often we are asked what is involved when performing a detail service on a car. Many people know what a detail is, but just as many do not and don’t fully understand what the difference between a detail and a car wash is.

Most people either wash their own cars or at least run it through a car wash. Gainesville Detailing never recommends the later of the two and recommends to only hand wash. A detail service is a thorough top to bottom cleaning and protecting of the vehicles interior and exterior surfaces. A car wash will get your vehicle fairly clean and that is actually the first step to a full detail. When we speak of a detail service, Gainesville Detailing means a thorough cleaning and protecting of the vehicle. The difference between a detail and car wash is the fact that the detail service cleans and protects areas a normal car wash won’t get to.

Having your vehicle regularly serviced with a full detail at least three times per year will keep most vehicles spotless. This schedule and frequency should be adjusted for the conditions the vehicle encounters on an average day. In Gainesville, Florida the sun beats down relentless and there are a lot of trees that give off pollen. We are also know for the Lovebug, which destroys more paint jobs every year than any other animal on the planet. If the vehicle is kept in a garage and washed fairly regularly then it will only need to be detailed every three months. If it is left outside and not washed often, then it will need to get a full detail much more often. Without giving your vehicle a full detail there is really no way to uncover problem areas that will go unnoticed with a regular car wash.

A full detail service will get areas cleaned that washing alone and wipedowns don’t get. Weatherstripping is cleaned and conditioned, all of the door seals and trunk seals are cleaned and conditioned. Every nook and cranny is go over with a brush, solution, and clean rag prior to applying protectant. During a full detail all metal is not only cleaned and washed but also polished to a high shine. Wheel well areas are scrubbed down and blacked out, not just the rim and tire. All of the interior carpets and cloth is shampooed and steam cleaned prior to having fabric protectant applied. Any leather is also cleaned and conditioned. The exterior will also be waxed when having a full detail.

Today we were presented with a vehicle that had heavy oxidation on the paintjob.   One of the skills we have is removing oxidation from a car.  Yes the kind where your hand looks like you just wiped down a chalkboard after touching the car.

The car in question was a four door Mazda Protege.  The customer had been advised that this could not be done with detailing alone and that they may need to get a new paintjob!  No way this can definitely be taken care of.

We spoke with the customer and explained the process that would be needed to bring the paint back on the car. First we washed the entire car head to tow using a soft microfiber wash mitt. Special attention was given to the front end to make sure all bugs were properly removed.  Bugs you ask?  But its cold why are there so many bugs on the car.  Well in Florida the temperature is still in the eighties with no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Now on to removing the oxidation from the car.

We did a clay bar treatment to the automotives paint to remove any contaminants that may have bonded to the surface and beyond.  The work was performed in small square sections to ensure no spot was left untouched.  Next after a complete clay bar the car was polished.  We used a medium grade polishing compound with only minor abrasives.

This procedure is one of the most important in removing oxidation from a cars paint.

Special attention was paid to the top surfaces of the car.  Car hood, car trunk, car roof.   The excess is removed with a soft microfiber before it dries.   Make sure you remove the excess compound to ensure you are removing oxidation from the vehicle and not leaving residue behind.  After this we washed the car again to remove any last remaining bits of cleaner that may have been missed.  After thoroughly drying the car we began the waxing process.   A nice application of pure caranuba wax was applied.  The wax was applied in sections and buffed off with a microfiber making sure to use the same motion and direction that was used while applying the wax.  After this the windows were polished and the tires and trim were dressed.  The customer was satisfied and the best part was she did not have to get a new paint job.  We hope you enjoyed our article on removing oxidation from a car.  This is not the only way to do it nor the preferred method for each situation.  Remember that each car and situation may require different methods or chemicals.

