Car washing and auto detailing aren’t the most sophisticated skills on earth. But that doesn’t mean you can trust just anyone to do them properly. Simply because someone has some water and soap doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to let them near your vehicle. As a general rule, you should try your best to prevent the folks listed below from cleaning or detailing your vehicles. These people are on this list because they generally use improper techniques, the wrong equipment, and they don’t detail thoroughly. Here are the “car wreckers”:

1.     Auto Dealership Detailers.

While these folks are probably a bit more skilled than the other groups listed here, detailers at car dealerships still have their fair share of problems. They usually have a decent understanding of what they’re doing when it comes to cleaning the interior of your vehicle. But most don’t use proper washing techniques on the exterior and they have a reputation for missing spots as they’re usually pressed for time.

2.     The kid next-door.

You might be friends with their parents. But when they show up at your home asking if you would like them to wash your car, find something else you can have them do instead. Most people (both adults and kids) do not understand how to safely clean and detail cars. So, do your best to stay away from folks who do not have car detailing experience.

3.     People at fundraiser car washes.

In most cases, you’ll be better off simply donating money and forgetting about the car wash. The damage that could be caused to your vehicle simply makes going through fundraiser washes not worth it.

A few months ago I went to eat at a restaurant, and next door a local high school’s baseball team was detailing cars to raise money for a trip they were taking. They were working half the time and messing around the other half.

While messing around, one of the kids dropped the towel he was using to wash cars. What did he do with it? He simply picked it up and proceeded to wash someone’s one year old GMC Yukon, which is a $45k+ vehicle.

After dropping that towel on the ground, it was probably contaminated with dirt and small rocks that easily scratch the vehicle’s paint and cause damage. Any experienced auto detailer would not have made this mistake.

4.     Employees at cheap, automated car wash facilities.

The only way these places can turn a profit is by underpaying their employees. And low pay tends to attract a certain type of person—the type you don’t want to rely when it comes to caring for your vehicle. I don’t mean to be harsh, but it’s a fact of life. There’s generally very little structured training at these facilities. And employees are usually just thrown into the mix with everyone else and told to start cleaning cars.  The lack of skill and experience creates problems.

So, who do you turn to for your car washing and auto detailing needs?

It’s really as simple as getting an experience car detailer. Find someone with a portfolio of satisfied clients, and then talk to a few of their clients. If you like what you hear from their clients, it’s probably safe to say you’ll be happy with their performance also.

The Author:

Dave details cars . You can see an overview of the process he uses to detail cars at this page of their site.

Related Article: 5 Reasons You Should Fire Your Auto Detailing Service

When one is buying a used car, they look for many things; for instance, how well it runs, mileage, and cosmetic defects. All of these things can affect the value of the car, but doing something as simple as cleaning and detailing the vehicle before selling can help the seller bring in their top-dollar asking price. Whether a professional mobile auto detailing service does it or the seller chooses to do this himself or herself, it will make a good impression and pay off immensely in the final sale. For the do-it-yourselfers, here are a few tips to get down to the last detail and maximize your pay-off.

Hire a Detailing Professional or… You Do it!

Detailing the exterior car is as easy as hosing off any loose dirt and washing the outside with a sponge and car soap, getting into every nook and cranny, including the wheels and tires. For the best results, dry the car manually as opposed to letting it air dry; water spots aren't very attractive. Clean, shiny windows are a bonus. A thin coat of wax in the shade or under a cloudy sky will make it shine better than just washing and drying. Buyers are more attracted to a shiny, spot-free exterior detail than dusty, dirty, and spotty. 

Interior Detailing… So Important

When it comes to detailing the interior, cleaning the headliner as best as possible is important. Using too much moisture may cause separation from the roof, so a damp cloth and a mild cleaning agent are best to work with. Cleaning also goes for the sunroof provided the car has one. A dry dust cloth will go a long way cleaning the dash area as will canned air, commonly used to clean computer keyboards, for hard-to-reach places. Most important, vacuum the seats, under and between the seats, and the floors. Use stain remover or a shampooer for any stains. If there are tough stains in the carpet, dying the carpet may be the only solution. Replace any worn, extremely dirty floor mats, as this will make the car a hard sell even if it's sparkling on the outside and freshly vacuumed inside. Remove any personal items and consider using anti-bacterial spray and putting in a car air freshener of some kind to aid in getting rid of any possible lingering odors. 

• Mobile Auto Detailing… The Best Way to Spoil Your Car

Unfortunately, like a lot of technological hype, the promise of change is often more enticing than the reality of change. While prognosticators were quick to predict wide-ranging changes, the reality is that nano-technology is coming along in fits and starts.

