Mobile Car detailing – Sealants Or Waxs?

Sealants Vs. Wax

We get asked over and over again what is the difference between a sealant and a wax. Ultimately, they both help to protect the paint on your vehicle, but that is just the easy answer to this question. However, it isn’t that simple. Making the choice between sealant and wax comes down to climate, lifestyle, and personal preference. To truly understand what is best for your vehicle and you, we will be providing you with a rundown to give you a better understanding of both of these kinds of products.

Wax

Various products that are labeled as “wax” may vary significantly from combination polish waxes to man-made polymers, all the way up to Carnauba wax, which is the holy grail when it comes to natural waxes. Although the science of wax has developed over many years, enthusiasts, collectors, and detailers all agree that the wax that they prefer to use on their cars is natural Carnauba wax. Carnauba is derived from the Tree of Life palm in Brazil and the results that it provides may be characterized as bringing a finish to life. Wax sits on top of the paint and creates a liquid wet finish and deeper hues to give the paint a breathable and natural protection from environmental contaminants, oxidation, moisture, heat, and UV rays.

You may think the combination polish wax sound like another great choice and can help to eliminate one of the steps in protecting and polishing your finish. However, those products have a tendency to offer a compromise. With this type of product, the wax works as a lubricant but doesn’t enable the polish to be nearly as effective. Also, the grit in the polish doesn’t enable the wax to really coat. That is why we recommend that you properly wash and polish your car in order to remove any surface contaminants prior to taking any protective measures. As we will be discussing below, whenever you choose to use wax, you are selecting an option that might require more time.

Lifestyle comes into play in the sealant versus wax debate when we are discussing longevity. Some people really cherish the time that they spend with their cars, applying wax and buffing it up to a brilliant luster. On the other hand, other people would prefer living in the fast lane and simply drive. Wax is best suited for a slower paced life, for traditionalists who love how wax looks and are willing to invest the time every 6 to 8 weeks. A wax job’s durability will depend on things such as the climate and where a vehicle is stored. A car that is stored inside of a climate controlled garage helps to extend the life of its finish. On the other hand, a daily commute in a humid and hot climate most likely will mean that the finish has a shorter life span, which will require applications to occur more frequently to maintain your vehicle’s protective wax finish effectively.

Sealants

Sealants have emerged as the favorite of professional details due to its hard as glass finish, longevity, and ease of use. We like comparing it to the difference between high definition televisions and standard definition ones. Sealants are the HD option. Paint sealants do not have anything natural about them since they are man-made wonders of technology and science that draw the beauty of the paint out and protect it against anything nature tries to throw at it. A sealant, unlike wax which lays on top of the surface, adheres to the surface which creates a protective shell that can last 6 months or even longer.

Those who love wax will tell that the appearance of sealants doesn’t provide the same richness, however, we love the sealant’s glass-like finish; it is a personal preference. So if you would like protection and speed then this could be the best route for you to take. When it comes to detailing, the closest thing that you can get to instant gratification is sealants. The liquid application may be done easily by hand using a polisher or microfiber cloth. Applying sealant requires fewer applications to give your vehicle year-round protection.

Are you searching for the best of both of these worlds?

If you really love a waxed finish’s deep rich color but don’t have enough time to reapply it every few weeks, then you can double down instead. If you apply a Caraunaba wax on top of a sealant it will provide you with the protection and longevity of the sealant along with Caraunaba wax’s rich deep color. You have enjoyed the best of both of these worlds without having to risk the finish of your vehicle getting damage when you don’t have a lot of time.

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Using A Foam Cannon For Automotive Detailing

Learn About Using a Foam Gun or Foam Cannon

When the sun comes out, it’s time to bring the guns out…well, foam guns anyway. If you’re using just a hose and bucket, you’ll likely never whip up that rich, thick foam you get to enjoy in an automated car wash. Don’t worry, that’s likely the one and only time we’ll ever say anything nice about a gas station car wash. However, if you add a foam gun to the mix, you, too, can enjoy rich, thick foam. Using a foam gun will also let you use less water, and your rich, thick foam is going to adhere to the surfaces of your vehicle, as it starts breaking down contaminants immediately. You can either use your foam gun for a presoak or even as the main wash. Both of them can help you avoid micro-abrasion since it will both lift up surface dirt as well as lubricate your wash mitt.

