Brand New Again: Auto Detailing Will Restore Your Car's Inner and Outer Beauty

We all crave that "new car" smell, that excited feeling we had when we drove that new vehicle off the lot and out into the world. People have even tried recreating this experience by developing that very smell into a "new car" scented air freshener. However, when forging through the elements and traffic for many months and thousands of miles, problems develop that an air freshener just can't fix. How can you keep your prized possession looking as good as the day you bought it? The answer lies in auto detailing.

Taking good care of your car is important for many reasons. In areas of the country where the weather seasons are polarized and extreme, these adverse weather conditions can wreak havoc upon a paint job. It is up to the car owner to maintain the vehicle and keep its resale value high. Most new car owners know to take maintenance seriously in a mechanical sense; they take their car to a professional mechanic for tune-ups, oil changes and tire rotations. However, if you want your car's cosmetic appearance to be well maintained, auto detailing work is necessary. Just washing your car regularly will not protect its exterior from all the hazards of the road. Forces such as road tar, acid rain, tree sap, bird waste and insect residue will strip your car of its sleek finish. On the inside of your car, you are your own worst enemy. Spill, stains, dirt and grit brought in by yourself will lower your car's value day by day if not addressed with shampoos and cleaning services.

An auto detailing job is meant to clean, polish and protect, and it always starts with a good, thorough washing. After it's squeaky clean, your car is polished twice over with products such as clay, degreasers and detergents. If your paint job was not well maintained going into the procedure, a swirl remover is applied to remove any compounds left behind by the chipped paint. If your paint job was decent going in, a pre-waxing polish is applied. After polishing, an optional glazing can occur using wax fillers to remove any other blemishes. After the glaze a paint sealant is finally applied.

After the exterior is taken care of, the inside of the car is shampooed at high temperatures with a steamer. Leather upholstery is treated and cleaned as well. A protectant is applied to all surfaces made of vinyl, plastic, rubber or leather. The car's interior is thoroughly vacuumed as well. Glass cleaner is used to wash the windows to get rid of any streaking which could impair your vision while driving.

Another way to protect your car is to get its engine detailed. Through this process, the mechanic uses a degreaser to loosen materials clogged in the engine. Then he sprays the engine with high temperature, high-pressure water as well as other cleaners. After the engine is washed out, a coating of engine protectant is applied.