Still, if you're interested in making your vehicle shine bright for all to see (and I'm assuming that you are, since you're reading a blog about detailing), nano-technology is here. Nano-Clear©, a revolutionary new product from Nanvere technologies, promises to restore painted and plastic surfaces to like-new condition. Just wipe on one coating of Nano-Clear© and your surface is permanently restored.

Check out this before and after:

How Does Nano-Clear© Work?

To use an analogy, think of your car's older plastic and/or painted parts like a road that's chock full of potholes. When the plastic and/or painted surface was brand new, it was mostly smooth. However, time and weather have damaged that smooth surface, and now we have a surface that's clearly worn and aged.

To continue our analogy, if our vehicle's old painted and plastic surfaces are like a pothole strewn road, than Nano-Clear© is like a big batch of asphalt. The Nano-Clear© material forms a permanent layer on top of your plastic and painted parts that's smooth and shiny. Once you coat the plastic parts, they're coated forever.

However, unlike asphalt, Nano-Clear© is technically a liquid…it's able to continuously fill in any new cracks and cover up any damage. It's the ultimate coating because it's completely self-healing. Once you put this stuff on your plastic parts, they're protected from scratches and damage.

Finally, Nano-Clear© repels all foreign materials. Water, dirt, oil, tree sap – whatever you throw at it – Nano-Clear© is a natural repellent. This means that any surface coated with Nano-Clear© is also self-cleaning. Just spray the covering with a hose, and the water molecules will attract any dirt sitting on top of the covering.

Nano-Clear© isn't just for cars; It's also used on aircraft and ships, as it's been shown to reduce aerodynamic/hydrodynamic drag.

This Stuff Sounds Unbelievable – What's the Catch?

There are three concerns with Nano-Clear©. The first: the material is very toxic. If you apply it by hand, you must use gloves. If you apply it with a sprayer, you need a full protection suit, mask, and eye protection. It's not nearly as safe as your run of the mill wax for protectant spray.

Second, Nano-Clear© is expensive. A small bottle (which isn't enough to coat your car) will cost $40-$50. A gallon of the stuff costs $250 – you can order it from the Nanovere Technologies website for now, only it will probably be available in stores at some point.

Three, it's not easy to apply. Your surface needs to be perfectly clean, the temperature needs to be around 60-70 degrees farenheit, and you've got to let the coating cure for 24 hours.

Obviously, Nano-Clear© isn't for everyone. It's not exactly hard to shine up your plastic parts using currently available wipes and sprays, and the current stuff on the shelves is definitely less costly than Nano-Clear©. However, as this technology continues to improve, it's likely that future cars will be painted with this type of self-healing, self-cleaning material. That means detailing is going to get a lot easier in the future – a car with Nano-Clear© paint and plastic coatings is going to be completely clean with nothing more than a cursory rinse…and that's something to look forward to!

Author Jason Lancaster is a big fan of automotive technology, especially technology that reduces the amount of work he has to put into cleaning and protecting his cars. When Jason isn't waxing his wife's car, he's writing for Olathe Toyota Parts Center, a company that sells OEM Toyota parts online.

I can still see myself as a kid walking around the house thinking Dad, why do you need this light on? As kids we’re like big cats with infra-red night vision – we don’t need no stinking lights! I recall a health teacher telling me about what happens to our night vision as we get older, but who paid attention to all that cautionary pap?

Now my rods and cones issues have caught up with me.

I could go into a detailed explanation about the retina and how rods are critical for night vision and they diminish over time, but…

All I really want is a fix.

Night driving is an adventure. For a recent camping trip in the mountains we left after work which meant a healthy dose of driving in the dark to get to our campground. The stark glare of oncoming headlights on the highway gives those rods and cones a brisk workout. Adapting to it and keeping an eye out for hazards gets tricky. It’s like I’m in a huge video game, only it’s Game Over and I’m losing. But the real fun happens when we reach the campground.

When my friends ask me what camping is all about my stock answer is it’s about trying to find stuff. Add darkness into the mix and it’s that much harder. After amateur attempts at trying to unload gear and pitch a tent with flashlights I had to bang to get a beam out of, I finally invested in a glove box light. And that has made all the difference.

We rolled into our spot after midnight. No problem. I pressed the switch and let there be light! We could see the best place to put up the tent, I didn’t trip over that fire rock that’s always in the middle of the site, and what used to take forever only took a little while. When we finished it was time for a beer and now that I had enough light I could find it (and even the bottle opener). And airing down the tires was no major production – the handheld light’s magnet made it mountable so I could see exactly what I was doing.