You have two different options for foaming, which are contingent upon what equipment you have and your preference. Foam guns can typically be attached to any conventional garden hose, and a quick connection lets you move fast from your foaming into a fireman-type nozzle to do your rinsing; foam cannons, as implied by the name, need more water pressure because they’re the more heavy-duty version. Both of them can create a thick and lasting foam all across your vehicle. Some people in this industry will loosely use the terms of ‘foam gun’ and ‘foam cannon’ quite interchangeably. However, if you put it in television terms, a foam gun is HD, and a foam cannon is Ultra High Def.

If your car is dirtier than usual, you might want to go for the pre-soak before cleaning it with the two-bucket method.

The first thing that you should do is to put the car shampoo in your reservoir before filling with water. The soap is going to sink, so feel free to shake it up good after you attach your gun or cannon. Start with the roof of the vehicle, and then work your way around and down the vehicle. Overlapping is okay because it ensures that you get total coverage. The foam is going to start working instantly in loosening up any dirt that might be on the surfaces. By this time, you should have a nice, thick foam lifting dirt away and giving your wash mitt plenty of lubrication. The two-bucket method involves using one for rinsing, and another for washing; do this to ready your mitt and then wash your vehicle. Follow this up with a rinse either from the pressure washer or your fire-hose nozzle, before you start with any of the other detail work you have planned out.

Foam and rinse if you want a quick wash on a well-maintained vehicle.

Just fill your reservoir with water and soap, and then foam your vehicle from the top down to the bottom, using overlapping techniques to be sure the coverage is total. Let the soap do its working magic for around 5 minutes before rinsing off with the fire-hose nozzle or power washer. Then, dry the vehicle completely in order to prevent any water spots.

For the most part, foam guns and cannons can save you work, water, and time. Get one today.

In our business, we’ve always emphasized high-caliber work, customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing. Customer service has always been a top priority for us. We want to be the business in town that gives customers a great mobile auto car detailing at affordable prices. We’re looking to offer the cities surrounding you the very best in vehicle detailing that is both economical and reliable. We treat every customer as if they are family, and our approach is never repetitive or cookie cutter. We can detail anything you’ve got, be it an RV, truck, SUV, luxury car, sedan, or even a boat. We’ve got a team of specialists standing by to come detail any vehicle you have, and they can meet you at your home or your business. Our approach to detailing focuses on quality over quantity.

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Automotive Detailer Breakdown: How To Get Tree Sap Off Your Car

How To Remove Tree Sap From A Vehicle Without Damaging The Finish

It all begins innocently. In an effort to get out and get some fresh air instead of sitting on the couch watching TV, you decide to head to the park. After arriving, you pull into a spot, parking your car in the shade of a tree to keep it cool while you head off to spend some time in nature. What you didn’t take into account, however, is that trees and sap go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, by the time you get back to your vehicle, your car may be covered with sticky spots of sap.

Chances are, you probably have heard a lot of different opinions on the best way to remove sap. A close friend or someone else that you trust may have told you that rubbing alcohol is the best option. Before you grab a bottle and dump it on your clear coat, however, take a step back and think about the fact that it could cause damage. To minimize the risk to your vehicle, try following the tips below instead.

To improve your chances of success, you should act as quickly as possible. The longer the sap is allowed to sit on your vehicle’s finish, the more water will evaporate. As a result, it will become stickier and stickier. As it sits there, it can also damage the underlying finish. At first, it may seem like the easiest way to take care of the problem is simply to take your vehicle to the car wash. As it turns out, however, the vast majority of car washes use cold water, which won’t do anything to make the sap softer. Instead, you need to use warm water. When sap comes in contact with warm water, it softens, making it easier to remove.

If the sap is fresh, you may be able to remove it simply by hand-washing your vehicle with warm water. If there is a lot of sap, however, or if it has been sitting for a while, you most likely will need to do a little bit of extra work.

For more severe problems, start by washing your vehicle by hand using warm water. Once you are done, take a close look at the finish, keeping your eyes peeled for any sap that was left behind. Instead of using your fingernail to try to pick it off, reach for your Detail Pro solvent spray along with a soft microfiber cloth. Spray the solvent on to your cloth until it is thoroughly saturated. Then, lay it over the top of the sap. Leave it sitting there for a while so that it has a chance to soften the sap. Because Detail Pro solvent is safe for vehicle paint, you don’t have to worry about it damaging your car’s finish.

