Now that the school holidays are over and the kids are back at school, your family car is probably well overdue a little TLC. It’s time to get rid of the sand, fingerprints, scratches, grease, dirt, stains and smells (!!) or whatever else that has left your car dishevelled after the family holiday.
Yes, don’t worry it is possible to make your car look new again! With a car detailing service at one of our locations in Perth.
Here’s what you need to know about car detailing:
Car detailing is totally different from a basic car wash and interior clean. Car detailing is a process that cleans, shines and protects your vehicle’s bodywork, interior and glass surfaces. It can also include polishing or waxing the paintwork. The most common form of car detailing involves cleaning the exterior of the car with specialised products and tools.
To put it simply, a basic car wash won’t protect or enhance your car’s life. Car detailing adds that extra level of protection to your family car’s interior and exterior surface, effectively increasing its longevity (and we know just how important this is when it comes to the family car!).
You take the kids to soccer practice and soccer games. You go to work every day. You head out for dinner with friends on the weekends. You run errands and do all those little things that make up your life. Your family car is your constant companion, so we truly understand the importance of maintaining the durability and presentation of your family car.
So how can our car detailing services help you? What does it involve?
Our Perth car detailing packages vary depending on your needs, as well as the condition and size of your vehicle. We prioritise aspects of your vehicle’s interior and exterior to bring it as close to a showroom standard as possible, while staying within your budget.
A Full Detail includes some combination of the following, depending on your priorities and vehicle condition:
- A detailed vacuum into all accessible areas
- A detailed wipe over of all trim surfaces, vents and compartments
- Spot cleaning of your roof lining
- Steam cleaning upholstery to remove grime and stains
- Leather cleaning and treatment to remove grime and restore suppleness
- Degreasing door jambs
- A detailed wash and claying to degrease and decontaminate your paint
- A thorough clean of your wheels and wheel arches
- A cut and polish to improve the shine of your paint by reducing or removing marks and scratches
- Under bonnet clean – engine bay, bonnet underside and gutters
- A hand polish to improve shine and provide protection
We work with you to deliver the result you need at a good price.
Now, let’s define some car detailing terms.
Claying – paint decontamination
Claying is similar to a facial for your car’s paintwork – it removes the stubborn contaminants that may have accumulated on your paintwork over time (tar, sap, pollen, etc.). Claying every 3-6 months (depending on use and your requirements) is a normal part of maintaining your paintwork and is necessary to preserve its original condition. We always combine claying with a hand polish. This makes it a good periodic addition to our Premium service.
When claying is no longer enough to restore a shine to your car, the next step is a cut and polish to remove stubborn mineral deposits (i.e. bore water marks) or scratches.
A cut and polish is a normal part of caring for your car every 1-3 years depending on your car’s use. Normal use (ie. simply everyday driving to and from work, school and around Perth), weather, accidents and cleaning all leave residue or scratches. If left too long without treatment, mineral deposits can adhere to paint too strongly to be removed by claying, as sap, bird droppings, tar and other chemical contaminants stain or otherwise degrade paint the longer they sit on your car’s surface. Over time, these elements combine to dull the shine and undermine the integrity of your paint. Regular claying extends the time between cutting and polishing, but eventually one is required to remove or diminish the accumulated imperfections and restore a good shine to your paint.
We recommend paint protection following a cut and polish to reseal, add luster and leave a slippery surface that will further protect your paint. The normal cycle of washing, hand polishing and periodic claying will then once again keep your paint at its best.
Car upholstery is designed to be cleaned. It is typically hard-wearing and releases grime and stains when correctly cleaned (worn materials are the exception). We recommend that you steam clean heavily used floor mats and seats (ie. the ones in your family car) to remove dirt that if left untreated, will wear the fibres down. Steam cleaning will extend the life of your upholstery and keep your interior looking its best.
Leather accumulates oils and dirt through use. Keeping it clean and restoring the oils that keep it supple is the best way to maintain its beautiful feel, appearance and condition. Without regular cleaning embedded dirt wears away at the coloured surface and weakens the leather itself. In line with industry standards, we recommend that you give your leather a deep clean and conditioning treatment at least every 6 months.
When was the last time your family car was detailed? If you can’t remember, it’s been too long. Post school holidays, the family car deserves some special treatment. Find our closest car detailing in Perth near you.
