Utah Car Detailing – Car Detailer in Utah

1. The first step to cleaning your engine is VERY important! You will want to warm up your engine.

2. Move your vehicle to a place that can handle and properly dispose of the material that will come off your engine from washing. This material can enter a storm drain and cause major damage. I recommend taking it to a local car wash that has a self cleaning washer. These car washes have the proper drains to dispose of harmful material from your car. 

3. Remove cables from the battery. Start with the negative and then the positive. 

4. An engine has more electrical components than most people realize. Most of these cannot get wet, and should be covered with a plastic wrap or bag while washing engine.

5. Not all engine parts can get wet. If it’s an older engine, you will need to cover the carburetor and the air intake. For added security, tape the plastic bag or cover to insure no water enters. 

Check back tomorrow for Engine Cleaning Tips Part 2!

1.Wash Your Vehicle in a Shaded Area

Many car owners don’t realize how important this is, especially in the summer. To avoid water spots, avoid washing your car in the sun. Try to keep the vehicles surface as cool as possible. If the car’s surface is hot, the soap will dry quickly, leaving stains on the paint. This will require another wash.

2. Pre-soak Vehicle

Pre-soaking your vehicle will remove heavy contaminants that might require extra time removing. Get this off first, to avoid rubbing it into the paint and leaving scratches. This is especially important with dried mud.

3. Car Washing Materials 

Have a bucket filled with water and liquid soap ready. Also have a sponge or mitt for the wash.

4. Divide Your Vehicle into Sections 

Unless you have a small sports car, you should divide your vehicle up in sections. Wash a section, and then rinse it. It’s a good idea to start with the roof of your vehicle, followed by the hood and then the rear of the vehicle. Next you will want to wash the upper sides of the car, and then move to the lower areas. The lowers areas will have more dirt, so you want to do these last to avoid rubbing this dirt on the other areas of the car.

5. Rinse off sponge and mitt before placing it back into the bucket

If you don’t rinse off the sponge and mitt before, you will most likely add dirt and other particles to the bucket of water and soap. When you take the mitt and sponge back out to wash the vehicle, you will be rubbing your car with dirt, which will result in scratches.

6. Rinse your vehicle!

Don’t just go around the vehicle onces rinsing it. Rinse it numerous times! The more the better.

7. Use a different tool to clean the tires and wheels

Your wheels and tires contain lots of dirt and brake dust. DO NOT use the same mitt you use on your paint, to wash your wheels and tires. Brake dust can easily scratch your paint. A lot of car owners learn this the hard way.

8. Expensive doesn’t always mean better

Most expensive car cleaners or liquid are not necessary. That bottle of dishwashing soap under your kitchen sink will do the job, and do it well. It’s not the soap that cleans the car, it’s YOU!

9. Be careful of harmful cleaners 

Some cleaners contain chemicals that if inhaled by a human can be hazardous. When using a chemical on a hot vehicle, the chemicals will vaporize, making it easier to inhale.

10. Make it fun!

You are more likely to do something if it’s fun. So make washing your car a fun activity! Listen to music and get in a swimsuit!

When cleaning the interior of your vehicle, it’s a good idea to start with cleaning the dash and cup holders. This will make it possible to vacuum up any trash that falls from your cup holders onto the floor.

When you clean the upholstery and carpets, it’s a good idea to start with the drivers area. This area is most likely the dirtiest and will require the most time. Also, by finishing the drivers side first, you will be giving the drivers side more time to dry so the customer can drive their car.

The last step to cleaning the interior is to clean the windows.

Many car owners look at washing their car as a way to complete the weekly task while getting a tan. But what many car owners don’t realize is washing your car, while the body of the car is hot, can result in soap and water deposits to form.

If you don’t have a shaded spot to wash your car, you can always find a local Utah car detailer that can do it for you. Mobile car detailers come to wherever your vehicle is, and are able to setup a tent to keep your car in the shade. No worrying about the sun drying and creating water spots.

Washing your car weekly can become difficult at times, but it is worth it. Cars that are sold that have been washed weekly, are sold for a higher amount because the paint and other equipment on the car are kept looking new.

Not everyone has a power washer or hose at their house to wash their car. So driving down the street to your local car wash is a great alternative. Take some drying towels with you, because not every car wash provides drying towels.

Not every car wash has to be a 2 hour wash. It’s okay to wash and dry the exterior, taking only ten minutes.

Make sure to check back at Utah Car Detailing often for great car washing tips!

Items you will need for a successful car detailing experience! 

• Bucket
• Soap
• Sheepskin Glove
• Wax and Foam Wax Applicator
• Glass Cleaner
• Tire Shine - Keeps tires looking wet!
• Microfiber Towels
• Beverage of choice

Note: To avoid water spots, try washing and drying car in shade. 

Step 1: Wash Wheels

Step 2: Washing the Remainder of car

Step 3: Dry

Step 4: Apply Tire Shine – One of my favorites

Step 5: Wax

Step 6: Glass Cleaner

Step 7: Enjoy!

In a perfect world, we would have no salt on the roads after a winter storm. But, we don’t, and most city’s are required to use salt on the road to melt the ice, making it safe to drive. Unfortunately, that salt is your cars worst enemy!

What’s the best way to get salt off your car? It’s obvious! Hand wash. But that’s not always possible when its below freezing. So the next best way? High pressure washes. Don’t have a power sprayer? Don’t worry. I live in Utah, and there are about 5 high pressure car washes that cost $1.50 for 3 minutes of washing.

Don’t worry if your doors get frozen shut. It’s nothing a little boiling water can’t fix!

Good luck!

Scratches can make your car look old and can reduce the value greatly. So how can you avoid scratching your car?

Many car owner don’t realize that a lot of scratches happen while cleaning your car . This happens when items you are using to clean your car are dirty or hard. Many of these items can act as sandpaper on your car’s paint.

Only use soft items on your car’s paint to reduce chances of scratches.

Some basic tips can improve your car washing experience and quality of your car.

Utah Car Washing Tip

Wash your car in the shade, if possible.  Have you ever washed your car, only to realize that it already dried before you got around to drying it? If you wash your car in the shade, you buy yourself and extra 10 minutes of drying time. 

Washing Car Wheels

Car washing soap used for the paint doesn’t have the best effect on wheels.  Try scrubbing the wheels with wheel cleaner before washing the paint.

When I take the time to wash my car, I usually always give my wife’s car a quick scrub down.  I have all the cleaning supplies out, so might as well.  If you find yourself in this situation when you are washing two cars, make sure to wash all the cleaning supplies before using on the car.  Cleaning supplies can get dirt up inside, and when used can possibly scratch the paint.  Make sure to empty the bucket of the old water, and replace with new, clean water.  Don’t be lazy and continue using the old water because you don’t want to mix the soap again.  I promise you will regret it when you realized you just put a scratch down the side of the car.  Not fun!