Posted by James in car detailing, car upholstery, maintenance, tips

For Fabric Upholstery

If vinyl is easy to clean although it is difficult to keep it cleaned, fabric on the hand is the most difficult to detail, to clean and to keep it cleaned. Why? Two reasons, it easily stains and it easily soils and fade. With this reason you may think choosing fabric upholstery for your car’s interior is just impractical but the comfort it provides makes it just as the best choice for most car owners. But this is not the post I will discuss the other benefits and advantages of a fabric materials for car upholstery, this is a post in continuation on how to detail car’s upholsteries.

When cleaning your fabric upholstery, you have to seat at least two to three hours to get it done. Unlike vinyl that would only take less than 30 minutes to wipe off the dirt and clean it dry. But with then right cleaning materials and learning the very basic method in cleaning it, that two to three hours time could be cut in half.

What is the best product choices left to your option?

• Spray cleaners.  Either the foaming or non-foaming type, these type of cleaners are easy to be applied. It sinks in the fabric lifting the dirt and stains off to the surface so you can just wipe it away.  This comes in strong solution so the stains are easily removed since it gets deep into the stain. When using it for the first time, apply it in hidden area of your upholstery. Observe if it changes its colors or affected its texture. If the answer is yes, do not use this anymore and try another cleaner that is less concentrated than it. 
• Shampoo. Or a homemade laundry soap solution. By using this, you are just washing your fabric upholstery like ordinary clothes. But you need to use brush or sponge along with it and you must rinse it thoroughly to avoid moldy smell. Shampooing up your fabrics could be a very good and effective way to clean it but you need to put much detail on rinsing it. The secret lies in rinsing that all soap remains must be removed. Vacuum dry the fabric also after shampooing for a quick dry to ensure it well smell good. You can also use a blow-dryer if you don’t have a vacuum with you. Blow dryer could be use especially if you’re cleaning under a very good sunny weather where you have the sun to help you dry your fabric fast.

 

 

7 Easy Steps To Clean Your Fabric Upholstery

1. Get one small bucket and pour enough warm water in it. Keep an extra galloon of clean water for rinsing.
2. Using the spray cleaner you have, spray directly over the soiled areas. If using a shampoo, mix it with 4 ounces of cleaner in the bucket of water for a more concentrated solution.
3. Grab your scrub brush and rub it in circular motion to thrust the cleaner solution in the fabric evenly. Spray water over the solution constantly so it will not stick and remain on the fabric.
4. After rubbing it, wipe the solution with a sponge or damp cloth or micro fiber towel but soak or dip the cloth into the water from time to time.
5. Throw away the soapy water in the bucket and replace it with clean warm water. Use this new water in rinsing your fabric upholstery by using another damp cloth. Dip the cloth in the water if it’s getting dry again or it has soap on it already.
6. After rinsing, get you vacuum and dry the fabric up or use blow dry to extract ang wring the excess rinse water out.
7. Apply a fabric protectant when it dries already.

Posted by James in Guide, car detailing, maintenance, organizing car, tips

You have a vacuum alright, and you know how to operate it, but you know the proper way to vacuum your car that will eat up only a minute of your time? Of course you don’t have to be a genius to know this but additional tips are surely useful to those who wanted to find ways how to keep anything at ease including me. You also know that a vacuum has a crevice attachment and a dust brush attach to it; if your vacuum missed any of this part then you need to replace it.

Moreover, the crevice should be made from plastic or that it doesn’t have any damage on its tips otherwise it will scratch or wound your vehicles metal panels as well as your leather and vinyl upholstery. It also recommended that the vacuum you will use in your car has a long and small crevice since it will be more effective when reaching deep consoles, under seats, seams, crannies and nooks including the areas around the seat beads.

When reaching behind the pedals and other tight or deep areas, a nice fitting crevice will help you clean it. You may also need a brush to use before and after you vacuum especially on your carpets. Here is one give away tip in vacuuming your carpet, beat your carpet or lift the section where you will point your vacuum hose or crevice. This way, the dirt accumulated in the thrust of the carpet will fall down or would come loose.