Once the sap has been softened by the solvent, you can then wipe it away using the microfiber cloth. Repeat this process as many times as necessary until all of the sap has been removed. The solvent is extremely effective on sticky substances, meaning that it should make quick work of the sap.

Once you get to this phase, the only thing that is left to do is to remove any residual contaminants that were left behind. Use a spray specifically designed for detailing and a fresh microfiber cloth to wipe away any remaining dirt or residue in the affected area. To complete the cleanup process, protect your vehicle’s finish with a quick shot of Detail Pro Spray Wax.

We have always worked to keep our prices competitive and to ensure that all of our customers are satisfied. Our main objective is to make sure that everyone who uses our services is happy with the quality of the work that they receive. We work hard to provide the highest quality mobile vehicle detailing while still offering competitive pricing. If you are looking for an affordable, trustworthy company to detail your vehicle, look no further. We treat every customer the way that we would want to be treated. Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, we take the needs of each customer into account on an individual basis. We provide detailing services for a wide range of vehicles including sedans, SUVs, trucks, boats, luxury vehicles, and even RVs. We can come to your location, whether your vehicle is at home or at work. Thanks to our experience and our high-quality equipment, we can handle any detailing project, no matter what type of vehicle you have.

At Total Car Detailing we are committed to keeping your car clean and cared for. Call us now for your detailing needs or contact us to schedule a detailing time that works best for you. Don’t forget to peek at our blog for more helpful tips on automotive detailing and auto maintenance.

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Auto Detailer Breakdown; Fixing Hard Water Spots

Hard Water Spots On Your Car: Fixing And Preventing Them

When it comes to your car, hard water spots are a lot like freckles. They come seemingly from nowhere, and they get worse the longer you let the sunshine on them.

This analogy has its limits: Unlike freckles, hard water spots are pretty universally disliked. And they’re not nearly as hard to get rid of as unwanted freckles.

Yes, we’re going to spend this whole post on hard water spots. That doesn’t mean that they’re a nightmare, though! You don’t need hours of elbow grease or thousands of dollars to get rid of them. We’re going to be thorough about explaining the origins of hard water spots and (hopefully) just as thorough in explaining their removal and prevention.

Hard water spots aren’t hard to understand; most of what you need to know is right there in the name. Whenever water hits your car, the moisture will eventually evaporate. The solids suspended in the water, though, stay behind. There are endless ways your car could end up with hard water spots. Obviously, rain can cause them, but they might also come from errant lawn sprinklers, improper drying after a car wash, or even the neighborhood kids having fun with squirt guns.

Hard water spots can happen even if you live in an area with remarkably soft groundwater. Regardless of its source, most water that hits your car manages to pick up unwanted solids. Raindrops can pick up smoke, dirt, carbon dioxide, smog, and a host of other contaminants. Water that splashes up from the ground can deliver oil, dirt, rubber, or even gross bits of roadside debris like fecal matter. And unless you’re ridiculously cautious about filtering your water when you wash your car (hint: you don’t have to be), most washes will subject your car to all the minerals and chemicals lurking in your community’s water supply.

The solid residue that hard water leaves behind when it dries is nasty stuff. It doesn’t just make your car look bad. The wide range of potential solids we’re talking about includes substances that can cause serious damage to your car’s finish. Just think about the caustic chemicals that give “acid rain” its name. Hard water spots actually concentrate the contaminants and make them more dangerous as the water evaporates away. As corrosive materials in the spots eat away at your vehicle’s paint, they leave behind pits and craters that can retain more water in the future and speed up the deterioration of your finish.

Hopefully, that last paragraph made the dangers of hard water spots clear. The good news is that you can protect your car from this threat with relative ease. This is one of the best and most practical reasons to treat your car to a healthy layer of protective wax after washing and drying it. A good wax job creates a very literal barrier between your paintwork and the threats posed by hard water. The process is easy and affordable. All you need is a decent chamois to do the drying right and our Pro Wax to create the protective barrier.

Of course, this little discussion comes too late for a lot of us. What if your car already has hard water damage? This, too, can be fixed. In this case, you’ll need microfiber cloths and another pair of our products: Hard Water Spot & Scale Remover and Detailing Spray. Use the microfiber cloth to apply the spot remover. Don’t try to do your whole car at once; work the remover into one section (about two square feet) at a time. Apply the detailing spray after the remover.

Once you’ve gotten all the spots off, it’s time to wash your car. Dry it thoroughly and apply a good coat of wax to protect it in the future.

