Car detailing – defined in detail

Car detailing, or auto detailing is a term that is used allot nowadays and it can have different meanings to different People. For example, in America the term detailing usually refers to most kinds of car cleaning, whereas in the U.K the term 'car valeting' is more predominantly used to describe most car cleaning activities. Over time however, car detailing has become the more common name used. Not everyone knows in full though what this means and the full concept of this as a service offering. This is now very much a growing business and growing industry.

Generally, the correct definition for the term car detailing is to meticulously clean, polish and protect all parts of a vehicle from top to bottom, inside and out, using specialist tools and products that would not usually be used by your typical car cleaner. It does not however, include paintwork and body repairs although sometimes light cosmetic restorative work will be undertaken. There are elements which you cannot have which doesn’t come into this service; one service here being headlight repair or dent repair – and / or dent removal. Stone chip touch ups and clear coat wet sanding are two other types of services which can also be an add on service.

The main area and aim of car detailing is to fully enhance and restore the vehicles paintwork by eliminating light scratches and swirl marks that have been inflicted over time and that reflect the light in such a way that they give an unsightly cob webbing effect on the surface of the paint or clear coat. Before this is undertaken though, the exterior has to be thoroughly washed and cleaned in order to remove as much dirt and as many contaminants as possible. Valeting is something you can get from even a local fuel station – car detailing is more something which is more specialist and a service to hire by looking online. Some firms do have a specialist work facility however. 

The first step of the exterior detailing process is usually to foam the vehicle completely and allow it to soak, this helps to soften up any dirt and lift it off from the surface prior to pre rinsing. Whilst soaking, a soft bristled detailing brush may be used to agitate areas like the window rubbers, plastic grills, trim details and badges. The foam, along with the loosened dirt and grime is then thoroughly rinsed off. If you are looking to sell a car, this is for sure a great type of service to invest in. You can for sure make your car all the more desirable.