The stars are great to gaze at when you’re camping, but if I ever need to use my winch or fix something in the dark I like to know I’ve got it covered. To have a reliable light source on the trail is to be truly illuminated. Who knew that when pops left that light on he was really giving me a glimpse of my future?

Article by David B

David B. is a staff writer for 4WD. 

Did the endless holiday commercials featuring people getting a shiny new car inspire you to trade in your current ride for something more snazzy? If you are considering getting rid of the old to make way for the new car, the following five tips can help you sell your current vehicle for the least amount of hassle and the most amount of money.

Assuming you don’t want to pass down your vehicle to your grateful teenager or trade it in at the dealership, visit a buy here pay here car dealer to see if you can get a good price by selling it to them. Before you go there:

Pretend You’re the Buyer

While we often overlook the dings and dents our cars have collected over the years, potential buyers will notice them immediately. The Kelley Blue Book article suggests examining your car like you are the buyer. Check out the tires, start the car and operate all of the knobs, and run the air conditioning. If something is not working properly, fix it, or understand that it will reduce the amount you can get for your car.

Clean It… Better Yet, “Detail It”

Make the car presentable to the closest you can get to when you bought it. Vacuum up the hair, check the tires, empty the ashtray and get rid of the loose change and trash. Empty the trunk, check the fluids  oil, brake and windshield  and get the car washed and even waxed. Ideally you should call a Professional Auto Detailing Service to detail the vehicle for you.

Take a Ton of Photos

People considering buying a pre-owned vehicle love to see plenty of photos of the car. Snap dozens of shots, including the entire exterior and interior of the car. In addition to giving potential buyers plenty of good visual information about your car, posting multiple photos also shows that you are not keeping any secrets about its condition.

Be Honest

Kelley Blue Book states, before you come up with a price for your car, take the time to do an honest assessment of its value. Many sellers think their car is a lot nicer than it truly is, and most buyers are pretty adept at spotting issues, so try to look at it with a neutral eye when judging any of its problems or flaws. The Kelley Blue Book website features a Condition Quiz that can help people accurately assess the shape their car is in.

Advertise Everywhere

And if you decide not to use a dealer to trade-in your car, sell your car yourself. According to Manheim Consulting, more than 11 million cars are sold to people from people every year. And nearly 40 million used cars are sold each year, three times the number of new cars.

Most private sellers post their cars online, according to ABC News. Free sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are great options. Since the goal is to get as many people as possible to know your car is for sale, dont be shy about posting For Sale signs in various locations. Hang them up at the grocery store, local Starbucks, and anywhere else that has a message board. Put a sign in the cars window that includes both your phone number and the asking price for the vehicle.

Related Articles:

• Selling your vehicle? You will need a good detail before you do.
• Mobile Auto Detailing 
• These auto detailing tips are as easy as 1, 2, 3
• Buying a new car should be fun and not a headache.
• Quality Used Cars
• Bird Droppings on Your Car is Bad News!

Some people say that one should wax there car every time after washing the car, and should wash your car at least once a month. There is nothing wrong with doing this, but you really do not need to wax it that often. It is true that your car will look great if you do this, but it is a little bit of overkill and not completely necessary.

Wax Every Other Wash

You definitely should wash your car once a month, especially in the snowy climates, to protect it and keep it looking nice, but the truth is that if you wax it every time you are just wasting wax. Wax last longer on a vehicle, and if you use it too often you are just caking on more wax without any real benefit. If you are washing your car once a month, it is ideal to wax it every other wash. By doing every other month you maintain a healthy shine, protect your car form chemicals and the sun, and are not needlessly wasting money by over waxing. Waxing every other time is the perfect way to make sure that you car stays looking great without having to set aside a second savings account just for your wax budget.

Related Articles:

• Which Tire Dressing is Right for You? 
• Spray Wax vs Paste Wax… The Choice is Yours!
• How Often to Wax a Car
• Mobile Detailing
• How do I know when my car needs a wax job?
• The Importance of Waxing Your Vehicle

Children are a blessing– a messy, messy blessing.  Between snacks on the go and muddy shoes, our vehicles are a tally mark of every soccer game and play group we’ve been to.  But a family car doesn’t have to be a grungy.  Combat those pesky spots with our handy tips on kid-related stain removal.

How to Remove the Most Common Kid-Stains from Fabric Upholstery

Fabric seats make for the easiest cleanup but you should always check your owner’s manual and test a small hidden area before tackling big stains.  Here’s a step-by-step guide to removing the most common kid-stains.

Milk:  You can only pass so many sippy cups to the backseat before you’re faced with the inevitable spill.