At Total Car Detailing we are committed to keeping your car clean and cared for. Call us now for your detailing needs or contact us to schedule a detailing time that works best for you. Don’t forget to peek at our blog for more helpful tips on automotive detailing and auto maintenance.

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Mobile Car Detailers With Tips For Keeping A High Trade-In Value

Tips On Keeping Vehicle Trade-In Value High

Getting a new car is always a fun experience. Perhaps the main downside, however, is the rapid manner in which new cars begin to depreciate. The fact is that even highly desired models drop roughly 10 percent in value the moment they are driven off of the dealer’s lot and lose another 10 percent of value after the initial year of use. The first four years of a car’s life can see a decline in value of about 60 percent, with less desirable vehicles dropping even further.

Of course, this data can vary under different sets of circumstances, but the good news is that there are steps that may be taken to keep the trade-in value of a car as high as possible. The following ideas can help significantly.

Detailing

Having the car cleaned with professional grade cleaning solvents is great, but this is not all that can be done. Techniques used by professional car detailers can make all the difference in keeping the resale value high. Thorough cleaning on a regular basis can stave off the emergence of rust, paint fading, and other key problems.

Proper Maintenance

Dealers will want to be able to show used car shoppers that they car they are considering has been well cared for and has lots of life remaining. Smart consumers request maintenance records when contemplating a used car purchase. Stick with the maintenance recommendations provided by the manufacturer and hold onto all records of service performed. Do-it-yourself vehicle maintenance is not going to help the resale value of the car, so spend a little extra to obtain professional assistance. Address scratches quickly so that further damage does not develop.

Keeping Interiors Spotless

Resale values are certain to plummet if a car has carried smokers or exhibits a great deal of staining. Fewer than 1 in 5 Americans still smoke, making it unlikely that a used car purchaser will enjoy a lingering aroma of cigarettes. Whenever a spill does occur inside the vehicle, make sure it is taken care of immediately.

Condition Inside Does Matter

Sun damage can take a toll on resale value, especially when vinyl and plastic surfaces suffer damage. Try to keep the car garaged whenever possible and use window tints, screens and other forms of shade when you can. Detailing products that contain protectants can also go a long way toward keeping interior condition high.

Excess Miles

Cars with high odometer readings will always bring less at trade-in time. Therefore, keep miles as low as possible by using carpools, renting vehicles for long trips, using public transportation on occasion and doing many errands all at once. Mileage is such a key factor in resale value, that any steps that can be taken will pay dividends.

Custom Features

While it may be tempting to get some aftermarket details or custom paint for your ride, it is worth noting that these modifications can reduce resale value substantially. Try to stick with original equipment to get the most money on the back end.

Mechanical Condition

Prior to visiting the dealer to make a trade, have the car looked at by a trustworthy mechanic. Dealers will take a listen to the vehicle’s running sounds, and it is best to have any pinging or knocking eliminated in advance. Making a small repair in advance can produce real financial returns at trade-in time.

Dealers will make their judgment about the value of a car by placing it into a specific category such as super clean, clean, average or like-new. Getting the best deal at trade-in will depend on the car’s mileage, cleanliness, exterior appearance, and provable maintenance. Should a dealer doubt that a profit can be made from a trade-in car, it is possible that an offer might not even be extended. When this happens, it will be necessary to sell the car privately, which is a major hassle in and of itself.

At Total Car Detailing we are committed to keeping your car clean and cared for. Call us now for your detailing needs or contact us to schedule a detailing time that works best for you. Don’t forget to peek at our blog for more helpful tips on automotive detailing and auto maintenance.

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Car Detailers Tell You How To Clean The Carpet P2

Two Ways Of Cleaning Interior Car Carpets From Home Part 2

Second Method: Steamer, Carpet Attachment, and Griot’s Garage Polisher

Also, this is a completely different car. I sped it up 4x to not bore you and keep you waiting for too long.

Here I am using the polisher and steamer with the carpet attachments. To break the main stains up I use my steamer. Then I used the cleaner to saturate the area and agitate the carpets using a 6-inch Griot’s Garage polisher and carpet brush attachment.

This is of course for the professionals, more advanced detailers, or those who simply want to get very serious with the detailing on their own personal vehicles. I am using the McCulloch 1385 steamer now to agitate the mats further.

