 Pro detailer Ken Wilson. Click image to enlarge |
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Wash Tips from a Pro
Owning a car or truck is a significant investment, and as such, proper steps should be taken to preserve its value. While most consumers recognize that regular oil changes and scheduled service calls are important to ensure the reliable operation of their vehicles, very few people pay much attention to the maintenance of the car’s external surfaces or interior. Most believe that the occasional visit to the car wash should suffice, and if they have any change leftover, they may vacuum out those errant fries that have been under the seat since last summer. In reality, detailing is one of the most valuable services your vehicle requires.
I recently paid a visit to the shop of master detailer Ken Wilson in an effort to get a better understanding of what it takes to keep a vehicle looking its best. Ken is an automotive enthusiast himself, so he knows how much his clients enjoy their automobiles. As a result, he is meticulous in his work, and the end results are truly stunning. Over the course of an afternoon, Ken and I discussed his industry, various products, the needs and wants of his clients, and most importantly, how the average consumer can detail his own car with far less effort than expected in a couple of hours.
Once you get familiar with the various steps involved in a thorough detail it will become a regular part of your car’s maintenance plan, and you may find you even enjoy it. There are basically four steps to detailing the outside of the car: washing, claying, polishing and sealing/waxing. Washing and vacuuming should happen at least every two weeks, while the other three are required as needed based on environmental conditions and/or time factors. Interior detailing should also be a regular activity to reduce the effects of exposure to the sun, dirt and dust, as well as prevent the intrusion of odours, moisture and mould.
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at 8:08 am
The side-bar is not accessible from the provided link.
at 8:35 am
All fixed; thanks for the heads up.
at 9:59 am
So what you start cleaning your car in the morning, and your done, what 5-6 at night
Im all for keeping my car clean, etc But most weekends Im a bit busy to detail my car for 7-8 hours
at 11:23 am
My car gets cleaned regularly – at least twice a year when it goes into the Honda dealership service dept and the kind people there give it a wash and a quick vacuum
Who wants to spend that much time working on making the car look pretty? My car sits outside 24/7, as it has done for the past 7 years, and it looks just fine after a quick wash. Isn’t that what modern finishes/paints are supposed to do?
at 11:24 am
^^^^
Ken did you even read the article?
“Over the course of an afternoon, Ken and I discussed his industry, various products, the needs and wants of his clients, and most importantly, how the average consumer can detail his own car with far less effort than expected in a couple of hours.”
Where did you get 7-8 hours from???
at 12:20 pm
You people blow me away – its the second most expensive single purchase you will likely make – 6 hours every 6 months (twice a year) to protect your investment is NOTHING! I laugh at all the people I see with Mercs, BMWs (insert any car here) and their front wheels are black from brake dust. They pay the extra money for the status but then cheap out on the maintenance. Its called pride of ownership – you can learn a lot about a person by the way they look after their vehicle.
I wash my $30k Hyundai weekly and yet there’s a bazillion Honday Odysey or Toyota Sienna minivan owners who’ve plopped down 40+ large and the only time it gets “washed” is when it rains… What a waste… No time? No excuse, I’ve got a baby at home too – its maybe an hour a week, plus the two annual ones when I wax (as mentioned above).
at 1:49 pm
Having a clean car is really important. I hate nothing more than getting into someones car for a quick lunch trip at work and is smells like dog and looks about as clean as a waiting room chair at a walk-in clinic. If you clean your car regularly and do a quick “grooming” as necessary before/after trips with friends and work buddies, you will find its not too much work at all. You will be gald you did when your boss asks you for the quick ride to the airport
After all, if I wanted to drive around in dirt, I would take the bus.
at 10:01 am
I think as I get older I dont care as much for a spotless car as I used to. That doesnt mean I dont clean and maintain my vehicles, I do vacuum and wash as needed one vehcile every Sunday. But it used to be if I had an unknown scratch show up it would drive me nuts. Now it doesnt. Sure I park the farthest I can in a parking lot, etc, etc to stop any unneeded scratchs & marks, but if it happens, nothing I can really do about it.
Maybe its time to, with 3 kids now, 2 vehicles, a house and a travel trailer to maintain, Im more worried about makign sure everything runs right and wont leave me stranded on the side of the road, not if I have some brakedust on my wheels.
Plus after a busy week and then trying to spend time with the kids, etc, etc. The lounge chair on my deck looks a bit more inviting then spending an hour or two on a Saturday making my car spotless.
at 12:32 pm
You know for some people their car is just not a priority, but as mentioned, if that’s the case, why spend huge cake on a nice vehicle.
This article simply points out how to do so, not that you should, but if you’re interested in doing so, well then here’s the basics.
I bought my 00′ VR6 GTI brand new and 9 years later, it still beats the snot out of any showroom vehicle. Don’t give me the “I don’t have time bullsh*t”. I too at one time had 2 kids and a family, we did a fair amount of stuff together, but my vehicles were always clean. I’ve been like that since I got my first car, which BTW was a POS Ford Cortina station wagon. I still took the time to clean that thing.
I personally clay my car 3-5x/year, wax it often(16x so far this year) and do you want to know how much time that took. NOT MUCH!!!
Granted, the first time you clay your car it will take some time, so turn on the music, plug in a dvd and the plasma(like I do). Take your time, relax and have at it. Don’t make it a chore otherwise it will suck.
Because f the care I’ve taken with my car, I can completely wash, dry and wax it in less than 2 hours, usually closer to 1.5-1.75 hrs. I mean my god, you could have it done before anyone is even up on Saturday morning.
I see people driving around in cars I’d give my left nut for, yet they treat them like there apparent income, DISPOSABLE!!! New Turbo Cayennes, C4S’s, Gallardo, M3’s, etc. These people should be taken outside and shot!!
