Car Detailing Tips: 9 Essential Steps to Car Detailing

February 21, 2012

A checklist of auto detailing tips covering the interior and exterior. Upgrade the look of your vehicle with the following car detailing tips.

A few car detailing tips can help you maintain a good looking car. Getting a professional to detail a car can be pricey. Doing it yourself can be a money saver. In addition, it can be very gratifying once you step away from the car to take in all of your hard work.

There a number of essential steps to car detailing, so let's explore them in order to get you prepared to do a thorough job.

Interior
Car detailing takes place inside the car as well as on the outside. It is best to start with the inside and finish with a clean wash and wax of the outside. Getting that interior clean can cause some dust to kick up. There are five steps to a great interior detail job.

• Vacuuming.Start with the floor mats, carpeting and upholstery. A good vacuum is always needed after some neglect because of the number of things that can be tracked into a car. Dirt collects and gets everywhere. Vacuum under the seats, dash and rear window area. Leave nothing untouched by the vacuum
• Repairs and further cleaning.The rugs may have stains or possibly burns from dropped cigarettes. So some extra work to the rugs and seating may be required. Foamy cleaners are good for stains, but be careful not to cause any mildewy smells. A rug burn may need to be cut out and replaced with a piece from a spot not seen by the eye. To get that new piece to stick, make sure to use a strong and water-resistant adhesive
• Hard surfaces.If you have leather seats or a vinyl dash, then cleaning is something you always need to do to get the most out the car's look. Always remember that vinyl and leather are different, so they require different cleaners and conditioners
• Dashboard. The various buttons, like the radio, present a great place for dust to collect. This area also presents one of the biggest challenges. There are two ways to get at those detailed areas that make up the dash and they arecotton swabs and a small can of compressed air. Both of these have their advantages, so find the best thing for your car
• Interior glass and plastic gauge lenses. It is important to stay on top of cleaning these areas because they affect the overall look and the view from the inside. As the car ages, the glass can develop a look that is not exactly clear, so a good glass cleaner will be your top priority. Watch the streaking

Exterior
The first thing you notice is the outside of your car as you walk up to it. Weather and other elements play havoc on a car's exterior, so let's look at the four steps to a great outside detail.

• A good wash.Start with an overall wash of the car. Dirt will collect even more in certain places, such as the lower part of the car near the tires. Use a dependable car cleaning soap, a water hose with a good flow and finish it off by drying with a terry cloth or piece of chamois leather
• Wheels.Give the wheels, including the wells, hub caps and tire, a good scrub and polish. This will require getting down there and giving this area a thorough clean. Use only approved brushes, cleaners and polish for this area
• Dents, scratches and nicks.After the car is dry, give it a look over in order to find any noticeable damage. Certain scratches may be easily cleaned and repaired. If there is something that needs more attention, then a professional may be needed
• The final polish. A good waxing or polishing is needed to give the car that shiny, clean look. Even the plastic chrome needs a good waxing. A great waxing can protect the car's paint and give it long-lasting potential. Be aware of what goes on what when doing this step. The tires need a different polish than the hood

(from: http://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/9-essential-steps-to-car-detailing)