Car Detailing - Everything You Need To Know

There is nothing wrong with falling in love with your car. Sometimes, even our cars need to be pampered like a spa treatment like us. A regular car wash only helps with surface cleaning, but detailing is more than just a wash and wax. A full car detailing service goes deep into the cracks and crevices for a thorough cleaning to bring out a shine that is otherwise impossible.

What is car detailing?

Detailing removes all visible and invisible dust, minor scratches, dirt and contaminants from your car’s exterior and interior. It is done in multiple steps to ensure that your vehicle stays new for years. Some detailing services also require half-yearly or yearly maintenance to keep paint protection for longer. It's like giving your car a protective shield against the harsh Indian conditions.

Advantages of car detailing

Professional detailing of cars has several benefits.

• Brand new look: Detailing brings back lost paint shine and protects your car's paint from fading.
• Better resale value: A well-maintained car with a gleaming exterior and spotless interior can improve the resale value of the car..
• Paint protection: Car detailing can include paint protective coatings that shield your car's paint from scratches, UV rays, and harsh weather.
• Better comfort: Deep cleaning of the car interior will remove foul smell, dust, allergens, and stains, ensuring better comfort while driving.
• Preserves the original shine: Regular detailing helps maintain your car's paint finish, preventing premature fade.

Different types of car detailing

There are different types of auto detailing services available according to the scope of work and budget.

• Exterior detailing: Exterior detailing cleans the car from the outside, including tyre dressing.
• Car interior detailing: Interior detailing cleans the car's interior including vacuuming carpets, cleaning the dashboard, dashboard polishing, and cleaning upholstery.
• Complete detailing: A complete detailing deep cleans the interior and exterior of your car.

Exterior car detailing

Thorough, deep cleaning with foam is the first step in exterior detailing. You can also opt for more services in exterior car detailing.

• Waxing: A wax compound is applied on the car’s exterior after washing and drying which makes the surface water repellant.
• Ceramic coating: Ceramic coating is a paint protection coating of 9h hardness grade. It is applied after thoroughly cleaning the car’s painted surfaces, and it protects your car’s paint from minor scratches.
• Graphene coating: Graphene coating is considered a superior paint protection coating because of its higher hardness grade of 10h. It is applied after thoroughly washing and drying the car and protects your car’s paint for two to three years.
• Paint protection film: As the name suggests, the paint protection film is a plastic layer applied to the entire car’s exterior. A PPF acts like a barrier between the painted surface and lasts for up to 5 years.

Interior car detailing

Interior car detailing includes vacuum cleaning of carpets, floor mats, and upholstery. For deep cleaning, dashboard polishing and wet cleaning methods are performed to deliver a fresh cabin experience.

Step-by-step car detailing process

Here are the steps of a general detailing session, which includes thorough washing and cleaning along with an additional package:

1. Pre-wash: A high-pressure water rinse is performed to loosen dirt and grime.
2. Exterior wash: Car wash shampoos or foam is used to clean the exterior panels of the car.
3. Interior cleaning: This step involves interior vacuuming, dashboard polishing, and upholstery treatment.
4. Clay bar: A clay bar is used to remove minute contaminants like tar and iron deposits for a smoother paint finish.
5. Rubbing and buffing: A rubbing compound is applied to the paint to remove any unevenness in the clear coat. Further, polish buffing is performed to enhance the compound’s work, restoring the paint's shine.
6. Coat application: The car’s exterior is now ready for further detailing like waxing, ceramic coating, graphene coating or paint protection film application. These paint protection coatings are used to protect the paint from future damage and come with varying longevity.

Cost of car detailing services

Detailing is a multi-step process and may or may not include additional services as it depends on customer requirements and the vehicle. Luxury car detailing services are generally more expensive than regular cars because specialised materials are used.

Maintenance tips for a detailed car

Keeping up your car's paint shine for longer doesn’t complete with detailing services. There are many car care tips you must follow to keep your car like new.

• Invest in good quality car care products like microfibre cloth, wax compound car shampoo, etc.
• Avoid parking your car under direct sunlight as it damages your car’s paint. Use a car cover or park in the shade when possible.
• Frequently wash your car or get it cleaned professionally at a car washing centre near you.
• Avoid eating and drinking inside the car to prevent any spills and stains on the upholstery.
• Follow your service provider’s guidelines to maintain your paint protection coatings and films for longer.