 Proper Way to Vacuum:

• The proper way to vacuum you car’s interior is to know where to start. This way, you will not repeat the process again and again. Start from the rear upholstery and carpet by pushing the front seats forward. With the crevice, vacuum the cracks and in between spaces of the seats and carpet areas. You have to use the dust brush for the door panels since vacuuming it will not enough. After brushing it, vacuum it again to ensure all dust and dirt are removed.
• You have to pull out your floor mats and liners before you vacuum the inside of your car since this is typically made from rubber. Rubber and vacuum don’t go together. Floor mats and liners should be washed or brushed off when cleaning although you could vacuum it as well using a 4 inches crevice.
• After vacuuming the rear section, push the seats back on its proper arrangement or you could also push it backward on the rear‘s direction. Like the way you vacuumed in the back, do it as well on the front section targeting the areas and crack of the seats and the surface behind the carpeted areas and seats. Vacuum the gas and brake pedals including the gear shifts and dashboards. Use brush when vacuuming console, door panels and vents to loose all the dirt accumulation.
• For the fabric upholstery, use the round brush attachment also when vacuuming it, but make sure to be gentle and not to rub it off heavily, you can would or destroy the fiber on your fabric upholstery.

Using a vacuum properly will make cleaning your car’s interior and upholstery easier and faster. If you follow this proper way to vacuum your car, it will make your cleaning double easier and faster!

Wait for my next post about detailing your car’s upholstery be it a vinyl, leather or even fabric. Like me, I; sure you always want your car especially its interior to be always looking new and smelling fresh. Who doesn’t anyways, right? Good Day!

Posted by James in Guide, car detailing, maintenance, organizing car, tips

So, when is the perfect time to clean your car’s interior? Let me help you to determine a systematic way of cleaning your car’s interior from a weekly to a monthly routine. There are also parts in your interior that only demands at least four times a year to be cleaned. Knowing this method, you will surely save yourself from overdoing it.

For a Weekly Routine

You will just need a damp cloth or a micro fiber towel to clean you car’s interior, Washing would be just enough to keep your car clean on a weekly basis. This is to prevent dirt and dust accumulation that if not controlled would lead to bigger problem of cleaning your car.

Here are the things you can do to in cleaning your car weekly:

• Wipe all your vinyl and upholstery except the fabric ones with a damp cloth or using a micro fiber towel. Micro fiber towel is more effective in wiping off dirt and dust fast.
• Wash your floor mats like an ordinary laundry by pulling it out and brushing and hosing off the dirt.
• Wipe your door handles, jambs and sills with damp towel as well. Include your window switches or handles.
• Be sure to pick up all trashes and dirt on your vehicle especially in the back seat where you consider sometimes as your large waste basket. Paper, peels, candy wrappers or any thrash you happen to throw inside your car.
• Wipe your window glass, mirrors, windshield, door glass and rear window glass with damp towel as well. But make sure that it will not leave any splotches of water residues on the glass. You may need a dry cloth to avoid this.

***If you take at least five minutes out of your time to do this weekly routine, cleaning the full interior of your car on a monthly or quarterly basis will be less daunting and bickering.

 

For a Monthly Routine

Your may need vacuum and towel during a monthly routine of detailing your car. This is basically a follow to your weekly routine. On the other hand, if your periodically had the time to do the weekly routine for cleaning your car’s interior, you can skip doing this monthly routine aside from vacuuming the carpets and seats.

Here are the things you can do to in cleaning your car monthly:

• Provided that you maintain the weekly routine, you don’t have to wash your upholsteries and glasses of your car. You can directly grab your vacuum and vacuum the dirt off your interior carpets and console. Vacuuming is very effective way to completely get rid of any dust and dirt on your car.
•  Applying any car protectants should also be done monthly. This way, you will continuously protect your car and at the same time protecting from early wear and fades. If you do this on a weekly basis, it will also fade your car’s upholstery especially the vinyl and leather. Apply protectants on areas that is most exposed to sun. UV rays radically damage your car’s surface including your car’s interior.

