In this chapter you’ll find a few detailing insights that don’t necessarily fit in to the subject matter of other chapters in The Detailing Hand Book.
Caring For Microfiber . . .
Microfiber towels can be very expensive and are a very important detailing accessory. Proper microfiber care can extend the life of your towels and keep them soft and absorbent. Here are a few rules to caring for your microfiber towels:
1. Avoid dropping your microfiber on the ground. Microfiber is very “grabby” and whatever dirt it picks up is often difficult to remove from its knap even after washing.
2. Wash your microfiber after each use.
a. Always wash your microfiber separately from any other type of fabric to avoid picking up lint from the other fabrics.
b. Never use bleach as it will eventually stiffen the towel’s fibers.
c. Never use fabric softener as it will clog up the knap of the towel making it less absorbent.
d. Use a detergent with that does not contain perfumes, bleach, fabric softener, or a wrinkle releaser. You can also use a dedicated microfiber detergent like Micro-Restore, Pinnacle Micro Rejuvenator, or Sons Der Wunder Wasche.
e. Always wash your towels in warm or hot water as this will help to remove polish & wax residue from the towel.
f. Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle can help to release any remaining residues on the towel.
3. Store your microfiber in an enclosed container where it will not accumulate dust or get dirty.
Caring For Wash Mitts & Cotton Towels . . .
Wash mitts and cotton towels are fairly easy to care for. After each use you should rinse out your wash mitts, squeeze them out, and then place them on a clean surface to dry. If your wash mitts begin to look dirty simply wash them in your washing machine along with your cotton towels. Here are some rules for washing wash mitts and cotton towels:
1. Do not wash your mitts and cotton towels in the same load with your household towels or cloths. Residue from your automotive towels & mitts which can be a skin irritant may end up on your household towels/cloths.
2. Never use bleach as it will eventually stiffen the towel’s fibers.
3. Never use fabric softener as it will clog up the knap of the towel making it less absorbent.
4. Use a detergent with that does not contain perfumes, bleach, fabric softener, or a wrinkle releaser.
5. Always wash your towels in warm or hot water as this will help to remove polish & wax residue from the towel.
6. Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle can help to release any remaining residues on the towel.
Take proper care of your wash mitts & cotton towels and they will last longer and be more effective.
Caring For Brushes . . .
Taking proper care of your brushes can make them last longer and be more effective. Brush care is amazingly simple. Just rinse them with water when you’re done with them. Many brushes are often used in conjunction with strong cleaners. The cleaners often eat away at the brush or the glue holding the bristles to the handle. Simply rinsing away the remaining cleaner will prevent the cleaner from continuing to erode the brush.
Caring For Foam Pads . . .
Foam buffer pads can be expensive costing from $10-$20 a piece. Properly caring for these pads will extend their life and effectiveness. Other types of foam pads like wax applicators are much less expensive but can be cared for in the same way.
1. Fill a bucket with several gallons of warm water.
2. Add some soap to the bucket. You can use Dawn, rug cleaner, APC, or a dedicated foam pad cleaner like Detailer’s Pride Foam Pad Rejuvenator.
3. Allow the pads to soak for 20 minutes.
4. Massage the pads with your hands to release the polish/wax residue.
5. Rinse the pads with water.
6. Squeeze the pads as dry as possible.
7. Place on a clean area to dry.
Once the pads are completely dry put them in plastic bags to keep them clean until the next time you use them. Do not put the pads in plastic wet or mildew will grow on them.
Measuring Chemicals . . .
Measuring chemicals is something done quite frequently in detailing. Sometimes you are simply measuring out some car wash soap and other times you are diluting a concentrated cleaner.
Diluting concentrated cleaners can be made very simple. All you have to do is buy the spray bottles with the dilution lines on the side. The bottle will have a line to indicate where to fill the concentrate to in order to achieve a particular dilution level (ex. 2:1, 4:1, 10:1, etc.). Making sure to buy spray bottles with these marks on them saves you from having to do any math.
Measuring out car wash soap is an extremely frequent practice in detailing. Many car wash soaps will indicate on the instructions how much soap to use per gallon of water in your wash bucket. Using a household measuring cup to measure out car wash soap will likely not be appreciated by your spouse or your taste buds and buying a dedicated measuring cup is an unnecessary expense. Follow these simple steps to make your own measuring cup for car wash soap:
1. Get a plastic cup (preferably a clear one).
2. Fill your household measuring cup with an amount of water equal to the amount of car wash soap you typically put in your wash bucket.