Gainesville Detailing has put together a good guide here on how to properly do a complete exterior detail.  Here are some tips for you to prevent your paint from getting damaged on your vehicle.  First you need to make sure your car’s paint is completely free of blemishes.  This does not mean that every existing scratch and ding needs to be fixed.  While it is great to have no scratches or dings on an automobile its highly unlikely if the car is more than a couple years old.  The first step is to wash the car properly.   You will want to either wash the car in the early morning or late afternoon, and preferably in the shade.  The reason we want to wash at those times is it is the cooler parts of the day.  Washing in direct sunlight or in the middle of the day makes it a lot easier to leave water spots from the water being dried by the sun.  Sometimes in Gainesville it gets so hot that you can actually watch the water evaporate as you are rinsing down the vehicle to be washed.  Now that we have our proper time and spot picked out we can begin the washing process.

To properly wash the car you need to first start with clean wash bucket.  Any existing dirt or debris in the bucket can cause minor surface scratches that we do not want.  Next will the bucket with the proper concentration of wash to water.  You will find out what the proper concentration needs to be by referring to the manufacturers instructions.  One of the most important things is the next step.  You have to use a clean wash mitt or sponge.  Microfiber wash mitts are preferred and they will not harm the paint at all.  You have to be very careful to not let the sponge touch anything but the car.  If the wash mitt hits the ground then put it to the side and start with a fresh one.  It is better to start over than have to spend hours polishing the scratches that you put in your automobiles paint.  Now we are ready to wash the car.

We have our clean mit, and a fresh bucket of car wash solution.  Start by rinsing the car completely.  Do not try to cut corners and just quickly spray it down.  You have to make sure that you thoroughly rinse all of the loose dirt, leaves, and bugs that you can.   Try to soak the heavy bug areas more.  This will make it easier when we get to actually washing the car.  If you have a lot of bugs on your car then you may want to consider using a bug/tar remover.   Apply bug/tar remover to where the bugs are on your car and let it sit for a couple minutes. Now we can begin washing the car.

We will work from top to bottom washing the car in sections.  It is usually best to section it out into fourths on either side of the car.  Now you can start to wash the car in sections so that the wash mitt can be rinsed in a clean bucket of water to prevent dirt and debris from scratching the paint.  Remember that each time you wash and rinse a section you also rinse in the rinse bucket then place the sponge/mitt into the wash solution.   Doing this will greatly reduce the amount of any debris that may be in the wash mitt.  After the car is thoroughly washed we will then begin to dry the vehicle.  We recommend using some form of squeegee that will remove about 80% of the water.  This allows you to use a microfiber drying towel to get any of the leftover water, and wipe down the door jambs.  Wiping down the door jambs is often one of the most overlooked parts but it is also one of those things that when done can really make the car look a lot better.  Now that the car is dry we can begin the first step in really making it look good.

What you will need is a good quality clay bar and some lubricant.  Any of the quick detailing sprays works great with the clay bar.  Some may be asking why would i use a clay bar on my car?  The clay bar which was once a secret used only by professional detailers can now be purchased by consumers as well.  What the clay does is it removes any remaining surface contaminants that may be bonded to you car.   Many of these contaminants cannot even be seen with the naked eye.  As the clay removes the oxidation, and other contaminants it sticks to the clay.  What you will want to do is spray the surface to get the clay bar treatment.  We will be doing the entire car but it is very important to work in small sections to ensure that you don’t miss a spot and that the clay does not get dry.  Now that the surface to be treated has lubricant on it you will begin to rub the clay back and forth.  You will be able to tell once the clay is done doing its work because it will glide across your paint very easily and will be smooth as glass.  You do not want to apply a lot of pressure while doing the back and forth motion.  It is very important that you let the clay do the work.  If it seems that its not working reapply lube and repeat because this means you have hit a really bad patch of contamination and you will want to get that off of the paint.  The key is to work in small sections no bigger than two feet by two feet and make sure you keep the area lubricated and do not consider an area finished unless the clay slides across the automobiles finish like glass.  The contamination that is removed cannot be removed by normal washing waxing and or polishing.  The clay bar is a very important step do not forget to do this.

