Your Paint From Fading

Paint doesn’t just give color to your car and make it look like new, but it also protects it from premature rusting and corrosion. This is why it is very important to protect your paint from things that fades it sooner than it should like ultra-violet rays, chemicals, natural pollutants, careless application of car polish and wax and abrasions.

· Know What The Causes Of Paint Fading Are

When you know what’s causing your paint to fade, you’ll be able to keep it from it accordingly. If you know the cause, you’ll find a better solution.

· Cover Your Car Whenever You’re Parked Outside

Though it’s highly discouraged to park your car outside, sometimes there isn’t really a choice. But if you have a car cover this would at least keep anything from being in direct contact on your paint.

· Park Under A Shade

If there’s a tree nearby it would be great to park under it. However, there’s a high risk you’ll come back to your car with a bird poop on it. Just make sure you’re carrying a microfiber towel to wipe it off and then clean it once you get home.

· As Much As Possible Make Sure To Have A Garage At Home

Well, this shouldn’t be an option but a non-negotiable. Parking your car outdoors at all times is exposing it from natural pollutants as well as theft.

· Get A Covered Carport In The Absence Of A Garage

In case your house is too small to have a garage, you can always rent a covered carport. The idea is to have your car parked in a secure space while it stowed.

· Regular Car Wash Helps

Weekly car wash is highly recommended, but if you drive on rough roads or anywhere your vehicle is exposed to all these kinds of chemicals you should wash more often than that.

· Apply Car Paint Protection

Another thing that you can do is take your car to your trusted car grooming shop and have a car paint protection applied on it. This will serve as a protective barrier between the paint and any particles.

· Drive Carefully To Avoid Scratches And Dents

Keep your speed to a minimum, not only that speeding consumes more gas but it also puts you in risk of accidents. When it comes to accidents, no car paint protection can keep your car from damage.