If you are thinking about getting your car a professional detailing, stop right there. Professional detailing costs anything between $200-$500, so it is expensive, and when you think about it, you can do it yourself for a lot less money. Oh, and don’t worry, it is pretty straightforward. Professionals tend to bring their own equipment, some of which you might have at home, but you end up paying for those as well. Anyhow, keeping your car in “brand new” condition will result in better resale value.
Most sellers’ common mistake is that they get a last-minute detailing in hopes of increasing the value of their car, which does no good. When you go to a dealership to get your vehicle appraised, those professionals can easily see beyond the new detailing. A well-maintained vehicle is what fetches you good money, not a well-cleaned car.
Cleaning Materials And Tools
Before we get into the detailing part, let us first discuss the equipment and tools you will need.
-
- A small vacuum cleaner with an extension hose and hand-held attachments is ideally the best choice.
- Gather all the chemical cleaning products you have to clean various surfaces such as carpets, plastic, vinyl, etc. Make a check of all the types of car surfaces and gather the chemical cleaners to clean those surfaces.
- Since you are putting in so much effort and time, you might just use the best products to add some polish and shine to your car’s surface. An assortment of hand towels and rags would be the best choice. To avoid scratches, make sure you use a microfiber cloth.
- To get each nook and clean of every little dust particle, you will need different-sized brushes. These will help you reach every little corner. Make sure you use the proper applicator to get the best results.
If you have any doubt about the cleaner and whether to use it on your car surface, make sure you test it out on an inconspicuous area as a sort of patch test.
With that addressed, let’s start.
Gather The Trash
Car cleaning is a process, a step-by-step recipe of sorts. So, first, start by collecting all the trash from the cupholders, the floor mats, the dashboard, door pockets, seat pockets, etc. Remove all the extra items such as documents, car seats, chargers, cables, etc., from the car.
Remove And Clean The Floor Mats
With the trash out of the way, the next step is to deal with the dirtiest item in the car, the floor mats. Remove all the floor mats for easier cleaning. Give each mat a good shake and vacuum them nicely. Depending on the material of the floormat, clean it with a suitable cleaner. For silicone or rubber mats, dip them into a tub of water mixed with a few drops of liquid dish wash. Use a scrub brush to get rid of any extra dirt. For carpets, use a carpet cleaner and follow the instructions. After cleaning the mats, let them air-dry while you get onto the next step.
