Detailing 101 - The glass and interior

     Hello, and welcome to a little thing we call The Blackmotorway Blog. Spring has not sprung yet, but soon enough it will be in the 90's. Then we will be begging for some of God's air conditioning. Until then, we are hearty Nebraskan's and can put up with some " cool " temps. Continuing the theme of Spring, Let's look at some more detailing tips to make your vehicle look at it's best both inside and out.
    GLASS:
                       A friend once said: "Glass cleaning is an art", which puts it all into perspective. Clean glass is important if only because dirt and other problems are more obvious on window glass. There are any number of glass cleaners available, most of which contain ammonia, that do a good job of cleaning glass.  A thorough glass cleaning is actually a three part process. First, wash the glass with soap and water along with the rest of the car. Then use your chosen cleaner to clean both the inside and outside of the glass. Cleaning the inside is particularly important for newer cars, as interior plastics release gaseous materials (popularly known as "that new car smell") that leave a film. Microfiber towels can work wonders when it comes to glass cleaning techniques. The last step should be a dry pass, again on both the inside and out. Use a clean cotton cloth or paper towel without any cleaner. If you use paper towels, stay away from any that have a design printed on them. While doing the dry clean step, inspect the glass carefully from various angles for residue and other imperfections. Done properly, you should be able to eliminate all streaking. Bob, our detailer, has a tip to use old newspapers to dry clean vehicle glass which will give it a polishing effect.
      Here's a product that we've used and have learned to like. Rain X can be thought of as a wax specifically designed for your windshield. If you live in areas where it rains a lot or there is a rainy season, this is the stuff to get. Water will bead up just like the wax on your car's finish. Depending on the amount of rain and your speed, you might not need your windshield wipers at all. When you do turn them on, Rain X will help your wipers to do a better job. Your glass will be easier to clean. There are down sides however. It does wear off, so if you want to constantly enjoy the benefits, you'll find yourself reapplying it often, depending on your driving habits. It also takes some effort to apply; be sure to follow the directions and be prepared to cough up some elbow grease when you treat your glass.

    THE INTERIOR:
          We spend all these hours working on our cars as a present to ourselves. That is why many enthusiasts feel that detailing the interior is more important than the body, because that is where we spend most of our time. It would therefore make sense that we take special care that the inside of a car is not neglected. Interior surfaces can be divided into two basic categories. There is the hard vinyl surfaces (such as the dashboard) and breathable surfaces such as cloth seats.

           Vacuuming should be the first step. Use a strong shop or home vacuum. The small ones that plug into a cigar lighter or operate on rechargeable batteries just don't have the power to do the job. Remove the floor mats and do them separately. Vacuum all areas, including those that you will soon be cleaning with a liquid cleaner. Use a brush attachment for areas that could be marred with an impact from a hard edged attachment.

             The hard vinyl surfaces are easy. We use Simple Green, commonly available at department stores, etc. Dilute  with one part concentrate to eight parts water; go heavier (up to one part concentrate to two parts water) for stubborn stains. Drench a cloth in the mixture and then apply liberally to a section about 1' x 2' or less. Quickly follow up by wiping down with a microfiber towel. Note: Do not use Simple Green on metal surfaces.

              Floor mats are easy. Just remove them and whale away at them with the hose as part of the exterior wash job. In most cases you'll get all of the dirt out. If not, apply carpet cleaner and work it with a brush. Clean the vinyl part of the drivers mat with Simple Green or your chosen equivalent. Do not treat that area with a dressing! It could be picked up by the driver's shoes and cause slipping problems when they work the pedals.

               Next apply a good grade foam carpet cleaner to the cloth and carpet areas. Vacuuming first is necessary as that will pick up the loose dirt, which is probably most of the job. Next work in the foam with a brush, using being careful not to be so aggressive as to ruin the surface. Pick up the foam residue with a wet/dry vacuum (best) or a cloth. Serious stains and other problems can be treated with a household carpet cleaner such as Resolve. First try the procedure on a hidden area to be sure that the color is not affected.

               Leather conditioner and cleaner is recommended for leather interiors. Keep in mind that most cars with "Leather" are really only "Leather seating surfaces", which means that there is little real leather. Most of the interior, especially consoles, arm rests, seat backs and door panels are vinyl made to simulate leather
Leather requires essential oils to keep its luster. Start with the cleaner and work it in gently with minimal water on the applicator. After applying the cleaner, rinse your applicator and wipe down again, then towel dry. Use the same procedure to apply the conditioner. Do several applications of conditioner (as opposed to one heavy one) if you feel that the leather needs more work. Leather might add that extra touch of class to a cars interior, but it does require more maintenance than vinyl or cloth. A car with a leather interior should be garaged or covered when not in use for maximum longevity.
      
         There is a reason they call it detailing. Work a q-tip into the HVAC vents with some of the Simple Green solution applied followed with a pass with a dry q-tip. It may seem like a detailing cliche, but it works. It's the sort of thing that will go a long way towards making your interior look "right", although it might not be obvious until after the job is done.

        Don't leave coins on the seat. They can cause premature wear of the material.

               There are so many tips to cleaning and detailing a vehicle, we could not mention them all. If you have any specific problems or questions, feel free to contact us here at Black Motor Co. If we don't have an answer we will get one for you. Our toll free number is 1-888-966-0572.

               Being the sports nut that I am, March Madness is a great time of year. My bracket is blown up but the games are always exciting. Baseball is right around the corner, so My team the KC Royals can be close to 1st place for a while. Maybe they will find the Old Magic one of these years. Always optimistic!!! Have a good end of March as we close in on April.

                                                                From the Old Rusty Golf Swing

                                                                The BLACKMOTORWAY BLOGGER