 
For a Car Detailing Routine (Every 4 months is recommended)

You may need to visit your local auto shop and car wash to do this. There are also car detailing professionals that are experts in detailing cars. But you can also do it by yourself provided that the stains over your carpets and upholsteries are easy to remove otherwise you really need someone to do it. This time, you have to clean your seals, trunks, cargo areas as well as your other accessories like seatbelts and consoled. During this routine, you also have to get your dashboard detailed.

 

Posted by James in Guide, maintenance, resale value, tips

TIPS on Keeping Your Car’s Resale Value

These tips are best if you haven’t yet got a car or you are still in the process of buying a new car for investment. Although if you have already one, you can still follow some of the tips I will provide to maintain the high value of your car.

1. When buying a car choose standard colors. Standard colors are the set of colors leaves a classic and conventional car color. You may think that these colors are the basic colors but in reality, these are the colors most buyers wanted to buy and that it is always in style no matter what. These are best seller colors that are still hot in the market although its ubiquity is actual but still preferred by most. These are the colors black, white and red. Can you have an easy time selling a pink or violet car? Now this is what I’m telling about. So if your car’s paint is more on the extreme side like a fuchsia or beige, invest on new car paint now if you’re planning to sell your car.
2. Prevention is always better than cure. This is applicable with this second tip. Maintain a routine inspection and maintenance of your car. The earlier it is inspected for any damage the earlier it is prevented to cause further damage and problems as well. Regular service check will prevent any severe damage on your vehicle that will cause it to breakdown.
3. Hydrate your car always. As I mentioned in my previous post, always keep your car’s fluid level up. Oil, fuel, coolant, refrigerant and other type of fluids used in car’s performance and functions should always be filled. Car runs smoothly with fluids. Always follow the recommended oil change every 3000 miles or every couple of months whichever comes first.
4. Do necessary repairs over damaged vehicle parts. If you have just recently encountered or get involved in an accident, fix any damage immediately. This will bring bad impact over your reputation as a seller and it will drop a large bracket on your car’s resale value.
5. Don’t abuse your car with high mileage. Logically, higher mileage over your car’s gauge means a higher wear and tear on its vehicle parts especially on tires and engine
6. Remember that rust is your vehicle’s number one enemy. Applying rust protectants is your best remedy to prevent any early rust tendencies.
7. Include cleaning in your routine maintenance. Avoid dirt accumulation on your carpets, seats and liners. Regular washing and having it vacuumed are two of the simplest way to maintain cleanliness inside your car. As for the exterior, focus your cleaning on your wheels, the trims especially. Accumulated dirt over your wheel trims can leave a disgusting appeal on your car. This dirt will also scratch your expensive wheel alloys so better clean it regularly.
8. Floor liners, cargo liners and floor mats are not just pieces of styling accessories. If put into good use, this car accessories will protect you car to the most from marring, dents, scratches, mud and spills.
9. Invest on a safe car garage or parking area. It will be very unfortunate if you damage your car while you are confident with how you store your car. Or, if you don’t have a proper garage for your car, you will eventually find your car’s paint faded and damage due to weather condition of rain, sun and snow. Plus the possibility of thief, burglars and other accidents of damage if you park your cars unguarded outside your house.

That’s it. I hope you learned something new with these tips

Posted by James in Guide, maintenance, resale value, tips

Here is my follow-up and part II post of my blog entry “Keeping Your Car’s Resale Value”.

