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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Houston Car Detailers On The Benefits Of A Clean Car

Why Is It So Important to Keep Your Car Clean?

Do you realize how much of your time is spent driving around in your vehicle on a daily basis? You may spend at least an hour in your vehicle trying to make your way to work and heading back home at the end of the day. Most people spend, on average, a total of 101 minutes inside their cars each day. However, most of those people do not even realize how much time they are spending behind the wheel because it is easy to lose track of time when you are traveling from one destination to the next and are simply worried about getting to those different places.

Although commonly considered just a means of transportation, there is much more to your vehicle than what meets the eye. It is something of importance to you because it makes it easier for you to get to work, go to the doctor’s office when you need to, and run errands at times that are most convenient to you without waiting around for anyone else or working with anyone else’s schedule. It is for that exact reason that you should take good care of your car, keeping it clean and in pristine condition.

A Clean Vehicle is Good for Your Health

While you do not need to go crazy and clean your car each day, it is still important to get rid of the clutter to keep it from looking messy. A messy vehicle could negatively impact your health while making you feel stressed out. While dust can accumulate inside a home, it can also accumulate inside a vehicle, which could potentially trigger your asthma or leave you feeling rather sick. If you travel with your pets inside your vehicle and they are sitting on the seats, it is even more important to give you vehicle a thorough cleaning because you will need to get rid of the pet hair.

It Leaves a Better Impression

If you are going to give a friend a ride, do you really want them to get inside your car and see a bunch of papers on the floor, cups on the seats, and trash all over the place? A messy car is going to leave a bad impression on different people in your life, such as the friends you spend time with and the people you work with, especially if you are giving a co-worker a ride to your place of employment. How would you feel if your boss needed a ride and saw a huge mess in your vehicle? You may end up feeling embarrassed by the clutter.

Imagine having a first date and picking that person up from their location. What kind of impression do you think it would leave on them for them to see the way that your vehicle looks? If it is clean, they will see that you are organized and take good care of your belongings. If it is messy inside, they are going to assume that you are a messy person in general and that is simply not good.

It Helps You Maintain Your Car’s Value

You may have an interest in selling your car and upgrading to one that is even better in a few years. If you are going to sell it, you could end up getting more back if the inside of the vehicle is in fantastic condition. However, if it is stained and messy, you are going to lose out on some money because the value of the vehicle will go down. Not only should you put the effort into cleaning your vehicle’s interior, but you should also regularly clean its exterior, making sure to remove bird feces, dirt, and any mashed bugs that may be on the windows.

By keeping your car clean, you are making sure it is still valuable. While making sure it does not lose much of its value, your car will continue to look good, which is an added bonus.

Because you likely spend a lot of time in your vehicle, it is a wise decision to keep it clean and organized. You do not necessarily need to clean it all the time, but you should make sure to clean both the interior and exterior at least once a week to keep dust at a minimum, remove stains, and get rid of any unwanted dirt.

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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Are Automatic Car Washes Safer Than Car Detailers?

Important Reasons To Avoid Automatic Car Washes

In recent years, automatic car washes have become increasingly popular thanks to the fact that they are fast and easy to use. Even though they are convenient, however, they may not be the best option when it comes to washing your car. There are a number of downsides associated with using automatic car washes including the following:

They Reuse Water

From an environmental perspective, automatic car washes reduce water usage by reusing the same water to wash multiple vehicles. Although the water is purified before being reused, there is a chance that it still could contain pieces of dirt and other types of gritty materials. Unfortunately, these contaminants can cause small scratches in the surface of the paint on your vehicle during the washing process.

The Cleaning Agents Are Sometimes Acidic

In an effort to save money, most automatic car washes use inexpensive cleaning agents. Oftentimes, these cleaners are acidic in nature. This is particularly true when using car washes with touchless designs. Even though they may do a good job of getting your car clean, the acidic nature of the cleaners can harm the finish on your car over time.

The Brushes May Cause Scratches In Your Paint Finish

If you visit an automatic car wash that uses brushes, the bristles from the brushes could wind up causing tiny scratches in the paint finish on your vehicle. If you examine your car closely after washing it, you may even be able to see light swirl patterns of scratches in the finish, which can keep your car from looking as shiny as it should.

Dirt Is Often Left Behind

Automatic car washes aren’t able to detect particularly dirty areas on your vehicle that require extra attention. As a result, they may wind up leaving traces of dirt behind. This is especially true with touchless car washes.

There Is A High Likelihood Of Streaking

Even though most automatic car washes are equipped with dryers, they typically don’t dry the car out completely. When you leave the car wash, any remaining water can cause streaks on the surface of your vehicle. Unfortunately, these streaks usually need to be polished away at a later time.

Hand Drying Can Also Be Problematic

The majority of automatic car washes rely on automated drying systems. In some cases, however, they employ attendants who dry your vehicle by hand. As long as the hand drying process is done correctly, it is generally preferable to automated drying options. Unfortunately, there are still things that can go wrong with it. For instance, if the same towels are reused on more than one vehicle, they can get dirty, which can cause them to leave behind scratches in your paint.

Keeping the finish on your car in like-new condition will help your vehicle retain its value. Even though automatic car washes are a convenient option, they can damage your car over time.

A much better option is to choose professional detailing like the services available at Total Car Detailing. Our employees are auto detailing experts, meaning that they will treat your vehicle right throughout the entire detailing process. Our company is accredited, which means that we are more than qualified to do any type of vehicle detailing that you need. We also are fully insured and are in compliance with the regulations set forth by the Motor Vehicle Industry Council.

If you would like to get a quote on how much it would cost to have your vehicle detailed, all that you have to do is contact us. Our staff is dedicated to providing you with the best mobile vehicle detailing in the area. We strive to be the best in the business and are committed to helping our customers get great results.

