Why is Car Detailing Better than Washing: Evidence-Based Guide

What is Car Detailing?

Auto detailing means completing a detailed cleaning, or restoration of a vehicle to produce a better shine. Detailing helps to protect paint and other vehicle parts against exposure to contaminants and UV rays. It can be performed on a vehicle’s exterior and interior.

It also involved a host of new services such as interior car detailing and sanitation, tire, and wheel detailing, paint correction, engine cleaning, etc.

Detailing requires the use of adequate auto care products that are pH balanced. Professionals at detailing services utilize clay bars to eliminate contaminants from the paint and then polish, glaze, wax and add sealant to preserve it. They also kill the nasty scratches and swirls made by automated car washes.

Detailing, thus, gives car owners a better solution. It repairs the damages caused by automated car washes and protects the vehicle as well.

This’s why many drivers opt for detailed car cleaning even if it costs more – since they realize that it’s a smart long-term investment.

What Does Car Detailing Include?

There’re several steps comprised in the process of detailing, and all are integral in restoring and maintaining the value of your vehicle, so be sure that any time you drive your “baby” to be detailed, each one is included such as:

Car Detailing Benefits

A complete automobile detailing will bring your vehicle to its best condition. These are the benefits of having auto detailing done.

Interior – When detailer cleans the car, he/she goes into every crevice to eliminate dust and dirt. Everything from the floors to the areas between the belt buckle and the seat will be completely cleaned. Professional even tackles the air vents and cup holders, so no spaces are left behind. It can improve the interior of your car and improve the condition, so it looks new for longer.

Remove dirt – While road salt may not be a problem in Southern California, dirt certainly is. With detailing, it’ll be completely removed from your vehicle to ensure the exterior stays in good shape. It can even keep your headlights bright so you can safely drive at night.

Resale value – If you’re thinking about selling, the image of your ride is one of the most critical factors. With detailing done regularly, your vehicle will remain looking as new, so you have a higher chance of getting an increased return for it.

Exterior – Regularly car washing is a first step in maintaining your vehicle’s condition and appearance, but there’re times when an exterior detailing needs to be used. It involves clay work to remove residual particles, polishing/clear coating the paint job, and putting a sealant for long-run protection against water and sun damage.

Focus on details – When you take your vehicle through an automatic car wash, you’re likely missing a few areas. A detailing pays more attention to the windows, tires, wheels, rims, trim work, door hinges, and exterior mirrors. This type of in-depth, personalized approach can’t be performed by a regular car wash.

Remove odors and stains – If you smoke in your car, travel with kids or pets, eat meals on the road, then there’s a good chance you need a detailing. Not only it’ll do a thorough clean of all surfaces, but detailers can address trouble areas and odors that you can’t eliminate.

Revitalize surfaces and carpets – Many parts of a vehicle’s interior can be replaced when they wear down, but it can be an expensive way to maintain your car. A detailing will keep all surfaces and upholstery clean while also protecting against future stains and wear/tear.

Kill germs and bacteria – A vehicle has hundreds of tiny crannies and nooks where germs can build up over time. Some of these sections—like a cup holder—are easily accessible, while others—as the air vents—are much more difficult to get. Detailing will ensure that all airborne germs are removed.

What Is a Car Wash?

A car wash is a process that involves an exterior and interior cleaning, depending on where you’re getting it.

An automatic drive-through car wash doesn’t offer interior cleaning, which includes vacuuming the seats and floor and wiping down hard surfaces.

Its primary goal is to remove salt, dirt, tar, and other environmental debris from the coat of your vehicles. Some auto wash facilities provide specialty coatings, like special soaps or waxes, to eliminate caked-on grime.

What Does Car Wash Involve?

Basic drive-through automobile wash includes:

• Wash exterior;
• Clean wheels and tires;
• Apply tire dressing;
• Polish wheels;
• Clean/treat exterior trim;
• Polish and wax exterior paints;
• Brush, vacuum, and clean the interior.

Car Wash Advantages

Washing your car is important for a bunch of reasons. Some people do it every Saturday to have their machine shine for the new week. Others do it only when the vehicle is quite dirty. Here’re a few reasons you need to wash your machine regularly.

Safety – Washing regularly keeps windshields, mirrors, and signal lights clean.

Improve car’s condition – When you take your vehicle in to get washed, soap and water will brush the impurities away from the exterior to help prevent the deterioration of your paint and even the different parts of your car. In time, it can improve the condition of your vehicle and its overall longevity.

Car Wash Disadvantages

An automatic car wash can make scratches and swirls in your paint. Many times, the brushes that scrub your car aren’t cleaned.

If the vehicle that went in before you just got back from a beach vacation, or just has general grime and dirt built up, there will be some dirt or sand in the brushes that can scratch the paint.

In addition, the workers at the end-use the same towel as the car before to dry your vehicle by hand, which brings cross-contamination and can leave a residue.

Automatic washes concentrate on efficiency over quality; meaning, how quick can they get your vehicle out so that the next car can get through.

Detailing vs. Car Wash

Simply, a detailing includes a washing, but washing doesn’t include a detailing. Washing is an exterior clean that takes care of any noticeable dust, dirt, or debris that may have made itself at home on your car.

Wash is important aspect of keeping our vehicle looking and feeling its best, and sometimes it’s all you need.

Detailing on the other hand is the operation of deep cleaning, which involves a lot more than having your exterior looks elegant and shiny. A correctly performed, full-service detail is much more than just cleaning. It includes cleaning, restoration, odor removal, water spots removal, and even a measure of ultimate protection all at once.

Still, detailing services doesn’t only include cars, but also – RVs, trucks, buses, SUVs, boats, motorcycles and so on. Most authentic detailing services can accommodate most or all of these vehicle types.

Why Car Detailing Costs More than Car Wash?

Detailing costs more than washing since the vehicle is inspected, cleaned, and restored painstakingly. Every cranny and nook are cleaned carefully.

Trained professionals apply high-tech gear and proper cleaning materials of the highest quality. A detailing professional will work consistently to clean each part of your vehicle. The car detailer will ensure that there’s no damage or loss in the process.

You may have to pay more, but your vehicle will look almost as good as new, and the finish will last longer.