How often should I detail my car?

  • May 16, 2022
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This is a question that we get asked a lot, and unfortunately, there is no easy answer. It depends on several factors, such as how often you drive your car, where you live, and what kind of condition your car is in.

If you live in an area with lots of traffic and pollution or have to park your car outdoors, you’ll probably need to detail it on a regular basis. On the other hand, if you only drive your car on weekends and keep it in a garage, you can probably get away with detailing it less often.

We recommend detailing your car at least once a year as a general rule of thumb. But if you can do it more often, then even better! Regular detailing will help keep your car looking its best, and it can also help protect the paintwork and interior from the elements.

What Does a Car Detailing Include?

Car detailing involves a thorough cleaning of the vehicle. It is more than just a regular wash, as both the outside and the inside of the car are deeply cleaned to remove all the dirt and grime that has accumulated since the last wash.

Typically, detailing a car includes several services. At most dealerships and repair shops, basic detailing includes interior shampooing, exterior washing and polishing (which usually includes cleaning the windows and mirrors), tire etching (a product applied to tires to make them look shiny and new) and sometimes engine shampooing. More in-depth detailing may also include clay treatments, scratch and minor touch-ups.

Touchless Hand Car Wash

A touchless hand car wash is a type of deep cleaning that does not require brushes or other scrubbing implements. Instead, high-pressure water jets are used to remove dirt and road salt from the car’s surface. This type of car wash is considered safe for all types of paint finishes, including clear coats. It doesn’t leave any water spots after the entire vehicle cleaning. 

Exterior Detailing

Exterior detailing involves thoroughly cleaning and polishing the outside of the car. This includes washing the bodywork, wheel, windows, and mirrors. It may also involve clay barring (a process whereby a clay bar is used to remove bonded contaminants from the paintwork) and polishing and waxing.

Interior Detailing

Interior detailing involves thoroughly cleaning the inside of the car. This includes shampooing the carpets and upholstery, cleaning seats, dashboard and center console, and wiping down all the hard surfaces. It may also involve applying a conditioner to the leather upholstery.

Cut Polishing

Cut polishing is a type of polishing used to remove scratches and swirl marks from the paintwork. This is usually done by machine, using a rotating polishing pad and a special cutting compound.

Finish Application

After the car’s exterior has been cleaned and polished, an extra layer of protection can be applied. This is typically in the form of a wax or sealant, which helps to protect the paintwork from dirt, water, and UV rays.

The Less-known Benefits of a Car Detail

The best way to clean your car is to entrust the job to a professional. There is a lot of dirt, food grease, pet hair, cigarette smoke, and more that accumulates inside your car. Ordinary car washes are not equipped to thoroughly clean the interior of a car. Only a qualified car detailer can make the best of your vehicle.

Car detailing has several unique benefits. These include:

1. It is good for your health.

The average Canadian spends about an hour and a half in a car every day. That’s a lot of time spent in an unsafe environment teeming with pathogenic bacteria. Germs affect your car’s air quality, and it’s no news that your car is home to various bacteria from a variety of sources.

Bacteria love damp and dark places – just like your car’s ventilation system – to grow and multiply. Every time you turn on your fans, you expose yourself to this possibly contaminated air. Experts advise maintaining and replacing your cabin air filter as regularly as possible. Cleaning your car will clean all of these hard-to-reach areas and help keep you healthy.

2. It will help you look more professional.

Employers and recruiters aren’t just paying attention to your performance. They pay attention to the entire package: your appearance and the cleanliness of your car included. A dirty car is an absolute no-go job, and that’s unforgivable, no matter how you look. A dirty car can create the wrong image and make a bad impression. Having your car cleaned by an auto detailing expert will help keep the interior respectable, which will earn you points in the eyes of your clients. 

3. It increases the value of your car.

If you want to sell your car, you can’t do without a detailed wash. If cleaning the interior helps, then cleaning the engine of dirt is a surefire way to get good money for your car. Look at car salesmen to see why cleaning under the hood is a very lucrative idea. Buyers will be willing to pay more if they see that your car is in excellent condition.

How Often Should You Detail Your Car?

At Gleamworks Detailing, our service advisors recommend detailed cleaning of your vehicle at least once a year to prevent the accumulation of dirt and soot in the vehicle and the appearance of rodents. But if you can do it more often, then even better! Regular detailing will help keep your car looking its best, and it can also help protect the paintwork and interior from the elements.

In recent times, rodent infestations in cars have become more frequent. In most cases, these rodents are attracted to food scraps or crumbs that may have been left in the vehicle. If you bring your car in for professional detailing, this can be avoided, as food or crumbs trapped in hard-to-reach areas of the car can be removed during the interior steam cleaning.

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