Expert Detailing Advice
Nothing gives a greater sense of satisfaction than cruising in a car that looks shiny and pristine.
Even if your car is not a classic, you can still turn heads on the street if you have taken the time to detail
your vehicle. But for us mere mortals who perhaps clean the car once a month if that, here is some brilliant advice from the pros.
Scratches are the Biggest Enemy!
Prevention is probably the best cure so avoid scratches as much as you possibly can. Scratches tear up the paintwork
and allow other elements to get into the finish and even worse, start attacking the underlying bodywork. More than this,
scratches trap dirt and grime which will act like coarse grade sandpaper when you go to wash the car and it all comes lose
– even the action of sponging the dirt off of the scratched surface may result in more scratching of your bodywork.
The Golden Rule is simply this – make absolutely certain that everything coming into contact with your paintwork is SOFT!
Protect the Car's Finish
Since we have already learned that anything coming in contact with your car should be soft, it really pays to keep the elements
off your vehicle as much as you possibly can. Keeping your vehicle in a garage is really great but if you don’t have one, or there
is car already parked in there, it would be smart to invest in a good quality car cover.
Make sure the cover is fully water proof and also sun-proof – UV rays in
sunlight can penetrate cloth and other materials and just as these rays are harmful to your skin they also very seriously
affect the paint color, particularly red which will fade very quickly to a sickly puce color! Also, be sure that the cover
you choose is non-abrasive and breathable. The Max, for example will provide
superior protection against all the elements, and is incredbly soft so your paint will be protected no matter what.
A Good Coat of Wax
Waxing provides a great glossy look and provides depth to the finish as well as providing additional protection from the sun, rain
and other elements such as bird droppings. Waxing your vehicle will protect the underlying paintwork and keep your vehicle look fantastic
– the more you wax it, the better it will look!
Establish a Detailing Routine
Don't let your car get into a bad state to begin with. If you establish a detailing routine you will catch issues which will adversely
affect the appearance of your finish that much earlier and take remedial action. We've already mentioned bird-droppings for instance;
bird-droppings are highly acidic and if it is left on your paintwork it will very quickly corrode through any wax protection and into
the paint itself – this will discolor the paint as well as weaken the integrity it provides the protection of the underlying metal
bodywork. Regular detailing will stop these issues building up well before they become serious and require much more expensive
restoration and repair work. Better yet, it would be wise to cover your car from the start. If you keep it clean and wax it
and then cover it with a high-quality car cover all your hard work won't go to waste and your car will look beautiful for longer.
No matter what you car you drive, working on your vehicle will be a source of pride and you are guaranteed to turn more than a few
heads when you are next driving down the road in your pride and joy.