1.    Blot the spill with a paper towel.  Never rub the spill because it will only smear the stain and make it worse. 

2.   Dab a penny size dollop of bleach-free dishwashing soap on your finger and spread it over the affected area. 

3.   Spray the area with a mister bottle of water until its considerably wet and let soak for 1 hour. 

4.   After the soap has set, mist the area again and blot by heavy pressure.  Continue to rinse and bloat until the milk and soap are removed and the area is only slightly damp.

Juice.  When juice spills, you need to act on the stain immediately. 

1.    Blot the stain with a clean cloth to remove as much juice a possible.  Do not scrub!  You’ll make the stain bigger. 

2.   Mix one teaspoon neutral bleach-free detergent with 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 1 quart cold water. 

3.   Moisten a clean cloth with the cleaning solution and blot it onto the stain. 

4.   Repeat until your achieve your desired result then blot dry.  Allow the spot to air dry.

Mud:  Little feet get in big adventures.  If you try and tackle mud smears while they’re still wet, you’ll just make it worse. 

1.    Let the mud dry and vacuum up as much as you can. 

2.   Use a scrubbing brush to loose up ground in dirt. 

3.   Vacuum and repeat until the stain it gone.

Bodily Fluids:  It’s gross, but it definitely happens.  If your child gets sick in the car, the stomach acid in their vomit could result in a permanent stain. 

1.   Clean up as much of the fluid and solids as possible. 

2.   Place down a thick layer of paper towels followed up a layer of newspaper and apply pressure for 1 minute.  Remove the padding and repeat until the area is slightly damp. 

3.   Mix 1/4 cup ammonia with 1 cup warm water.

4.   Use a clean washcloth or sponge to wipe down the stained area, blotting off extra fluid with each go.  Repeat as needed.

5.   Sprinkle baking soda generously over the area and rub it in.  This will help to neutralize the odor and remove excess moisture.   Allow the baking soda to sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum. 

6.   Rinse the area with warm, clean water.  Blot excess moisture off with a clean rag.

What to Do If You Have Stained Vinyl Seats

Every manufacturer uses a different vinyl and leather treatments for their seats.  Many “professional grade” cleaning products can actually damage your seats by over drying (which leads to cracks) or damage the pigment that gives your interior its color.  To clean vinyl seats, mix 3 or 4 drops of Ivory dishwashing liquid in a bowl of warm water.  Use a clean cloth to wipe down the seats and another to dry them.  If this doesn’t take care of your stain, contact a professional cleaning service to avoid further damage.  For leather seats, contact a professional interior detailing service.  You’re better off having stains treated properly the first time.

The key to any successful stain removal is to move quickly!  If you’re ever unsure or the stain isn’t coming out like you’d hope, contact a professional interior detailing service and ask about their stain and odor removal services.  By maintaining you interior, you’ll protect your investment.  Who knows?  Maybe your kids will thank you when you pass them the keys someday.

Author Gib Goodrich thinks keeping cars tidy and stain-free can be challenging at times. He is the man behind HondaPartsOnline.net; Honda Parts Online provides OEM Honda parts at discount prices.

Related Articles:

• Interior Auto Detailing: Your Secret Weapon to Beating Germs
• The Importance of Interior Auto Detailing
• What is that smell??? Here are some great tips on vehicle odor removal.
• San Diego’s #1 Auto Detailing Service
• Drive-Thru Car Washes. Good or Bad?
• Can Automatic Car Washes Damage Your Car?

• Why Drive-Thru Car Washes Are Dangerous

Take the pain out of your new car purchase. 

Buying a car is the second biggest purchase in everyone’s life after the purchase of their dream home. Given that, you have to make sure you follow some very important rules when purchasing a new vehicle. The effects of committing a mistake during this process can have a great impact on your future. Here are a few tips to help you make the process a little less painful.

·        Know your requirements: Before going to a showroom you have to determine which type of vehicle you are actually hunting for, it could be a car, SUV or mini-van. There are many factors to be considered while determining the vehicle that makes best sense for you and your situation; such as gas mileage, how many passengers the vehicle can hold, trunk space and on and on. It will also depend on your financial situation as well as the cost of auto insurance.

·        Match your needs with the car: Match your requirements with specific vehicles. A local contractor does not require a Volkswagen car. It would be beneficial for him to buy a truck. For the business person who uses to cross the borders for his business fuel efficient and small cars will match his requirements. Buying a new car will be a bad idea if you want to sell it in next year.

Here are a few VERY important things to consider.

