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.

Dont let this happen to your car

Here in Gainesville Florida the conditions for maintaining your car’s paint can be worse than a lot of other places.  This is due to the constant UV rays that are blasting your car’s paint as well as the rubber, leather, plastic, and vinyl.  The suns harmful rays can damage the automobile’s look very fast if the car is not properly maintained.  Gainesville Detailing advises that the car be washed and cleaned inside at least every two weeks.  This will prevent harmful bugs, acid rain, or any other contaminants from bonding to the paint and causing damage.  A full detail is recommended every 3-4 months.  Your particular vehicle may require this more or less frequently depending on how often it is used and the conditions that it comes into contact with. For instance someone who only drives the vehicle a few times a week and keeps it in the garage the majority of the time will not need to get their car detailed with wax and carpet shampooing as much as someone who commutes to work 50 miles a day and lives on a dirt road.   One of the biggest paint destroyers that Florida has is the “Love Bug”.  If left on a automobiles surface these little pests can and will eat through the clear coat and start damaging the paint.  This can happen in a very short period of time.  This is why you should not wait to get a car wash done after a long trip or if you notice any bugs starting to accumulate.

then  you don’t need it waxed.  If it does not bead up like the above picture then you should consider getting it waxed to protect the vehicles paint and clear coat.