8 EASY AND SIMPLE WAYS TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR’S VALUE

1. Don’t abuse your car. This could be done by avoiding driving your car in excessive miles. The potential depreciation value of your vehicle could be directly influence by the high mileage it had undergone.
2. Keep away from rust. Rust is the number one cause of corrosion and damage on your vehicle leaving an unappealing and awful sight on your car. Since your vehicle body frames is made and molded from metal, it is wise to get rust coating and applying it over should be done regularly. As I mentioned, if you live in a place where cold climate and winters is natural be sure to wash and remove the road salt deposits on its body especially the wheel rims and underbody to prevent early rust tendencies. Target the vehicle parts that are prone to accumulate moisture, salt build-up and water such as the fenders and panels.
3. Maintain a clean and proper garage for your vehicle. Two abrasive elements, the Sun and the cold weather. These two elements are your valid and enough reason to keep a good garage for your vehicle. Extreme sunlight can fade away your vehicle’s paint and surface while extreme cold climate can have direct assault on your internal components on your vehicle’s engine like the air and fuel filter.
4. Clean your car often. By often, it means you have a regular routine for it. A periodic range of having your car completely detailed will preserve the quality of your car, not only on its exterior but its interior as well.
5. Your car is neither your kitchen nor your dining area. Eating inside your car is one of the top reasons why your car’s interior shows early sign of damage. Accidental spills will lead to floor panel corrosions as well as stain over your carpets, seats and dashboards. Avoid smoking inside your car as well.
6. Keep a friendly semblance too your service mechanic. Well not in exaggerated way, but you must frequent your vehicle with shop visits for routine inspection. You must keep your records of maintenance or repairs if it has since buyers ask this to owners or sellers first. Also, nothing beats the maintenance or repair that is done by professional or experts so do-yourself-jobs is not reliable and practical at all times.
7. Keep away from any modification that will damage your car. As you decide over a modification, make sure that it will not sacrifice any of your vehicle parts or cause damage to any of it like paint chirps and scratches or altered the original specification of your car. Alteration sometimes decreases the cars value even if you have done it to upgrade.
8. Don’t let wear and tear pass your car! If any of your car parts need replacement already, get one immediately. Or else, that component may extend further damage to its adjacent component. Say for example you have a rusty header panel, be sure to replace it or its rust will eats up its parts connected to it like then bumpers or the headlight casing.

 

Easy ways, isn’t it? If you religiously follow this and keep this in mind, you will never have the difficulty to maintain the pristine value of your car. This way, you will keep a hold and control over its depreciation value or appreciation value if yours is a classic car.

For my next post, I will share with you tips on how to maintain your car’s value. Good Day Everyone!

Posted by James in Guide, buying online, safety reminders, security, tips

As for my last post, I have listed the benefits and advantages of buying car parts and accessories or any thing for that matter online.

This time I will share with you the things you should remember or know before buying online. There are lots of scams happening around the web these days so you better be wary of the your rights as a consumer but don’t loose your confidence, there are established and well trusted online store that offers safe and secured transaction plus a quality service you will enjoy.

So what is there to check before placing down your orders or bids?

v Check the website’s URL address. It is better to type the URL on the address book that clicking on the embedded link to be sure you are directed on the right company.

v Look for the online protection and security assurance that the company offers. Usually it is located at the bottom of the website. The VeriSign and HackerSafe security are examples of this.

v If you want easy and fast comparison for the product, there are comparison shops that compare online dealer’s prices, shipping rates and handling fees. So it will be easy for you to choose where shop or store to buy.

v It is always good to call their customer service hotline for complete details and information about the product and the company itself as well. Know its full business mailing address and contact numbers. It is better to research about the website before you make an order.

v Always read on customer’s testimonials and feedbacks although its authenticity is not guaranteed, still it could help somehow.

v It is smart to save all the information and transaction done on your computer. Bookmark it or print the transaction pages. This will help you to track your transactions down in case there is a problem with your purchase. You can back yourself up with these evidences as you know the exact date of the purchase, the price and your means of paying for the product.

v Read carefully the terms and condition so you will if it’s good enough for you. Including the privacy statement details where it state what they will going to do with your personal information or details. You can ask the company to keep your information private.

v Don’t hastily fill out forms that ask for your credit card information if you are paying through it. Some website shell out your credit card information to other companies. Be sure to contact your credit card issuer for more security. This goes the same way with other paying methods. Look for the company that has the secure way of paying known as encryption facility. Encryption facility uses “padlocks” right after you finish up filling the forms. Another symbol you can look for is an unbroken key.

v A good company or online dealer will honestly have a fair estimate as to when or how the item’s purchased is delivered. An answer that it will be delivered is not a good answer; they must have a specified shipping period for that.

