In an effort to add more value to an already very valuable forum, these are five tips that any detailer, professional or enthusiast, will go a long way with. The right process is important for any successful detailer. If you do things in the wrong order then there is a good chance that you can ruin the job. Think about what would happen if you left the sugar out of your cookies and decided to add it after they were baked. Do you think it would have the same taste? Some things need to be done in a certian order for maximum effectivness.
1. Start with the inside
If you have a nice clean car on the outside, then why would you want to risk getting it dirty by kicking up a bunch of dust while detailing the inside? A way to save time overall is to start with the inside before you even wash the outside. That way any dirt that is kicked up from raking out the garbage or banging floor mats around is just washed off with the rest of the dirt.
2. Do the engine first
There is overspray of degreasers involved in cleaning an engine. Detail this area first so that anything that hits the windshield or the fenders while working is just cleaned off during the washing step.
3. Dress the tires and clean the windows before you buff off the LSP
There is overspray involved with dressing tires and cleaning glass. When you do these areas after buffing off the LSP then you will have to spend more time quick detailing the paint again before the job is done. If you leave the wax or sealant hazed on the surface then anything that is overspray will just buff off with the product. This saves you time and ultimately money.
4. Do the dash and seats before you vacuum the interior
There is a potential to track dirt into the car while you are working. There is also a potential to add additional dirt to the floor while cleaning the center console, dash, and seats. Save the carpet for the last step so that when you are finished with that, you can just close the doors and be done. Your beautiful stripes on the floor won't get messed up and you won't have to continue cleaning up crumbs while you are working.
5. Work from the top down and front to back
When washing you should always start from the top and work your way down. This way dirty water isn't dripping down clean surfaces. You should also always move in a direction from front to back in order to stay with the 'grain' of the paint. Moving in any direction that is not in this fashion could introduce marks that are more difficult to remove due to being cross grain scratches. You don't want those.
This is also good advice for working on the interior of the car. Start at the dash and work your way back. Don't clean the seats and then brush stuff onto them from areas above them. Evaluate the surfaces of the interior and map out a plan for cleaning from the top down and from the front to the back.
After you're done with drying,make sure you open all doors,trunk, gas lid cover and hood,one by one, and wipe down all around the edges. To avoid those random small streams of water while your driving to magically appear and ruin your work. :P
After you're done with drying,make sure you open all doors,trunk, gas lid cover and hood,one by one, and wipe down all around the edges. To avoid those random small streams of water while your driving to magically appear and ruin your work. :P
Great tip, but also keep an eye below the rear view mirrors, they can drip too.
__________________ SE I4: 20% Tint All Around, H.I.D., K&N Air Filter, Blacked Out Headlights. Future Mods: Blacked Out Tails, Hoen Fogs, Lowering Springs, Exhaust, LED Side Markers
About drying, something that has worked for me is driving the car around the block while it's wet to get water out of from tail lights, mirrors, and other trim where water sits until you drive for the first time. Sometimes even a leaf blower won't get all the water out of every area, but a short drive around the block works great. Just avoid any dusty areas. When you get back home then dry the car off as usual.
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1985 AW11
Past Toyota products --1989 Corolla SR5, 1995 Camry LE Coupe, 2002 MR2 Spyder, 2006 Scion xA
These are good tips on how to dry the car. These are exactly the reasons that those "never dry your car again" products like the Mr. Clean one are bad ideas. Even if you grease up the surface and allow most of the water to slide off, you are still going to have water hiding in the seams and cracks just waiting to drip out. My advice is to invest in a good drying tool like an Absorber or a waffle weave microfiber towel and just do the job right and forget about these products that are just putting a price tag on cutting corners.
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