Auto detailing

Auto detailing (UK: Car valeting), is the performance of an extremely thorough cleaning, polishing and waxing of an automobile, both inside and out, to produce a show-quality level of detail. Besides improving appearance, detailing helps to preserve resale value of a car.

Today, the United States may have more than 50,000 detailers in operation.^{[citation needed]} Some are franchisees of national auto detailing chains. Many have no actual business address, instead working as mobile operators or in vacant parking lots.^[1] Detailing/valeting can be practiced for personal satisfaction, and it is also performed to prepare a car for car shows that feature the appearance of cars.

Components of detailing

Exterior detailing

Exterior detailing involves cleaning and bringing a shine to the car's paint, chrome trim, windows, wheels, and tires. Different detailers use different products to do this, including detergents, detail clay, waxes, polishes, and a variety of applicators and special cloths.

The three main components of exterior car detailing are cleaning, polishing, and protecting. Cleaning refers to removing all foreign surface particles from exterior surfaces through the use of washing and claying. A clay bar helps to clean contamination/dirt from within the clearcoat that cannot be removed through weekly washing such as bugs, tar, sap, etc. Correcting refers to using mechanical polishes by hand or with a machine and specific polishing pads that remove micrometres of clearcoat from a vehicle to remove fine scratches and swirls from a paint surface produced from improper washing or drying technique. Protecting involves the application of a protective wax (in liquid or paste form) that prevents foreign matter from adhering to the surface of the vehicle, including water, bugs splatter, tar, and dirt. Waxes and sealants provide this barrier against the elements. Waxes are some of the most expensive elements of the detailing process.

Interior detailing

Interior detailing involves cleaning the passenger compartment of the car. All of the dash area, panels, windows, and seats are cleaned extensively. Vacuuming is standard,^[1] and steam cleaning, liquid cleaners, and brushes may be used to remove stains on upholstery. Some nonporous surfaces may also be polished. Some detailers remove seats to provide the most thorough clean possible.

Engine detailing

Some detailers may offer engine detailing, in which steam, high pressure water, degreasers and all-purpose cleaners are used to clean under the hood of the car.

Detailing does not include body work, painting, mechanical or upholstery repair.

See also

• Automotive restoration
• Car wash

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Auto Detailing: Secrets Of The Experts". Web-cars.com. 2007-10-21. http://www.web-cars.com/detail/business.php. Retrieved 2010-07-13. 

External links

• Car Washing Techniques at Wikibooks