In summary, a good company or online merchant offers protection of your privacy (always they don’t ask sensitive information via email), payment security and details a clear terms of agreement or conditions. It also let customers have the right to cancel orders and delivers the items at their prescribed or promised time period. You must also know that you have the right to complain if you deemed it necessary. Opt for the companies that offer sorting out complaints where they could entertain queries and complaints.

Posted by James in Guide, buying online, fun facts, just anything, tips

Have anyone of you experienced buying online? On EBay perhaps? All that you may need from personal things like clothes, collectibles to furniture and even car parts accessories and replacement are now available online. When it comes to car parts replacement and accessories, would you go buying online? Read on and you may find yourself nodding with the benefits and advantages I have already experienced and experiencing buying online for my much needed car parts replacement and accessories.

At the end, you may even say that purchasing online is smarter and less-bickering way of getting your immediate replacement or car accessory.

What are the upsides of buying car parts online?

1. Within the confines and comforts of your home or office, you will never have to experience the hassle of getting and waiting for your ordered parts online.
2. Searching for the correct and exact part for your vehicle is easy as most online store provides selector tool where with just a click of the mouse you will find the year, make and model of your vehicle for perfect fitting.
3. Canvassing for the best offer on prices and promos or discounts is easy. Just by opening the websites of your prospect seller, you will know in instant what store offers the best deal. Unlike canvassing in you local stores, hopping from one store to another is a tiring and may cost more from fuel and snacks in between store hopping.
4. Searching for the rare replacement part would be easy since most online store stocks a wide variety and inventory of each part. Unlike in store around your place, its supply is surely limited you will wait for the next delivery before your get one unless you buy it in bulk which in most cases you will not.
5. You always get the best deal online. Online providers sourced their products to deal directly from the manufacturer so it is guaranteed that is offered at lower prices.
6. You can background check the service of that store as their website always has a feedback section where previous customers leave their comments and experiences.
7. Reviewing the product you wanted to buy would be easy since it is most likely that each of the items on the catalog are described and detailed with product information from the manufacturer, the dealer and of the customers that had already bought the item.
8. In most instances, there is always a stand-by 24/7 customer service always ready to answer your queries and other question on the product including the price and shipping fees and the service they offer. They are even friendly and have nice voices too.
9. You can actually save from shipping cost if you do multiple purchases unlike buying on local store where you will need to pay delivery fee or you would bring your own service to haul your purchases.
10. You can buy online at your most convenient time; any time of the time is in fact will do since it is 24/7 open. You don’t wait for tomorrow or for the time it will open like what you do when buying on your local auto shops and stores. You will also don’t be in rush to run after its closing time.
11. Some online store even offer 24 hours delivery so no need for you to wait for couple of days more for your order to arrive. Although three to four days is the common shipping time allotted especially if your place is far from its warehouse.

So there, this is one kind of shopping convenience at its best! This is part I of my post about buying online. I will give tips and reminder before ordering online on my next posts. Good Day!

Posted by James in Guide, car cleaners, car detailing, car ideas, car's paint, just anything, organizing car, tips, tools

When you say car detailing, it entails a systematic way, steps or manner in taking care of your car. Taking care also includes the protection you could give and that daily maintenance you do to keep your car clean and shine. I’ve search over the net to find all the possible detailing tools that can be use in cleaning cars, thoroughly. That’s it, not the expensive types use in auto shops like carpet extractor, gas pressure washer, generators, air compressors, electric pressure washer and well, you get my point. What I am referring to are those tools that our pockets could afford and that we can use it right in our house vicinity.