Tools and products used in car detailing process

Professional detailing requires specified tools and high-quality products to achieve a showroom-like glimmer. Here are the tools and products used by detailers.

• Car shampoos and foam: Car shampoos and foam are specially formulated for car cleaning. They are gentle on paint and effective at removing dirt and grime.
• Microfibre cloths: Microfibre cloths are highly absorbent, soft and lint-free. Microfibre cloths are designed to trap dust and dirt deep within the fibres so as not to scratch the paint.
• Polishing pads: Polishing pads come in different grades and are used at various stages of detailing.
• Clay bars: Clay bars are used to remove stubborn invisible contaminants stuck on the paint, leaving a smooth and clean surface.
• Buff polisher: Buff polisher is a hand-held machine used for buffing the painted surfaces and removing all the irregularities.
• Detailing brushes: Detailing brushes are small brushes that help clean hard-to-reach areas like vents, dashboard creases, and around buttons.
• Paint protection coatings: To keep a car’s paint shining for long, various paint protection coatings are available, including wax, ceramic coating and graphene coating.
• Paint protection film: Paint protection film provides top-of-the-line protection for car paint. It is the best solution for paint protection available today.
• Vacuum cleaner: Car vacuum cleaners are used for different surfaces like floor mats, carpets, leather and fabric upholstery, etc.
• Interior cleaners: Specific cleaners are used to clean different interior surfaces, such as leather, fabric, plastic and glass.

Things to keep in mind while getting your car detailed

As a customer, you should keep many things in mind before going for a detailing service for your car. Many dealers don’t know about their services and might charge you a lot for a specific detailing service.

• Choose a reputable detailer: Check online for the best detailing services for car near you and then, after thoroughly checking all the ratings and reviews, give them a visit.
• Get a quote: Discuss the services you need and clearly understand the pricing structure for your vehicle type. Compare quotes from different detailers and the quality of products they are using.
• Warranty: Paint protection coatings and paint protection films come with warranties, and you should understand the warranty conditions before proceeding with car detailing.

FourDoor car detailing experts advice

Being a professional car detailing expert, here is what you need to understand before getting your car detailed:

• Detailing is an investment: Detailing preserves car aesthetics and paint, which helps the car retain its value.
• Early detailing: Early detailing keeps your car’s paint shining like new. Once your car loses its original shine, it is expensive to bring back the lost shine.
• Communication: Talk to the detailer about your specific needs and what results you're hoping for.
• Expertise: Detailing is a skill-oriented process, and your detailers must employ expert staff to produce excellent results.
• High-quality products: An excellent finish is only achieved by using high-quality products. Low-end products wear off quickly and don’t come with a warranty.

Conclusion

A professional car detailing session will only enhance your gesture of companionship towards it. Detailing will preserve your car’s paint and it will look new for longer. A well-maintained car will hold its value better in the resale market if you decide to upgrade your ride.

FAQs

Q. What makes waxing and polishing different?
Polishing is a light scrub on paint that removes minor scratches and imperfections, restoring the paint's original lustre. Wax is a protective coat applied after polishing to shield your car’s paint from dust and UV rays.

Q. When should I detail my car?
The frequency of car detailing depends on your parking area and usage. If your car is parked in the open, you should get frequent detailing; otherwise, once every six months is a good rule of thumb.

Q. Will deep scratches removed by car detailing?
No, deep scratches cannot be removed by detailing. Detailing can only remove minor scratches and swirl marks. For deeper scratches, you might need a professional paint touch-up or a respray.

Q. Why car detailing is Important?
Car detailing is important because it protects your car’s paint, maintains original lustre, increases resale value, and enhances the driving experience with fresh interiors.

Q. How much time is needed to detail a Car?
The duration of detailing on a car depends on the selected services, such as paint protection coating application and paint protection film application. A typical detailing session takes around two to three days.

Q. Is car detailing different from car washing?
Car washing is a basic shower, and detailing is a spa day for your car. Washing removes dirt and grime from the surface while detailing involves a multi-step process.

• Deep cleaning of both the interior and exterior
• Polishing to remove minor imperfections
• A protective coating or film application for extra shielding
• Treating leather seats and upholstery