Know your detailer

[turbomangt]

Its that time of year (if you live in the snow belt) when most people can't wash and detail their own car. The lack of space, heat, garage, and drains all bring people to the local car wash and perhaps even a professional detailer. Here are some things you should know (or ask) when taking your car in for a detail.
1. Ask for referenes, if they have a good reputation and have been in business a while, they will have them.
2. Find out what they do when they "prep" a car, and if acid washing is part of that. You DON'T want your car acid washed. This is what many detailers are doing now, because it is the fastest way to remove all contaminents from your finish, but it does damage to the clear coat that may not show up for months to come.
3. Ask if clay barring is part of the service, this is the best procedure to properly prepare a car for the final steps of polishing and finishing
4. Find out if they are using fresh, recycled or filter water. By law they have to answer honestly. Recycled and filtered means the dirty water that is being rinsed from other cars in going on yours.
5. See if they use a shop vac or an extractor to clean the carpet. A shop vac is fine for vacuuming, but NOT for picking up chemicals in the carpet. An extractor will suck up chemical cleaners from deep inside the fibers. No shop vac will perform this function correctly, resulting in chemicals which turn to mold, and dry rot in the carpet, you don't want that, your better off with dirty carpeting.
6. Find out if engine cleaning is part of the service, and how they perform it. I see many shops blasting 3000 PSI of high pressure water under hoods, and I just gasp for air thinking about it. I clean all engines by hand, it takes longer, but its safer and you don't run the risk of damaging computer chips, electrical wires and other sensative components.
7. Do they have insurance? what if they damage your car? will they cover it?
8. What products are they using to polish/ wax or seal? many shops are just applying a "quick wax" which is so thin,it won't even last a week. a quality paint sealant is best for lasting protection.
9. what machines are they using during the polishing/cleaning stages? Most people think that a high speed buff should be part of a full detail. This should only be done for serious paint defects. If your finish is in need of a high speed buff, ask if they will guarentee no swirls when they do the job. A good detailer can do this properly.
10. Ask to see their check list of all work they perform and make sure it meets your expectations. Gary

[IRPT]

Thanks Gary, great list of questions.

[snittykitty]

Hi Gary,
I always feel embarrassed when I try to use the right terminology and mispronounce it so I'm wondering if "clay barring" is "bar-ring" or "bear-ing"?

Up until now, I'd sought out places who advertised "recycled" water because I thought it was better for the environment. Of course, that was when I was driving a 92 Ford Escort. I presumed the water was recycled that the filtering process would eliminate residual dirt and/or chemicals from prior uses. I guess I was pretty naive and ignorant.

~christy

[turbomangt]

Christy, no your not. sometimes we all have to make a stand. I will be honest with you, I respect you for wanting a better environment. It comes down to what's worse, a diry planet or a dirty car. know what I mean.? Gary