So here are the tools I found that you could use at home:

• Polishing pads
• Brushes
• Vacuum or blowers
• Drying tools
• Sponges & mitts
• Spray
• Buckets
• Hose and water jet nozzle
• Dusters
• Microfiber products

The interior of your car should be spotlessly clean and mould-free smell. You could do a regular vacuum to prevent accumulation of sand, dust, salt and other grimes that will damage the floor panels, carpets or liners. Wiping off the dirt from the dashboards, seats and parcel shelf should be included.

On the other hand, the exterior should also be well maintained since the first impression of a properly maintained car is seen here. It also defines the resale value of the car. You must take car detailing seriously on your exterior especially if you live in coastal places where salt presence is high. Regular car detailing and servicing is the key to achieve total maintenance and protection.

Friendly and Useful Tips in doing a DIY car detailing at Home:

- If you are a smoker, try not to smoke inside your car. The nicotine and smoke sticks to the glass applications in your car which are too hard way to remove. Also, the smell sticks heavily especially if you have a fabric seats.

- Try to choose the best air freshener that will compliment your car and especially yours. Some air freshener’s causes dizziness and that it also sticks its fragrance to your car’s upholstery so better choose the one you best like.

- Keep a weekly maintenance routine to keep the color of your car crisp and sparkly.

- Avoid using streak towels since it causes damage to your paint.

- Sponge is the one of the best tool you can use to wash your car. It allows a rich lather while it ensures a smooth and non-abrasive texture.

- Shampoo or hair shampoos are a good and cheap solution you can use to wash your car. It comes economical and easier to find that other washing liquids.

- Why did I include micro fiber cloth because of its capacity to dry clean your car fast and smooth after washing. Be sure to stock enough of this in your garage.

- Make sure to wipe your car immediately after you drove it under heavy rain. The dirt accumulated during the rain if left to dry will de difficult to remove so better wipe it off before its dries.

- Cotton cloths are the safest and most effective tool to clean your windshields and windows off.

- If you don’t regularly use your car, make sure to at least switch the ignition on for at least five minutes to ensure its engine will not rust into decay for not being used.

- Since summer time is here, one good tip to keep your car shiny and maintain its paint quality is to immediately wash it off after you have gone to the beach. As I said, salt is the number cause of rusting in your car.

Posted by James in Guide, car detailing, car's paint, just anything, maintenance, solutions, tips

For my last post, I have discussed about how to check you car paint’s condition. It was some sort of requirement that your car’s paint must meet or must have undergone before you could say that your car has the perfect and smooth shine! But this time, I will share with you simple and easy to follow instruction on how you can achieve that perfect shine, hence the title of this post. I’ve discovered that you do need to have professional skills to actually make your car shine like you wanted it to shine.

Here are the steps for your way to that perfect shine you desire:

1. Wash it & Dry it Clean.

It is recommended that you wash your car twice consecutively using a car wash solution. You can even use a shampoo since this has shining effect already. But if the dirt of your car needs more than shampoo to get it done, use a dish washing liquid instead. Make sure that you rinse your car well to avoid soap blot formation.

2. Detail it with clay system.

You can check the smoothness of your car’s paint after cleaning I through your hands. If its squeaks when rob, then it’s not yet completely smooth. Your car’s paint maybe contaminated still with dust, dirt and acid rain residues and other road grimes that’s why it’s not evenly smooth. Clay system of detailing is one of the most effective ways to get rid of these contaminants. Clay detailing gently smoothes your car’s paint to leave a slick and shiny afterwards with just simple step of applying it that comes in liquid or in bar.

3. Inspect it for Paint Damage.

When you are done cleaning and detailing, inspect for minor paint damage. In most cases, minor damage in your car is not noticed unless it is cleaned since it could be concealed by the road grimes. If you find scratches and blemishes, use a restore polish to repair these flaws. You need a good rubbing compound to do this like sandpaper. If doing it by your self is not enough, bring to your local auto shop for a machine or electric drill buffing work.