For the guys that don’t want to(not have time, nor make excuses about it), then the pro’s like Ken should be applauded for taking pride in all they do for these cars. the owners too should be applauded for looking after them.
Well there’s my nickels worth!
at 12:41 am
To all the people who wash, vacuums and detail their cars every week I applaud you! I detail my car 2-2.5 hours every week and wax my car once ever two weeks to keep it in showroom condition and the car err SUV (07 Nissan Murano) that I drive always gets complements from strangers and sometimes I’m being asked if I ever drive the car that much. For a couple of hours a week it’s completely worth it to see your investment not looking like a hag. One time my boss asked for a ride and what a complement I got and I was even told that “He knows who to ask for a ride next time we stayed late for work”. I even have an 80 lbs golden retriever who tags along everyday and it still smells like a new car every time I open the door (no air fresheners and perfumes!) and I believe that the daily and weekly maintenance is the reason why.
It’s true that there are people who are rich and spending money on high-end cars but doesn’t even have the care to properly care for their car and most of the time I feel sorry for those cars. There is a 09 X5 right besides my parking space and my car looks newer that that gas guzzler. One time I asked the owner if he won’t wash his car and the jerk told me “it’s just a car man” what a retard!
It’s also true that the car reflects the personality of the person who drives it especially on how clean it is. Cars are like shoes…do you think you will look good and presentable if your shoes are filthy while wearing your nicest clothes? Even though you don’t have the time to clean it yourself, a trip to a touch less car wash every week shouldn’t be a chore and if money is the issue on the car wash then you should not even drive a car if you cheap-out even to that!
at 7:13 am
Full marks on an excellent article. Cars are a pretty hefty investment these days so anything we can do to protect it is wise.
To many times emphais is put on the mechanical part of the car. Yet it is usually the condition of the body that decides the fate of a car. Periodic oil sprays of the underside and inside panels and attention to detailing will make a car owner feel good because 1. The owner is protecting the investment wisely and 2. it feels damn good to drive a shiny clean car down the street!
at 8:01 am
Finally! A detailing article that is 100% accurate!
I use aerospace 303 instead if petro-based cleaners. The ‘protectants’ that use solvents for that shiny effect WILL attack interior/ exterior plastics, tires, and seals. People, do yourselves a favor, go to Canadian tire and buy the ‘aerospace 303′ to treat your plastics and rubber. It is water based (I think) and provides UV protection for your car.
This detailer knows what he is talking about. Take his advice.
at 9:36 am
This is a good article.
I use a product called Zaino as my exterior paint protection. Not readily available (like Meguair’s or similar products) but works wonders for dark coloured paints. When I was single I would have about 10 coats of it by the end of summer … car would glow at night under street lamps.
Anyway, thanks to the writer for this article — it brings to light the importance of a prep work ahead of just ‘wash and waxing’ with Turtle Wax or Simoniz products … (ouch)
at 10:20 am
I used to be like that to, and to a degree I still am. Out of everyone I know I still have the cleanest car & truck around. But I had a wake up call last year. I used to own a 1993 Golf, washed & waxed constantly, awesome shape for 1 14 year old car. I planned on keeping it forver and giving it to my son when he turned 16. One morning, boom, tboned at an intersection, totalling the car. Last comment I heard about the car was, man its in great shape, shame it got totalled.
Hind sight is 20/20, but really all that time taken on it didnt matter because it got totalled. A person really doesnt know what will happen with their vehicles and thats why we maintain them and clean them, but after that I decided to not to be so uptight about cleaning.
Saying that I just spent 2 hours on Sunday cleaning my van, so really I still do it, just not to the degree I used to.
at 10:27 am
I think basically finding a happy medium that fits your lifestyle. The gentleman above that has 16 coats ogf wax so far this year doesnt have kids, so he has extra time for it. He used to have kids and kept them clean, but did he wax them that often then?
I have friends that have nice vehicles and they park under poplar trees, sap and tree buds stuck everywhere. They let the rain basically wash there car. If thats the case then buy a beater.
Guess its all about balance realy, but as the saying goes, do you rule your obessesion, or does your obsession rule you
at 3:11 pm
This article came along at juuust the right time. Ive got a 7 year old run of the mill Impala LS, which Im trying to sell. It has always looked and runs terrific. According to the books, it aint worth stink anymore but those extra couple of hours over the years following some of Ken’s tricks will surely bring in a couple of thousand more than had I traded it in. This has been proven time and again. Older vehicles sell when both maintenance and appearance still add up to substance.
at 3:02 pm
Proper maintenance involves more then just oil changes. Years ago I owned a 1983 Firebird and I kept it in showroom condition for many years. This involved detailing it every 2 weeks and washing it every week (sometimes more if it needed it) while it was on the road through the summer. I only waxed it twice through out the summer months and stored it during the winter. The most common question I got was “do you actually drive this car much?”….Yes, I do, everyday as a matter of fact.
I now own a 1992 LeBaron Convertible. When I purchased it in July 2009 it was the dirtiest car I had ever actually owned – it literally stank:(. The previous owner was a young girl who didn’t seem to care if the car looked and smelled like a cesspool. As a result of her negligence I was able to pick the car up for a song. I have spent a month cleaning and repairing it back to some former glory and the time spent had definately paid off. It now smells and looks clean and its value has gone up considerably since I bought it. I shudder to think about the new car this girl had bought – a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Convertible – which I doubt in no time will look and smell as badly as the LeBaron did. She had only owned the LeBaron for just over a year!
Learn a lesson here, folks. Look after your stuff or people like me will buy it from you for far less then we might have!