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This guide is not intended to be a complete and in-depth guide, but a guide for the general public and show car participant. To get too detailed here would be too lengthy. We can take your specific questions and you will see answers in our Question and Answers section. Always read and follow manufacturer's recommendations and instructions. In order to maintain your vehicle and keep it in showroom condition, there are a few questions that need to be answered before you begin. Is it a used vehicle that you have just purchased and do not know the history of, or a vehicle that you have maintained? Has the car been exposed to heavy sunlight damage, environmental pollutants, road tar, heavy brake dust accumulation, and /or some light scratching of the surface paint? If the answer is yes to some of these questions, there will be extra steps involved to achieve that deep luxurious shine. INTERIOR CLEANING The reason we
recommend doing the interior before the exterior is so that any
contaminants that are flushed out of the interior during cleaning
(such as old french fries, discarded pizza, or empty soda cans)
will not land on a freshly cleaned and waxed painted surface. When
we do the exterior of the car, the interior of the car will be sealed
and closed to prevent cross contamination. Floor mats should be
removed and a thorough vacuuming of the interior will be our first
step. Tip: Any vacuum attachment used should have a soft bristled
head. This will prevent scratching of the leather, vinyl, or painted
dash surfaces that are sometimes caused by the pointed plastic attachments.
Use a shop vac or house vac; the small cigarette lighter vacs are
not powerful enough for a deep cleaning. Don't forget to vacuum
the rear deck area above the back seat and also inside the trunk
area. Move the seats out of their normal position so that the entire
area can be vacuumed and shampooed. The next step is to shampoo
the carpets. Lightly apply shampoo; our goal is to clean without
over saturating and risking a potential mildew environment. For
carpets that are heavily stained or show lighter contrasts because
of wear, there's still hope. A professional detailer can sometimes
dye these areas and blend them in beautifully. Rug brushes should
be used with the carpet cleaner to agitate and loosen dirt particles.
After the carpet has been shampooed, a final vacuuming is done to
lift and remove any particles left behind. Wash the floor mats and
hang to dry. If you have rubber floor mats, don't forget to coat
with a UV protectant dressing. Vinyl and Velour Seats Clean the upholstery with a vacuum and then apply the cleaner. As with carpets, always pre test all cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area for color fastness before use. I use a flag brush for vinyl, velour, and leather upholstery. It will agitate the surface without scratching. The bristles are so soft on a flag brush that you can use it on your body in the bath. For velour and cloth seats, gently work in mild upholstery cleaner and allow to set for a few minutes. TIP: A quality carpet & upholstery shampoo works extremely well on cloth and velour seat coverings. A soft clean cotton terry, flannel, or microfiber towel also works well for vinyl. Thoroughly vacuum again after cleaning. After cleaning vinyl seat areas it is important to use a product with UV screening ingredients. Vinyl seats bake in the summer and freeze in the winter, which make them very susceptible to UV damage. Be sure to spray your cloth with the cleaning agent to prevent overspray. Always test the product in a small inconspicuous area for any discoloration of the vinyl. Vinyl protectant should be applied with a soft cloth and worked into the surface. After a few moments of allowing it to work into the surface and absorb essential oils, buff off the excess. The dash should be treated often, since this is an area that is subject to the most direct UV damage and heat. TIP: Fold a towel over your hand and spray protectant on one side. Keep the dry side up which will keep the protectant away from the windshield and other glass as you apply. Don't forget the other areas of the interior, such as back of seats, kick panels, and door panels. A Vinyl interior should normally be done about twice a year. Treat dash areas more often since they receive a bombardment of UV rays daily. These steps will help immensely to prevent cracking and early deterioration of your vinyl seats. Leather Seats Never use products made for vinyl on your leather interior. These are much harsher cleaners and can sometimes damage the leather. Cleaning leather seats is extremely important. Proper care and cleaning can actually double the life of the leather. It will keep the leather soft and supple to the touch. And it will prevent the cracking that is normally associated with older vehicles. TIP: Leather cleaners and conditioners aren't strictly for use on leather seats alone. These products also work great on boots, leather coats, motorcycle seats, and chaps. When cleaning leather, the pores are opened and natural oils can be replaced to prevent deterioration and cracking. Using a premium leather conditioner after cleaning will seal the pores and replace those natural oils. Preferably this should be done when the leather is warm so the pores of the leather have a better absorption rate. In chilly weather, use a hair dryer on a low setting to warm the seats before starting your cleaning and conditioning process. Wiping leather seats with a clean cloth prior to applying leather cleaner will remove loose contaminants and prepare leather for the cleaning and conditioning process. Next, apply the leather cleaner. Apply the cleaner directly to a clean 100% cotton or flannel towel to insure even distribution. Never apply directly to the area that you are about to clean. Allow a few minutes for the cleaner to be absorbed into the leather. Buff gently with a slightly moist soft cotton or flannel towel. Be sure to rinse with several moist clean towels. It is essential that you remove all leather cleaner before applying the conditioner. Remember that leather is a natural skin. It does not like abuse any more than your own skin, therefore, a gentle rather than aggressive approach is needed. Any leather dash, door, or kick panels should also be cleaned at this time. Now that the seats have been cleaned you will want to protect the leather. Apply the leather conditioner onto a clean dry cloth rather than directly onto the seats for a more even distribution. Allow several minutes for the conditioner to be absorbed into the leather. The time can vary depending on the temperature. Usually, five to fifteen minutes then buff with a clean towel. Don' t hesitate to use more than one towel. Headliners
Interior Glass Cleaning For cleaning the glass, we recommend that you use a microfiber towel and spray the glass cleaner directly onto the towel to prevent overspray. These towels are superior in preventing streaks and will not leave any lint residue. From time to time you will notice a hazy buildup on the inside of your windows. This is caused by what is known as a gasing process of vinyls and plastics. As plastic and vinyl age, they release plastisols in a gas form, which settle on the interior of the windows. Some glass cleaners contain ammonia and other harsh chemicals that can damage tinted surfaces. Be sure to check contents on product label before using. Do not clean the exterior windows directly after cleaning the interior windows. Cleaning of the exterior windows is done in the final detail process. TIP: For exterior windshields, Mothers Chrome Polish (I know, a blatant advertisement) does wonders to bring it back to its original gleam and brightness. Removal of haze and fine swirl marks in the plastic dash panels can be substantially improved with the use of a premium plastic polish. Don't forget to dust your air conditioning vents and crevices around the radio with a cotton swab or a 6" vent brush.
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