Detailing. What should you know?
The detailing service is gaining more and more fans, because such a “rejuvenating treatment” can bring visible changes to the appearance of our car.
Detailing is an art, the main purpose of which is to give the car a shine both inside and out. All thanks to the use of special techniques for cleaning the body and interior. A detailing specialist is able to restore a car to almost the same condition in which it left the car dealership immediately after purchase. It also happens that retailers are also improving the method of washing cars from showrooms, because car dealerships only wash cars in an automatic car wash before the release of the car. A professional atelier can restore shine and depth to a tarnished car and even remove some scratches. Such a “rejuvenating procedure” requires special equipment and knowledge, as well as tools and cleaning products. This is a complex process consisting of several stages.
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We go to the detailing studio. What's next?
The client, entering the detailing studio, will probably be the first to hear: “What are we going to do?” So, before visiting such a salon, let's think about what worries us most: do we want the car to be improved on the outside, or also on the inside? Detailing can be done at three levels. The first is refreshing, during which 70-80% of scratches are removed from the car. This type of processing requires 2 to 4 days, but the last day is reserved for the final correction and refinement of the car.
It is also possible to perform a complete correction of the car, during which specialists comprehensively deal with the interior and body. At this level, up to 90-95% of scratches can be removed. These 5% are places that are difficult to access or even inaccessible for such operations. The duration of this service varies from 4 to 5 days. After a complete correction, the car leaves the workshop as new. There is also a third, least effective level, the so-called "One Step", which involves gently cleaning the car, polishing it and waxing it.
When deciding whether to perform a detail, regardless of its level of detail, we do not need to prepare much in advance. Even if we decide to wash the car ourselves, we must remember that professionals in the children's studio will do it themselves before starting work, because they will know what to look for and what elements require additional cleaning. And points of special attention include but are not limited to: gaps in the filler neck, gaps in the headlights, or any type of gasket that can be cleaned with brushes.
Differences between detailing and self-cleaning at home. Or maybe a visit to an artist?
The main difference lies in the type of polishes, waxes and other cleaners used. In public stores you will not find such professional drugs that retailers use. Of course, along with the higher quality of cleaning products, there is also a higher price. The difference is also in knowledge - a person who does not professionally care for a car on a daily basis may not know that, for example, this or that element must be specially prepared before starting to apply wax. It often happens that immediately after applying the wax we have a “WOW” effect, but after some time, as a result of use, the wax begins to drain.
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In the detailing studio, the car is first washed, then deionization, disinfection takes place, all types of dust and juices are cleaned from paint, for example, from brake pads or trees. Only after all these treatments it will be possible to see where the scratches are, and if they are deeper, they should be matted with paper and “brought out”. The car is also prepared for waxing. The varnish area is cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and then the wax is applied. Proper preparation of varnish before waxing prolongs its durability. In the case of even the smallest dirt (and in our home conditions we cannot clean the car perfectly 100%), the wax holds much less. Finally, it is worth noting that some children's ateliers allow the use of products brought by customers to clean the car.
Detailing can also include restoring the rims by applying a special coating designed for that part of the car. The noticeable effect of such treatment will be less pollution. After performing such a service, remember that you can not wash the wheels with acid-containing products. The typical care advice also applies to rim temperature: hot discs should not be treated with any spices, creams or pastes, because there is a risk of stains that can only be removed by polishing.
There is a definite difference between a paint shop and a retail studio. In the paint shop, polishing of the car body takes place in one step with the help of a rotary fur machine. Sometimes a sponge is also used, but it is not very safe for our car's paint. A body that is “treated” in this way on a sunny day will have traces in the form of so-called holograms, that is, stripes indicating where the car has been working. The situation is different in the case of a children's studio, where one element is given much more time and attention, all in order to ensure that the effect is as long as possible and, of course, satisfies the customer.
The interior is important too.
Detailing can only be inside. In the case of cars with leather upholstery, the cleaning and impregnation of the product is carried out first, as well as the repair of all kinds of defects, such as scuffs. Plastics are also cleaned and protected, while floors and carpets are vacuumed and washed. Products that do not absorb water are used.
To clean leather upholstery, you can use special preparations that are sold in supermarkets, but the cleaning effect will not be as noticeable as in the case of using specialized preparations for detailing. There is one rule: the skin likes to be clean. When we apply care products to poorly cleaned upholstery, the effect will be short-lived, as is the case with wax. It is worth noting that the leather in our car can be cleaned up to three times a year. It's all because of the dye that's in the leather - brushing too often can wear off the dye. Then it remains only to varnish.
Velor upholstery is cleaned with a washing vacuum cleaner. Special cleaners can remove coffee, juice or food stains. The last step is to protect: not only the upholstery (leather or velor), but also all interior elements.
Jhow long will the effect last? How to care for a car after detailing.
The length of the detailing session depends on how the car is used, as well as on which car washes we will go to, what surfaces we will use and what preparations we will use to clean and care for the car. Particular attention should be paid to preparations for cleaning, because the car after detailing, i.e. the one with the coating behaves differently than the one with no such service. A detailed car has a different “structure” for washing – it should only be washed in car washes that have a “detail wash” capability, i.e. where more delicate chemicals are used, washing takes place in two buckets with a separator (separates dirt at the bottom of the bucket that can scratch the paint), special gloves are used. You should also pay attention to the way the car is dried. Wiping with a towel is a mistake, as it can slightly scratch the car body, which is not what we mean after visiting a car dealership. In order not to scratch, you need to put a towel on the element and straighten it with your hands from the inside out - this will protect the car from microdamages.
If we decide to wash the car ourselves, without visiting a car wash, let's ask a detailing specialist how to clean and care for our car after this "rejuvenating" treatment - what to avoid and what preparations to use so that the effect lasts a long time.
The detailed effect, by definition, must last at least a year, provided, of course, that we follow the recommendations for car care. As elsewhere, there may be exceptions to this rule, and the effect may not be noticeable after a few months. It all depends on how the coating behaves. Also be aware that long-term claims made by cleaning and care product manufacturers are usually overly optimistic compared to the reality of car use.
Detailing and what's next?
A good retail studio, in addition to the service provided, should also provide us with the necessary knowledge about car care at the end of the visit. The most common mistake that car after-detail users make out of ignorance is taking the car to a car wash where brushes are used. Based on the assumption: “The car is protected by a coating that should last 1-2 years. Nothing bad will happen” is throwing away a lot of money.
The price of such a service depends on the time required for detailing. A simple detailing can cost up to PLN 500, but the more time it takes to work on a car, the more we will pay. Prices can reach PLN 4 or more – time is a key factor influencing the cost of such a service. It is also impossible to give an average price, because each car needs to be approached individually. When evaluating such a service, the condition of the paintwork, the amount of work performed and the detail of the work performed are also taken into account. The price for simply refreshing the car will also be different, as well as the price for comprehensive detailing.
Well done detailing is an art that can make us fall in love with our old, regular cars all over again. Having seen the effect of the work of specialists on our car, we will understand that the price was worth the effect that we see.
