As a result of using a car for years dust, dirt, and mud accumulate in it which reduces its look and performance. So, what to do to restore the car look again. Simple answer is car detailing. Car detailing is a process by which you can clean the dust and dirt of your car and restore its lost beauty and look. This is done entirely automatically and you can clean both the inside and the outside of the car.
But, how long does it take to detail a car? This is a common question that comes to the mind of auto detailers as well as car owners. This process requires a lot of time and hard work and it depends on the size of the vehicle.
Through this article, I will answer all the questions related to car detailing. This will include topics such as, “detailing time, the process of cleaning the inside and outside of the car and its cost”. Along with this, there will be some tips on car washing at home. So let’s get started.
So, What Are The Deciding Factors Behind Car Detailing Time?
Detailing a medium-sized car can usually take 3-5 hours. But, for some cars, it can take a little longer. There are obviously some reasons why it takes so long. The reasons are given below in detail:
Is Your Car Dirty?
As a result of using it for many days, your car can get rusty, muddy, and dirty. Many people do not take care of their cars properly. Such vehicles need a lot of time in car detailing. So, the equation is that less dirty cars need less time in detailing and vice versa.
Is Your Car Bigger?
The size of the car plays a big role behind the detailing time. If you bring an extra large sized car, it will take you a maximum of 6 hours to detail it and complete all the work. Regular-sized cars usually take 3-4 hours.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Car Detailed
It is a bit tricky to calculate the car detailing time. Car detailing actually is a summation of two complete processes – car exterior detailing and car interior detailing. So, we need to do both the process and calculate their individual time. After that you need to sum the both process times to know the exact time. So, let’s know the both car exterior detailing and car interior detailing process and time.
How Long Does An Exterior Detail Take
- The first thing a car owner needs is to clean, restore and polish the exterior part of the car. The car detailing center is the ideal place for this. If you can invest the necessary amount of money in car detailing, you will get the feel of bringing your car out of the showroom.
- First, you need to restore the broken part of the car exterior and paint the discoloring part. If there is any dent, try to use dent removal. Paint correction is another part that we need to take seriously. Before doing it, please make sure about paint protection of your car.
- Then, you have to clean the car. Mainly, the exterior of your car is washed using car wash soap like decon soap, clay bar blocks etc.
- After that, we need to wipe it with microfiber cloth.
- Finally, ceramic Shine, tire Shine is used to brighten up your car so it looks new.
The whole process takes 2-3 hours to complete.
How Long Does An Interior Detail Take?
It is a matter of regret that car owners are less aware of the cleanliness of the inside of the car than the outside. The possible reason is that the cleaning activities of the interior of the car are very complex and time-consuming. Many pieces of equipment need to be replaced after cleaning, such as seats, glass, etc. Moreover, the cost of the inside part cleaning is much higher than the outside. Each part needs to be finely cleaned with water and detergent and cleaning solution and then the water needs to be wiped.The full process takes 3-4 hours.
So, if you want a complete detailing, it may take 5 to 6 hours minimum.
A Quick Guide To Routine Washing
Cleaning the outside and inside of the car is a time-consuming process. However, doing it once a week can save a lot of money. You have to use microfiber towels, alcohol-free products, etc. during cleaning. Stay away from sunlight. The step-by-step cleaning processes inside and outside the car are described below:
How To Clean Car Exterior
Cleaning the exterior of the car is an interesting part of it. Follow my steps to clean the exterior of your car:
Step 1) The basic wash
You need to remove the dirt from the car first and you need to be very careful in the process. If you are careless, your car may get scratched. Moreover, brake dust To make the process more fruitful, you can spray pre-wash cleaner to soften the dirt. Then, you can water the car with a pressure washer to clean all the dust.
Step 2) Wheel Cleaning and Tire Cleaning
After that, you have to clean the dirtiest part of the car – tires and wheels. You can use spray-on cleaner on this to make it even prettier. You can use a scrubbing brush in such places that are out of reach. At the end of everything, you need to wash the tires and wheels with water.
Step 3) Clean the rest of the exterior
After that, the whole car needs to be washed. You can use two buckets in this case; One is soapy water and the other one is normal water. The whole car should be filled with car soap. Then it should be cleaned and then washed with water.
Step 4) Dry the Vehicle and Shine
Now it’s time to dry the car. In this case, you can use microfiber towels. It is effective to dry the body of the car by soaking the water. You can then use car wax, ceramic coating, or a sealant to increase its shine, which is known as mirror shine. This way the exterior of your car will be cleaned properly.
How To Clean Car Interior
The inside of the car is not as easy to clean as the outside but the part is also important. Below are the steps to clear it well:
Step 1) Remove clutter and trash
All debris or objects must be removed from the inside of the car. These may include water bottles, food pieces, books, paper pieces, pet hair children’s toys, gym bags, magazines, etc.
Step 2) Clean the carpets and floor mats
Then you need to carefully remove the carpet and floor mats. Shake them well and wash them with water. Afterward, keep rubbing it with a scrubbing brush with a quality cleaning product. Once rubbed, wash it with water and let it dry in the sun.
Step 3) Vacuum the cabin
Use a vacuum in place of the mat so that all the dirt left behind is removed. You can also use it in car pockets, cargo areas etc.
Step 4) Do the windows
An auto detailer need to spray lightly with a glass cleaner on your car window and wipe with a microfiber towel. In this way, you can clean all the windows including the windshield of your car.
Step 5) Clean the doors, dashboard, seat, and center console
After that, you have to spray and wipe doors, instrument clusters, steering wheels, center consoles, seats, and dashboards with spray-on interior cleaning products. Also equipment like pockets, cup holders need to be cleaned as dirt also accumulates here. Thus, the inside must be cleaned to get a comfortable indoor environment.
How Much Does It Cost To Professionally Detail A Car
Usually, a car detailing service is an expensive process. It allows you to wash the car, shine and clean the inside of the car. It usually costs an average of $ 50 to $125 depending on the size of the car. And if you bring an SUV or van, it can cost $75 to $150.
Conclusion
Car detail can be very beneficial to the car owner. And it is important to detail a car so that it can last longer and look better for years to come. One should never underestimate the power of a good auto detailing. If your car detailer are very professional and experienced, then it takes less time for the detailing of your car.
Mainly, car wash and detailing service helps you in this task. If you are more aware, you can save a lot of money by cleaning the car regularly. I hope I have been able to give you all the answers through this article. Now it is your turn to use the information for your greater interest to make your car tiptop.