How often should a car be detailed?

Maintaining your car’s interior and exterior conditions cannot be achieved through a regular wash only. It requires a more up-close approach through detailing to keep it in pristine conditions.

The frequency of detailing your car is determined by several factors that we will tackle in this article. However, on average, a vehicle should be detailed 4 to 6 times.

But first, let’s understand what car detailing is and why it’s crucial.

What is Car Detailing?

Car detailing is the thorough cleaning of your car’s interior and exterior using specialized tools that remove any grime, swirl marks, dirt, and contaminants embedded in the paintwork or any other part of the car. The aim is to maintain your car’s original paintwork and extend its life.

Exterior Car Detailing

The exterior surface of your car is exposed to harsh environmental elements, including rock debris, UV rays, salty water, bird droppings, grime, and other damaging contaminants. These elements etch into the bodywork, and they can cause a lot of damage if not removed. Yes, a regular wash can help, but some elements will be left engraved into your bodywork.

Exterior detailing incorporates a thorough wash using microfiber towels followed by detailed cleaning using specialized tools, such as rotary pads and clay bars, to ensure the elimination of all contaminants and restoration of your car’s shine.

The final step involves the application of wax, paint sealants, or a ceramic coating. This forms a protective layer on your car’s paintwork to keep contaminants off the paint and to maintain its shine. Other exterior parts, such as the tires, are also detailed to enhance the car’s overall look.

Interior Car Detailing

The car’s interior is where you spend most of your time; therefore, it should be more desirable. However, most people just run the vacuum over the seats without a deep, detailed cleaning once in a while. The interior has lots of hidden places and narrow spaces where dirt can quickly accumulate, creating bad odor and causing damage.

Interior detailing entails cleaning every part of your car’s interior to remove grime, shampooing your seats, conditioning leather seats or parts, and dressing plastic surfaces. Surfaces can undergo different treatments (depending on the surface) to enhance their look and protect them from contaminants.

Experienced pros usually offer topnotch detailing services. However, if you want to do it yourself, remember the following rules of auto-detailing:

• Make sure you have all the supplies required for detailing before starting. These include wash mitts, car shampoo, detailing mitts, wax, and microfiber towels, among other supplies. Don’t use any materials that could scratch or degrade your paint.
• Don’t detail in direct sunlight. Working in direct sunlight will cause water spots and cleaning streaks. Working in the shade is perfect as the car will remain cool, making your work easier.
• Clean your wheels and tires first, and then clean the body from top to bottom.
• Avoid cross-contamination. Do not use your cleaning materials on two different parts of the car, as this could lead to cross-contamination, i.e., transfer of dirt or other contaminants to other parts of your vehicle.

Also Read: Common Car Detailing Mistakes to Avoid

The Importance of Detailing

Detailing is expensive and can take a lot of time. However, its significance is worth every penny that you spend. Why?

• It removes degrading contaminants from your car’s paintwork.
• It maintains your car’s value.
• Application of wax, sealants, or ceramic coating protects your car from contaminants.
• It restores your car’s sparkle.

So, How Often Should Auto-Detailing Be Done?

Now that you understand the basics of detailing and its importance let’s jump back to how often you should detail your car. As stated earlier, on average, a car should be detailed 4 to 6 times per year. However, you may do it more or fewer times, depending on the following factors:

• Locality

For those who leave near salty water bodies, detailing should be done more often. This is because the salt sticks on your car’s body, and if not regularly removed, it will cause significant degradation within a short period.

• Seasons

During winter, salt is poured on roads to melt ice. Your car should be detailed more often during this season to remove any salt lodged on your car’s surface to prevent damage. During the summer, you can detail less.

• Usage

If your car spends more time in the garage, detailing can be done even twice or once in a year. However, if you use your car regularly, it’s exposed to environmental contaminants, and it should be detailed as required.

• Personal Preference

If you have the money to detail your car monthly or even more often, do it. Detailing doesn’t damage your vehicle; therefore, detailing more often will only maintain its pristine look and value.

Conclusion

Auto Detailing your car is not a luxury but a necessity to keep it going, looking glamorous, and to maintain its value. Therefore, detail your vehicle as per the conditions it’s exposed to. This ensures that it won’t lose its original looks on the outside and the inside.