4 Mistakes Most Car Owners Make With Car Detailing

When you first saw your shiny, new car roll out of the dealer’s shop, you were thrilled. Now that you’ve driven it on the streets for a while, the road grime and salt stains have taken a toll on your vehicle. However, detailing your car’s exterior with a clay bar and a paint cleaner will remove dirt and grime buildup, along with the salt stains.

This process will update its look in the same way that a new paint job would. The process isn’t too hard to do. As long as you have some time and don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, you can renew your vehicle to look like it did when you first drove it home. 

Detailing your car isn’t as simple as it seems. In fact, beginners make some common mistakes that end up ruining their cars’ aesthetics. Here are four typical car detailing mistakes you need to avoid. Read on!

1. Detailing Under the Sun 

Your car needs protection from the sun when you are detailing it. Sunlight has the potential to cause your paint to dry, fade, and crack, and the sun’s rays can cause the finish of your car’s paint to deteriorate quickly. As I know from experience, if you detail your car in direct sunlight, you will damage the paint.

If you’re detailing your car outside, pull it up under an awning or into your garage or park it under a tree. If you’re detailing your car inside, find a spot that isn’t directly exposed to sunlight.

2. Using a Sponge or Brush When Detailing

Some detailers like using a brush or sponge when performing the initial cleaning of your car’s paint. The bristles of a brush or sponge can scratch the outermost layer of your car’s paint, causing damage you never intended on doing.

Instead, use a non-abrasive microfiber applicator when detailing your car. The microfiber helps to buff the paint without using any abrasive substance gently.

3. Applying Too Much Product

When you detail your car, you want to make sure you’re applying the proper amount of product for the job. You definitely want to avoid applying too much product, or else you might risk ruining the finish of your car’s paint.

Instead, soak up excess product by running the microfiber applicator under a faucet before applying it to the surface of your car’s paint. The excess product will wash away while the non-abrasive microfiber is left behind to clean the surface.

4. Using an Ammonia-based Cleaner For the Interior

Many detailers use an ammonia-based cleaner when detailing the interior of your car. However, the viscosity of an ammonia-based compound can damage the interior fabrics of your car, leaving behind stains and a strong ammonia smell.

Instead, use a non-ammonia-based cleaner when detailing the interior of your car. The non-ammonia cleaner will cut through stains and leave behind a fresh smell without damaging the upholstery of your car.

Conclusion

Detailing a car can be a fun experience for any vehicle owner. But when car detailing is done improperly, it can cause significant damage to both the exterior and interior of your car. So to avoid any mishaps, make sure you avoid these common detailing mistakes.

Detailing is an art, and we practice it every day. Here at Yellow Star, we offer the very best in detailing and cleaning. Our staff has a broad knowledge of mobile auto detailing and relatable categories of auto industry. We are ready to take any type of car, trucks, boats, etc. Feel free to book your appointment online and get 10% off your auto detailing in Delta, BC today!