Updated Thursday, October 14, 2021 The following post offers general advice about detailing your car at a coin-operated self car wash. The best way to maintain your paint is with safe and regular washing, which is why a weekly wash is recommended for most cars (or once every 2-3 weeks if you garage your car). Note: This guide doesn’t apply to the car washes where your car goes through a tunnel with big spinning brushes. Read more…
Updated Saturday, October 16 2021 This post will explain how water spots are formed, how to remove them, and how to prevent future water spots from forming. HOW WATER SPOTS FORM Water spots form when tap water is not dried quickly enough on a paint surface or glass. Water from garden spigots or lawn sprinklers typically contains various minerals and chlorine. This kind of water is commonly referred to as “hard” water because of the Read more…
Updated Sunday, October 17 2021 This guide will show you how to safely clean suede upholstery and seats. This method applies to both Alcantra (synthetic) and suede (organic) because the product used in this method is safe for both materials. Most modern cars use Alcantra materials. Genuine suede is usually found on older cars. Suede is made from leather. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine if the materials used in your vehicle’s interior are Read more…
Updated Sunday, October 17 2021 This post will show you how to safely care for the leather seats and upholstery in your car, truck, or SUV. This method cleans and preserves leather. With leather that’s over five years old, be careful when cleaning because too much scrubbing can cause older leather to rip or sag. If your leather is faded or cracked, then it might be time to consider a reupholstery, replacement seat, or replacement Read more…
This guide will show you how to do a rinseless wash on your car. I use this same method on my professional jobs and also to wash my own car. This method is also the same drought-friendly rinseless wash method many mobile auto detailers in Southern California use to avoid water and chemical runoff. A rinseless wash has its limitations. Rinseless washes are safe only for relatively clean paint. If your vehicle hasn’t been washed Read more…
This simple guide will show you how to safely detail your dirty engine bay without any fear of hydrolocking your motor or shorting any electrical systems. This is the same method I use on professional jobs and also to clean my own cars. Protecting Parts & Exposed Wires It’s important to prevent moisture from getting to the alternator, distributor cap, and any exposed electrical wires so tape these parts up. Disconnect your battery and cover Read more…
Introduction Wax is a clear thin coating that protects glossy paint finishes. The coating is very thin- mere microns thick. Wax particles fill in light scratches in the clear coat, resulting in a glass-like surface that is reflective and smooth to the touch. Wax offers a thin sacrificial layer of protection against outdoor elements. Do you hate washing your car? It could be because your car’s paint isn’t sealed. Waxing your paint seals porous surfaces, Read more…
How To Safely Remove Car Badges and Emblems Love the clean look of a debadged car? Follow these simple steps to debadge your car without leaving any sticky residue: Note: removal of front center badges and rear center badges will generally expose 2 pin-sized holes used to hold the badges in place. Removing The Badge/Emblem/Lettering Heat the decal with a heat gun on low heat setting. If you don’t have a heat gun, then doing Read more…
Are there pen marks, taco sauce, vomit, oily fingerprints, or other stains all over the hard surfaces of your auto interior? Items Required Interior cleaner like Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner Soft-bristle brush Microfiber towels Bucket (or bowl) Warm water Foam sponge scrubbing pad First, soak a microfiber towel in your bucket or bowl of warm water. Leave the rest of your dry microfiber towels to the side but within reach. Pre-treat Pre-treat one section of Read more…
Getting rid of pet fur on fabrics and carpets can be a nightmare. There isn’t a magic solution to quickly remove dog fur and cat hair from upholstery and carpets, but using a combination of the following chemical-free methods will make it easier: Roll a lint roller across the affected area. Alternatively, Scotch tape can be used. Blow the affected area with compressed air. Use a pumice stone or similar product like Fur-Zoff Pet Hair Read more…