It can make a big difference between using a 6-inch Griot’s Garage polisher and carpet attachment and an upholstery brush that I used in the previous method. It is much easier to have a machine do the work for you.

You won’t get as easily fatigued since you aren’t putting as much down pressure in. Instead, the machines do all of the work you and all you have to put down is around one to two pounds worth of down pressure and it will take care of anything else.

Especially when you have a steamer and being able to break heavier stains up. It definitely will help you a great deal.

However, if you are on a tight budget, or just getting started, if you would like to get the same results that I am achieving here with using the earlier method I showed to you, it will just take you a little more effort and time.

You will get somewhat more tired since you will be doing the agitating by hand. That means you will get somewhat more fatigued, but you will be able to achieve the same results that I am getting.

Of course, the amount of time that I am taking to achieve the results that somebody else gets using only an upholstery brush has been decreased significantly. However, when I was first getting started and cleaning vehicles, I used cleaner with an upholstery brush to clean the whole interiors and achieved the results and my customers really liked the results so there isn’t any reason why you cannot do the same thing with only a solution and brush, along with an all-purpose cleaner to do the job.

You Can Use The Same System If It Is Fabric

The same method can be used with all types of fabric cleaning, I spray the APC, I then agitate with the brush and a polisher that has a carpet attachment in this instance.

I then follow up using the steam cleaner, and use a towel to mop it up and repeat this process throughout all of the fabric, the seats, or whatever else I am cleaning, and that will be around the same process each time I am cleaning the interior of a vehicle.

I am cleaning floor mats here, but once again, if it is door panels, it is fabric, if there is a fabric material, I will follow the same process in order to achieve the same results.

You can tell on your own that this process gives you great results. But if all you have is some kind of interior cleaner or all-purpose cleaner and a brush, then it will take you a little longer to complete, and you will get somewhat more tired, but you will still be able to achieve the result you are searching for.

Here is a quick tip for when you are finished cleaning any type of fabric, and that is to ensure that you push all of the fibers down in the same direction.

That helps things look much better. Rather than having some of the fibers going in one direction, and other fibers going a different way, if they are all uniform and pushing down in the same way, to the same side, that will definitely make your carpet appear cleaner since all of the fibers will be going in the same direction and it will provide you with a better overall appearance as can be seen here.

At Total Car Detailing we are committed to keeping your car clean and cared for. Call us now for your detailing needs or contact us to schedule a detailing time that works best for you. Don’t forget to peek at our blog for more helpful tips on automotive detailing and auto maintenance. Click here for the first installment of this article.

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Car Detailers Tell You How To Clean The Carpet P1

Two Ways Of Cleaning Interior Car Carpets From Home Part 1

1st Method: Cleaner, Brush, and Towels

This is going to be a very simple process that you will want to do with basic tools. Just do not go crazy with this cleaning. You are going to need to just spray the solution, scrub the area, and then mop it up with the towel that you are going to use.

You will want to mop it up right after you have finished scrubbing because it will allow the cleaner to keep everything loose for you.

The second application you will find is going to give you even better results. You will find that the results are going to change depending on what you are using, but you will want to see that we have sped up the video here so you can see what is going on.

The main thing that you will want to do is make sure you go faster when you repeat the process to get the results you want to have. It could be as simple as a single pass, but it could be a couple of passes or even four before the stain is removed.

It all depends on what you are going to be cleaning up. You will want to do this before. Even if you are not sure what you are dealing with you could have some problems in getting the best cleaning done.

You will notice you could have some issues with a small stain being left behind, but it is going to be a lot better than what the older look was. You need to realize you are not going to get the stain cleaned up all the time.

But you will have a huge difference in how it is going to look because of the stain being smaller than what you are looking at.

You will notice that a small improvement is a big change. This is the same process that you can use time and time again. You will want to make sure you have a short list of the tools and the products to use as this will be the main thing that does all the work that needs to be done.

This could take you just a minute. However, it could take you over five minutes. You may notice that you could end up taking several hours depending on what is being cleaned up.

No matter what it is in the interior in the car you will notice it needs to be cleaned. All that you have to do is get some basic tools and effort and you can get almost all of the stains removed quickly and easily.

At Total Car Detailing we are committed to keeping your car clean and cared for. Call us now for your detailing needs or contact us to schedule a detailing time that works best for you. Don’t forget to peek at our blog for more helpful tips on automotive detailing and auto maintenance. Click here for the Second installment of this article.

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