To remove surface scratches, swirls you will need to polish the car after treating the exterior with the clay bar.  Polishing will remove those pesky little swirl marks and small scratches and will also restore shine to a paint job that may need it in areas.  Using a random orbital buffer is the easiest and fastest way to properly polish your car.  Make sure you use a high quality polishing pad as well as polishing compound.   Cutting any corners in this step could result in damage being done to your vehicle.  Follow the directions for the type of buffer and polishing compound you are using and you should have no problems.  A good rule of thumb is less is more, becuase if you apply too much pressure then you may run the risk of messing up the cars clear coat.  Now that the paint is completely contaminant free and void of most of the scratch and other blemishes it’s time to really bring the shine out of it.

To really protect the paint we want to use a high quality paint sealer that will add a really good layer of protection to prevent damage being done to the paint.  Apply the sealer according to the manufacturers guidelines.  After you are done sealing the paint you will want to apply a high quality caranuba wax.  The wax will really bring the shine out and you should have a deep glossy finish to you vehicle that is smoothe to the touch.

There are lots of other minor things that can be done along the way, but if you stick to this routine you should be fine.  We will be adding additional sections to Gainesville Detailings Blog to make sure that we cover all the areas of detailing.  Check back often as we update our site weekly.

The best way to ensure you are receiving the best car wash for the money you spend is to do research first.  A little research into your local car wash an detail companies can pay off big dividends in the end.  Call around to a few different car washes and detail places in town.  Remember a few things to ask them when you call.  First off call a fee places in town and see what each package at the car wash or detail center offers. Different places use different lingo to describe similar services.  The same package could be called a full detail, presidential, the works, deluxe etc. After figuring out what type of package you want ask them how they perform the service.   Some places are just a standalone car wash.   This means you take your vehicle to their facility and they wash it while you wait. Other companies offer a mobile detailing service.  Mobile detailing services offer the convenience that most big car wash centers can’t.  With a mobile detail service you can have your vehicle washed while you continue on about your day.  Another important thing to consider when trying to get the best value for your car wash is “what type of products do they use”.   Not all car care products are equal.  There is a big difference in the types of products used.  Professional detailing and car wash products are much better than your average store bought products.   Lastly google the company and see if there are any customers that have reviewed the business.  If you use these simple tips when trying to decide which car wash or detail company to go with you can save a lot of money and wasted time.

Right around the corner are some great savings on both a car wash and a detail.  Look for the mini mint as well as other publications that will have coupons to save you money.  Gainesville Detailing  is always looking for ways to help keep money in our customers pockets.  Look out for our coupons and take an opportunity to save on what’s already the most affordable high quality car care in Gainesville.

Getting your car washed or detailed in Gainesville Florida does not have to cost you a few days pay.  Why take your car to a big car wash on the corner when you can get the same service for less. Yes they are fast but they often do a poor job and you have to wait on them.  We come to your location and give your car the quality care it deserves.  This way you juat sit back relax and continue your day while we wash and detail it.  We include many things most others don’t.   We always clean the cracks/crevices and clean and protect any vinyl, plastic, rubber and leather anytime we vacuum.

This is an article taken from the www.msn.com website which gives a good and throrough explanation of how maintaining a vehicle appearance can be one of the biggest factors in holding its value.  Remember we clean both the outside inside and can degrease the engine which should be done in order to maintain a nice clean vehicle.

Summer is getting into full swing now and the sun and rain will get your vehicle dirty quick. Make sure to keep your vehicle clean by getting a car wash or detail if it needs a nice coat of wax to go on it.  Rain is not an excuse to not wash your car.  While your waiting out the rain, the bugs, acid rain, and any other type of contaminants are busy working away at the clear coat and paint on the vehicle.  Here is a great article on how to prevent love-bugs from causing damage to your car.  Taking your car to a detail shop in Gainesville can get expensive, just call around and get some quotes.  We offer the same service as the big guys on the corner for a better value.  Not only will you get quality attention paid to you car but it will look the best because it was done by the best.