3. Pour the water into the plastic cup.
4. Place the cup on a flat, level surface and using a permanent marker, mark the water level in the cup all the way around.
Next time you wash your car, simply fill the cup up to the line with car wash soap. To keep the cup from getting crusted with old soap simply immerse the cup in your wash bucket and swish it around until all the soap is gone from the cup.
Getting Organized . . .
Detailing a car can be a long and tedious process. Being organized can go a long way to shaving off time from your detail session. Here are some suggestions for being organized:
Keep all your towels, brushes, and applicators in plastic drawers or containers.
Keep your PC and pads in a tool box.
Invest in some shelving to keep all your chemicals organized on.
Also, don’t forget to store your chemicals in a place that will not expose them to extreme heat or cold. Extreme temperatures will quickly ruin your chemicals forcing you to replace them.
It’s also important to make sure your bottles are clearly labeled. Detailers often rebottle chemical into smaller bottles either to make them easier to handle or to dilute them. However, few detailers clearly label their bottles. This can result in the detailer accidentally using the wrong bottle and causing damage to the car. Taking a few moments to clearly label your bottles will allow you to quickly identify products and prevent accidents.
Avoiding Aches & Pains . . .
Detailing can be tough on the human body. It can be particularly taxing on your arm muscles and your back. Use a rolling seat or creeper when polishing the lower parts of the car or cleaning the wheel/tire/wheel well area.
Another tool which can lower the amount of stress you place on your body when detailing is the Glass Master Pro. This tool allows you to reach far away corners of the windshield or the rear window without contorting or straining your body.
Planning Ahead . . .
Always try to keep a mental or even better a written check list of what you want to accomplish with each detailing session. Whenever you are walking near your car try to take a moment to gauge the current condition of the exterior so that you will know what needs to be done during the next detailing session. Then do the same for the interior when you get inside the car. It may also be a good idea to keep a calendar or schedule for describing when you want to perform certain detailing tasks.
Being an Informed Consumer . . .
There are many, many great detailing products and many, many great places to buy them. Keep in mind though that there are just as many unscrupulous business people in the car care industry as in any other. Some car care products do not work as well as advertised and some distributors charge inflated prices. Your best defense against unscrupulous business people is to be an informed consumer. If a product makes an unbelievable claim then it likely shouldn’t be believed. Also, know what products cost. Sometimes products can be had cheaper locally than they can on-line and vice-versa.
Maintaining the Shine . . .
After all your hard work detailing your car, you’ll want to maintain that look. Some plush microfiber towels and quick detailer spray will go a long way in helping you to do that. You can use these items to clean your entire car when it is dusty or slightly dirty. You can also use a car duster like the California Car Duster to remove dust from your recently cleaned car.
Dealing with Bird Droppings . . .
Depending on the type of bird and what the bird has been eating bird droppings can be highly acidic. This acid can dissolve your car’s paint causing etching. Making matters worse bird droppings contain sand or grit which can scratch paint and can often contain tannins from berries the bird may have eaten which can leave stains on your convertible top. So, it is critical that bird droppings be removed from the car as soon as they are uncovered. For this purpose, it is recommended that you keep a small bottle of quick detailer in your car along with a microfiber towel. Use plenty of QD to provide lubrication and never rub always dab to prevent scratching.
Using a Car Cover . . .
Many people use a car cover to protect their car’s finish while not in use. However, these covers can often cause more damage to the finish than they prevent. When using a cover make sure it’s clean, soft, and breathable. You can use the same CD test as you do with microfiber to test the softness of your car cover. Also, dirt trapped under the cover can rub against the paint resulting in scratches. Finally, make sure you are using a car cover that is made of a breathable material. Never use a plastic tarp to cover your paint. This will trap moisture in between the cover and the paint. Eventually, the moisture will migrate into the paint resulting in the paint looking foggy.
Using a Car Bra . . .
It is not advised that you use a vinyl bra on the front of your car. Dirt often gets trapped under a car bra and can rub against the paint resulting in scratches. Also, vinyl car bras are not made of a breathable material. This traps moisture in between the car bra and the paint. Eventually, the moisture will migrate into the paint resulting in the paint looking foggy. If you do insist on using a vinyl bra on your car, remove it often and clean away any dirt trapped behind it. Also, remove it whenever you wash the car or whenever the car becomes wet. Alternatively, a clear bra which is adhered to the paint has none of these negative aspects.