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-All; Does Black Or White Stay Clean Longer?

Black Or White: Which Car Color Will Get Dirtier Faster?

Passionate car owners love having their ride clean and polished, but there are those that just don’t seem to give a flip about how their vehicle looks on the outside until some joker comes along and finger-writes WASH ME on the side or hood. That’s not most people though, so you’re not likely to ever find that written on your windshield. Some car owners are so rigid that they clean and wax their ride every single weekend. You’re most likely in the middle, as you probably only do it about once a month. If so, you’re like the average car owner.

It’s because of things like this that the color of a car is an essential factor when you buy a vehicle. Specific colors might appeal to you more than others, and each has its own aesthetics. Over time, though, the feelings your car gives you will fade away, and your ride is going to get dirty. If you’re like most other drivers, you want to keep the thrill and excitement that comes with the clean, shiny, polished look like you remember seeing in the showroom. This is when it occurs to you that only hard work is going to keep your car clean.

A Matter Of Black And White

Keeping a car clean has led to an ongoing debate about whether black or white is the better color choice for a car. Trends in picking car colors suggest that white is the most popular, followed by silver and then black. On the other hand, trends are sometimes misleading. So, what color is best for your next ride: black or white? White is obviously the most commonly used car color in the modern market. Many drivers believe that it will show off dirt faster, though, since it is white. The thing is, that’s not true. Black vehicles are actually the hardest ones to keep pristine. Cleanliness is an issue for any dark-shaded vehicle. Any speck of small dirt anywhere on the vehicle is going to show. Rainstorms also leave ugly marks, just as bad is if a car drove through murky water.

Black vehicles are also magnets for dust, pollen, and bird droppings. There’s also the matter of overheating. If you’d ever had the chance to meet Albert Einstein, he would have told you that black bodies wind up absorbing heat faster as compared to white ones. In short, when temperatures are high, a black vehicle is going to wind up getting ugly faster than a white one.

Although white cars don’t dirty up as fast as black models, they’re still not the best. They tend to get quite dirty if you live anywhere with volcanic soils or red clay. The same holds true if you frequently cruise down dirt roads.

And The Winner Is

White’s the obvious winner for car colors between itself and black, but that doesn’t mean it’s your best option. Other colors are actually easier to maintain than either one. These include taupe, champagne, tan, and light brown. Silver and gray colors also look good, even if dirty. Colors which are easier to keep clean can save you time, money, and maintenance over time.

We’re never that concerned with how many cars we detail every week or month. To be honest, our only concern is satisfying your customers. We know that our business will only thrive if we earn the loyalty of our customers. Given that, we’re always striving to give the area’s best detailing and service. We aim to be heads and shoulders above our competition, leaving our customers stunned with the end result when they come to us.

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 Explain How To Remove A Dealer Decal

Mobile Car Detailers Tell How to Remove a Dealership Decal

Car dealer decals can be a great way for a dealership to advertise, however, they aren’t the most attractive accessory for your vehicle. They can also be a pain to remove. If you’d like to improve your car’s appearance by getting rid of the ugly dealership decal on your car, this is the process you can follow.

Preparation

Before you’re able to remove the decal from your vehicle, the first step is to thoroughly clean the area around it. This will prevent any dirt from the area around the decal from causing damage to your paint as you clean off the adhesive. You can simply wash the area with warm soap and water.

Taking the Decal Off

The trick to getting a decal to come off of your vehicle cleanly is to remove it under the correct conditions. Any type of heat will help you to soften the adhesive, making the decal itself easier to remove. Although it may depend on how firmly your sticker is attached, it may be possible to just wait for a sunny, warm day. However, if it’s still too difficult, you can also use your hair dryer to heat up the glue and loosen the decal.

After the glue is pliable, you can begin to try removing the decal. It’s important to take the time to do this slowly. If you cannot peel the decal off using only your fingers, you may want to try a gentle tool like a piece of dental floss, a plastic kitchen spatula, or an old credit card. It may take you quite some time to remove the smallest pieces of the decal, especially if you have a laser cut decal, instead of one that was simply printed on a rectangular sticker.

For decals that are especially stubborn and refuse to peel off using heat and tools, you may want to try using an adhesive removal product around the sticker as you work. This will allow it to get beneath the sticker itself and loosen the glue.

Cleaning Up

Removing a decal from the dealership from your car is not the only part of the process that’s important. Any leftover adhesive product can attract dirt which can lead to scratches in the vehicle’s paint. You’ll need to use something to remove the adhesive to help prevent this. Although there are products that have been created just for removing the adhesive these types of decals leave behind, like Goo Gone and 3M Adhesive Remover, you can also utilize WD40 if you want to choose something you already have. No matter, you’ll get the best possible results when you use a trusted adhesive remover.

Dealership decals may not be easy to remove, but with some concentrated effort, it can be accomplished. As long as you take the time to follow these steps, you should have that pesky decal removed in no time at all.

Our company has always been proud to offer competitive pricing and high-quality work. We focus on ensuring that our customers are satisfied — this is our top goal. We work to offer each customer the highest quality mobile auto car detailing, at a price that is both fair and affordable. Total Car Detailing works to offer the cities near you the best possible detailing that is both cost-effective and reliable. Each of our clients is treated like it’s family. We don’t bother with a cookie cutter approach, and instead, treat each of our customers like they’re the only one. It doesn’t matter if you have a truck, SUV, sedan, luxury car or RV, we can help you with detailing it. We keep a qualified team ready to handle any detailing that you need for your home or commercial vehicles. We’re prepared to work with any type of vehicle, whether it’s an exotic collectible or your trusty daily driver. We focus on quality work, instead of churning out quantity, and it shows.

 

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 mobile 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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