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.