Interior Detailing: The in’s and out’s.
Anyone can clean a car interior, but not everyone can detail the interior of a vehicle. Yes, there is a difference when it comes to cleaning vs detailing. Cleaning could be as simple as a vacuum and a quick wipe down of the dash. An interior detail should be not only a deep vacuum of the vehicle, but also a deep and intensive cleaning of all parts of the interior. From the dash and console, to the doors, windows, cup holders, storage compartments, steering wheel and glass. A complete interior detail will also remove stains from carpets and seats. Not every chemical you buy at Walmart or Canadian Tire can or should be used on the delicate and varying surfaces of the interior of a vehicle. This is what sets detailing apart.
A complete interior detail, like that performed by Elderado Auto Detailing, doesn’t just clean the vehicle. Our goal is to reset the interior of your vehicle to the way it looked when it was sitting in the showroom. We use specially designed and formulated products that are built solely for interior detailing vehicles. The cleaners for the dash, hard plastics and vinyl’s have special UV inhibitors in them to protect against the harmful rays of the sun that fade and dry out your interior. Our leather cleaners clean and nourish the leather in your vehicle. They also provide protection against spills and UV rays. When it comes to fabrics, you again need very special cleaners. We use specialized chemicals for treating the different types stains and spills found in a vehicle.
Why can’t I use just any old cleaner? Most all purpose cleaners (APC’s) and degreasers are not designed for car interiors. They typically are much to harsh and will stain and dry out the plastics and vinyl. Others will leave a super shiny and greasy finish, that when in the sun are almost blinding. Not only is that not natural and can be dangerous when driving into the sun, and they will actually attract more dirt to them! When you use the wrong cleaner for fabrics you can leave yourself with even bigger headaches. If you can’t soak up all the moisture from the cleaner it will potentially stain the fabric, ruin electronics (heated seats), and in most cases leave the fabric very stiff and almost brittle. This will reduce the life span of the material and it will start fall apart much faster than you want, resulting in losing money when you sell your vehicle.
Let’s talk about the professional way to detail a vehicle. For cleaning hard surfaces you want to chemical that is not going to damage anything it touches. It needs to have good cleaning power, and if built properly, it will have some protection left behind. All while maintaining that original showroom look. You want to use a soft detail brush to reach into all the cracks and crevices around the dash and console, one that will not scratch any of the softer more delicate surfaces. The use of high end microfiber towels, not the ones from Costco or Walmart are essential in the modern vehicle. Steam cleaning can also be very useful at removing stubborn debris and stains. For carpets, there are different types of stains and spills you must contend with. You want an enzyme cleaner to kill bacteria and organic matter, and you want another cleaner to remove oil, grease, and dirt. Our two part carpet system not only removes spills, stains and grime, but also has an odor neutralizer in it and some protection to fight against future spills. Talk about overbuilt. At Elderado Auto Detailing, we use some of the best chemicals on the market. Designed exclusively for automotive detailing.
With todays modern vehicles, your cleaning techniques need to adapt and change. Hot water extraction is not used nearly as much, as most seats have wiring and other electronics in them. We utilize steam extraction, and steam cleaning to get the best results, while also introducing as little moisture as possible into the carpets and seats. This saves on the time needed to dry out the seat before you can drive the vehicle. Hot water extraction is still great for carpet floor mats. Knowing what technique, paired with the correct chemical is what sets Elderado Auto detailing apart. We offer mobile auto detailing services that will bring your vehicle back to new.
If you really want to maximize the value of your vehicle, you should setup a detailing schedule. Elderado Auto Detailing offers maintenance schedules on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly program. This will keep your vehicle looking new and have you addicted to clean.
To learn more, or to book your interior detail today, click here!