4. Rejuvenate it.

You can do this by applying glaze on your paint. Glazing brings out your car’s full potential to shine and gloss. This is recommended especially if your car has minor damage of scratches and blemishes. If you’re car’s paint is already in its good condition, you can skip this step since there is nothing to rejuvenate in the first place.

5. Protect it.

You cannot do this unless you are sure that your car’s paint is already totally cleaned or detailed. Protect it using the tried and tested cleaner you always use in your car. If you don’t know any brand, start with the safest solution of organic type of cleaner. But for longer period of protection, most auto shop use synthetic solution and cleaners since it is known to last longer that the organic one.

6. Seal it.

By sealing, this simply means you need to wax it as the final step. This is like applying the finishing touches of your masterpiece. Waxing provides a luxurious depth of clarity, color, smoothness and shine! This step is the greatest factor to bring out the full potential of your car’s paint to just rise and shine. Most experts suggest that the carnauba wax meets and even exceed your expectation of shininess and clarity. I could attest to this fact but sometimes I opt for the synthetic wax for long lasting effect although it does not give what a carnauba could offer.

Posted by James in car cleaners, car detailing, car's paint, checklist, maintenance, tips

Cleaning your car paints is one of the best ways to actually preserve it. But if cleaning is not properly done, it will make your car’s paint surface odd with blotches and scratches rather than a smooth, shiny and polished surface. The secret lies on the type of cleaner you will use and the method on how you will clean it. But no matter how hard you clean your car’s body paint, it will not be considered as “perfect” if the following criteria are met. I have learned this from my service mechanic who is now quite getting famous for always having a job well done. Mr. Hoover, you’re the man. I salute you for your expertise.

Well, you know Mr. Hoover here is not selfish for sharing up his knowledge. So, I don’t want to be accused of selfishness so here are what this impressing mechanic had told me.

For you to know that your car’s paint is already perfectly cleaned and its finish carries smoothing shine, check these following factors:

1. How is your paint’s condition? Mr. Hoover said that the life of the car paints last for the first 12 months, or 18 months to the most. So, if your car is getting near to its couple years of life here on earth, better have a check on its paint already. But if your car is just new, maybe a couple of months old, regular washing and protection will make cleaning your paint less bickering since oxidation is ensured to be kept in minimal. Recommended washing must be done at least once a week.

2. Is it polished regularly? This is one of the most important things you have to do with your car. Through polishing, minor scratches, marring, marks and blemishes are guaranteed to be removed leaving your car smooth and shiny. If you left your car thirsty for a polish, expect that minor scratches to transform into large and unappealing paint damage.

3. Is it waxed? When cleaning or detailing your car’s paint, waxing it should be done last and by that, it means that its application should be properly done. Mr. Hoover recommends the use of more organic and natural wax like the Carnauba (see my previous post for info) to be safe and avoid any marring and abrasion on your car paints since other type of wax has high concentrate of chemicals.

4. Is it contaminated-free? By contamination, this means that your car’s paint must be free from any grime formation, dust, tar, oil, insects, and other miniscule road debris that are thrust in the surface of your car’s paint. Include also in your list the bird’s dang, pedestrians intentional or unintentional contribution to get your car paints dirty. You must removed this completely first since it is impossible for you to get a great waxing result if your car is contaminated still.

5. Is it glazed? Glazing is synonymous to restoration. So, typically glazing is a process of applying treatments on your car’s paint especially if has scratches and blemished. If you want you car’s paint to have a perfect shine, be sure to glaze it once in a while especially if there are areas that needs glazing already.

6. Is it protected? There is a lot of protectant available in the market that serves as the final coating that will protect the paint sealing it from contaminants. If in waxing the best choice would be the organic, you must choose synthetic coating for protection. This polymer based synthetic coating offers more durability and longevity than the natural one.

So there, did you answer yes to all this questions? If no, better make something about it if you want to achieve and feel a perfectly smooth car finish.