·        Do not shop on weekends: Lots of the people shop for new vehicles on the weekend, but this is not a good idea. There are usually more customers on weekends and therefore dealers are not that motivated to provide the proper information needed to each customer with patience. With all of the customers visiting their showroom, the sales associate has the upper hand and will not be as inclined to negotiate a price that best suits the customer. If your schedule permits, try to visit/shop for your new vehicle on a week day. With less shoppers the sales associate will feel more inclined to give you a better deal to make the sale.

·        Consider your budget: You have to consider your financial situation before buying a car. Unless you are paying in cash. Keep in mind that this purchase will be a 4 -6 year commitment. Make sure the car is priced right for that long of a commitment and that you purchase a vehicle that will hold a decent value over that time period so that come time to sell or trade-in you will get a some return on your investment.  

·        Determine insurance cost: While at the dealership it will be a good idea to contact your insurance provider for a quote for the vehicle you are considering buying. This will give you an accurate picture of what your monthly payments will be for the vehicle and the insurance.

Buying a new car should be a fun and exciting time. But keep in mind that if done the wrong way it could be a total disaster that could be a financial burden on you for many years. As with every major purchase you make in your lifetime, be sure to do your homework before you sign on the dotted line.

This article was provided by San Diego’s #1 Auto Detailing Company. SoCal Mobile Auto Detail & Wash. 

Please visit the BEST Auto Detailing Blog on the web for the BEST industry news and information.  

• Interior Auto Detailing: Your Secret Weapon to Beating Germs
• How to Have a Dog Friendly Car– Without Destroying Your Vehicle’s Interior

San Diego Auto Detailing 

Auto Detailing in San Diego

http://www.motorcar.com/

Protect the value of your vehicle with regular auto detailing. 

“I always say, the way a man treats his car is how he treats himself” Tarconi in Transporter 2 (2005)

Car detailing is actually one of the most essential preventive maintenance measures to carry out in your vehicle.  Besides the traditional maintenance and day-to-day cleaning of the car, it is recommended that you carry out regular car detailing to protect the car from the damaging effects of exposure to the environment and prolong the lives of components and parts.  Each car is different but generally, a thorough detailing is necessary for all types of cars – new and old, small and big, exotic and cheap.  Some car owners argue that car detailing is very expensive, but this is only because they do not know, or do not understand, what they stand to benefit in the long run from the detailing process.  Here are some of the top benefits of car detailing.

1.     Car detailing is preventive maintenance

Car detailing involves getting the car washed and waxed – a practice that keeps the paint in an excellent condition which prolongs its life.  Detailing a car every three months helps protect the expensive coat of paint from road grime, harmful UV rays, acid rain and salt among other damaging elements.

2.     Improved safety

Dirty mirrors and windows are a health hazard because the reduce visibility, especially when the sun is shining.  Car detailing also involves removing all the haze that reduce visibility and clearing oxidized and cloudy headlights which improves the brightness of the lights.  Instead of rushing to replace headlights and tail lights because they are ‘dim’, maybe all you need is to detail your car.

3.     Restore and maintain the car’s value

A well detailed and presented car always has greater value than one with all the rust, faint paint tones and other undesirable aesthetic marks.  Car detailing is the best way to restore the value of your – albeit at face value – and maintain it there without regular paint jobs or replacing ‘eye-sore’ parts.

4.     Reduce maintenance and repair costs

Every car owner agrees that a clean car means lower maintenance and repair costs.  This is because detailing significantly improves the performance of the car and will eliminate the costly repairs and in the process reduce the costs associated with running the car.  Regular car detailing costs much less than it would to wait for the car to break down or parts such as seats, lamps and paint to wear out to replace them.

5.     Longer car life

Contrary to what most new drivers assume, engine breakdown and wearing out of major components such as the transmission are not the only causes of shorter car life.  Corrosion of the body, caked-on dirt, rusting and wearing out of seats significantly reduces the life of a car.  In light of this, it is good to carry out regular detailing to avoid instances of poor car performance five to ten years down the line.

6.     Detailing makes cleaning easier

Let’s face it, everyone wants to drive around in a clean car.  You cannot afford, and you cannot even have the time, to have your car washed at the car wash every morning before heading to work, you will need to do it yourself.  A well detailed car is easier to clean – all you need to do is wipe with a cloth and the shine and glitter will be back instantly.

Besides these benefits, regular detailing also enhances a positive driver attitude and gains them respect on the road and the car will have a fresh new-like feel and look.  Five years down the line, you will still be rolling down the street with a car that is as good as new.  If you haven’t been detailing your car, it is advisable that you do so every six months.

About the Author:

James McDonnel contributed this guest post. James is an automotive enthusiast and a freelance writer. He writes for wish.co.uk and he enjoys rare driving experiences like the ones they offer on their website <<<Click Here

• Auto Detailing San Diego