Car Exterior Detailing – A Multi-Step Process
Car detailing is a multi-step process that goes beyond just washing. Detailers use specialty products to apply surface protectants like paint sealants and ceramic coatings. Always work indoors or in the shade, and ensure all surfaces are cool to the touch. This will prevent premature chemical degradation and water spots. Click here at https://www.perthdetailer.com.au/ for expert services.
Washing
A good detailing job includes a thorough cleaning of all exterior components, including the wheels, tires, and door jambs. It also involves washing the interior, vacuuming the carpeting and mats, cleaning all glass, and scrubbing the dashboard and console. Professional car detailers often use a degreaser to eliminate stubborn dirt and grime. They also clean the engine bay and headlights, which helps maintain performance.
Unlike a typical car wash, a detailing job starts with thoroughly rinsing the vehicle. This not only removes the loose dirt, rock, bug splatter, and pollen that can cause scratching, but it also exposes any surface issues that may be present. This step can also include a clay bar treatment to remove impurities and contaminants that regular detergents can’t.
Once the dirt has been rinsed off, a detailed car is then washed using quality car wash soap and a low pH level. This is done with a wash mitt and clean water to prevent the risk of scratching or damaging the paint finish.
After the washing is complete, the detailing technician may then use a wax or protectant on all surfaces. This process can also include applying a clear coat to reduce the sun’s harmful UV rays that can fade paint and promote oxidation.
Keeping your car in tip-top shape is important to maintaining its value and safety. A thorough car detailing service can help keep the paint in pristine condition, minimize surface scratches, and extend the life of your vehicle.
When you choose to have your car detailed, make sure that the company is experienced and knows how to perform each process to ensure the best results. They should also know how to work with a wide range of vehicles and be able to tailor the service to each one. This way, you can be confident that your vehicle will leave the shop looking its best and feeling brand new.
Clay Bar Removal
Your car is constantly exposed to microscopic particles of dirt, road grime, bird droppings, industrial fallout, and more that stick to the paint surface. Even with regular washing and waxing, these contaminants can remain trapped in the paint and dull its appearance over time. A clay bar removes these stuck-on contaminants without scratching the paint.
When used in conjunction with a good decontamination product, a clay bar can create a truly stunning finish on your vehicle’s paint. A clay bar is a soft, pliable material that’s designed to pick up and pull away the contaminants embedded in your paint. A clay bar doesn’t have any abrasives, unlike sandpaper or other rubbing compounds that can scratch the paint. It’s important to use a quality detailing clay bar and work only one body panel at a time so you don’t drop the clay on the ground and scratch your paint.
A clay bar is also a great choice for the textured and porous surfaces on your vehicle, like wheel wells, rocker panels, bumpers, mirrors, and more. A clay bar will clean these textured areas as well as the smooth painted surfaces.
To use a clay bar, you’ll need some sort of lubrication on your hands and the surface you’re working on. Spray a small amount of detailer or clay lubricant on the surface you’re working on and then rub the clay across it. Keep re-spraying the bar with the lubricant as it gets dirty. Once the clay is clean and feels smooth, fold it over and use it on the next area you’re cleaning.
Lastly, you can use a clay bar to remove stubborn contaminants from the black plastic trim and rubber on your car. To do this, spray a little car plastic restorer onto a microfiber towel and rub it into the textured or porous surfaces on your car.
Many of these contaminants are too microscopic to see with the naked eye, but they can still do a lot of damage over time. They can block fresh wax from adhering to the surface, cause polish and wax to oxidize faster, and prevent light from reflecting off of the clear coat as it should. Using a clay bar to remove these embedded contaminants will help your car look cleaner and maintain its value.
Paint Decontamination
Car decontamination is a crucial step in the detailing process. The goal of decontamination is to remove all of the contaminants, fallout, and debris from your vehicle’s paint surface so that it will be ready for a new layer of protection (wax, sealant, or coating). This step ensures that all of the products will bond to a clean and healthy-looking surface. Depending on the level of contamination, there may be some mechanical or chemical decontamination needed.
The first stage of car decontamination is usually the ‘decon wash’, which will help to remove some of the more harmful and ingrained contaminants. This stage will typically include the use of a product such as iron removal or tar remover. These products will be sprayed on the surface of your paint and then rubbed in with an applicator or sponge to break down these contaminants and make them easier to wash off the car.
After the decon wash, it is a good idea to do a full decontamination using either a clay bar or clay mitt. This step will remove the bonded contaminants, which are often found in areas where bugs have hit the body or where there is a build-up of tar and asphalt. It is also a great time to get rid of any contaminants on the glass and chrome as well.
Clay bars and clay mitts can be bought at your local auto parts store. They are inexpensive, and you can get them in various sizes, including 100-gram and 200-gram packs. You will also need a product such as a clay lubricant, which can be purchased online and at most auto parts stores.
After the decontamination is complete, it is a good idea to take care of any exterior plastic trim by spraying a product onto an applicator pad and then rubbing it into all of the exterior plastics of your vehicle. This will not only make the plastics look much better, but it will also lubricate them, which can prevent them from seizing up and needing replacement.
Paint Sealant
The last step in the exterior car detailing process is to protect your work by applying a coat of wax or sealant. There are many products to choose from ranging from traditional carnauba waxes, which have been the industry standby for decades, to high-tech ceramic coatings and synthetic paint sealants.
You can also select a product based on the level of shine you desire. Some sealants offer a high-gloss finish that will grab attention while others have more of a satin finish, which is perfect for some owners who want to avoid glare and keep the appearance more subtle. The environment you live in will also play a role in how often you need to re-apply the sealant.
Once you’ve applied your product of choice, you should allow it to cure for about a week before driving the vehicle again. At this point, it will be protected from harmful UV rays and the chemicals in road salt, bug splatter, tree sap, and bird droppings. It will also be resistant to water spots, smudges, and other common automotive contaminants.
Before you apply your car wax or sealant, make sure the surface is free of any contamination like tar, bug splatter, or other contaminants. Then, follow the application instructions for your chosen product to ensure a clean, streak-free finish.
There are both solvent-based and water-based car waxes and sealants, so read the product’s description to determine what type of finish you need for your vehicle. Solvent-based products will require a respirator and a well-ventilated area because they will release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air as they evaporate. Water-based products, on the other hand, will not release any VOCs into the air and can be used in any indoor area.
Before you apply your paint protection product, it’s a good idea to clean the plastic trim and windows again with a degreaser. If the plastic trim has become dull and brittle over time, you can give it new life. Simply spray the product on a microfiber applicator pad and wipe it over the plastics, then buff the plastics with another clean towel.