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There's nothing quite like the look and smell of a freshly detailed vehicle. Whether it's new, second-hand or in a car show, car owners often gaze on in envy at that crisp, clean interior and gleaming paint finish and wonder, how can I get my car to look like that?
Well, it's entirely possible! With a few ingenious 'hacks' and a bit of effort, you can make your car look as if it has been treated by professional detailers, particularly if you have leather seats and trim.
How is it done? The Leather Colour Doctor is here with some of the top tips and tricks of the trade that the professionals don't want you to know!
Obviously, the outside of your car is always on show, so you want it to look amazing. Many car owners head to the nearest car wash when the paintwork gets dirty, but this is a bad idea: most car washes will damage your paint! The brushes, no matter how soft, will leave tiny scratches and swirl marks in the paint that dull the finish over time
Even so, there are some do's and don'ts to be aware of:
Sponges retain dust, small stones and grit that will scratch the paint surface as you scrub, no matter how thoroughly you rinse it out.
Instead, invest in some microfibre towels and cloths, as they are completely non-abrasive and they release the grit easily when rinsed. For best results, rinse the microfibre cloths in a separate bucket.
It's only natural to reach for the Fairy when washing your car. After all, it gets the grease and dirt off your dishes. However, it's simply too harsh for your paintwork and will eventually make it look dull.
Use a branded car shampoo instead - it will make a real difference without harming the paint.
Launching straight in and scrubbing it down with soap and water increases the chance of scuffs and scratches as all the dust and dirt are still there. Ideally, use a pressure washer to remove all the dirt before you apply the soap.
This is a fantastic option as it eliminates the need for any scrubbing! The foam gently breaks down grease and stubborn dirt, allowing you to rinse it off to leave a perfectly clean surface.
Some of these might seem obvious, but they're worth taking note of:
A car's paint can be ruined by residue that becomes embedded in the clear coat. The most common culprits are salts, minerals or acids in the water that lands on your vehicle (causing water spots), brake dust, tar (bitumen), tree sap, and industrial pollution. These give your paintwork a rough textured feeling, and this ideally needs removing before any wax is applied (see below).
A clay bar is a resin compound (natural or synthetic) designed to lift all of these contaminants safely and effectively. Simply rub the bar across the surface along with the recommended lubricant and it will pull away any contaminants.
Note: a clay bar should be regarded as a last resort and only used with a suitable lubricant. Never use a clay bar too regularly as part of your car detailing regime.
The area around the doors is often forgotten as you only get to see it as you enter or exit the car. However, they perform an important role in keeping the weather out and can get really mucky as mud and dirt are transferred from shoes, children or pets!
Invest in a detailing brush for these areas to get the best results. Spray an all-purpose cleaner liberally over the metal surface and leave it for a few minutes. Next, use the brush to get into all the loose grease and other debris from all the crevices. You can then rinse this off with water using a spray bottle. Be sure to dry it thoroughly to avoid rust! Microfiber towels are perfect for the job.
It's also a good idea to add more grease to the locking mechanism at this stage.
After you've washed your paintwork, it's time to focus on those windows. For the very best results, use an ammonia-free glass cleaner. The car shampoo should take care of any muck on the rubber trim and weatherstrip (although you might want to use a soft bristle toothbrush on the weatherstrip to remove algae).
When cleaning the windows, don't forget the top edge. Wind the window down far enough to allow you to clean the edge with a branded glass cleaner. If the glass is contaminated with grease (more common on the inside, especially if you have kids!), apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to a microfibre cloth and wipe it over.
Once the grease is removed, apply the glass cleaner generously to a microfibre cloth and wipe the windows from top to bottom, then side to side until they are clean and sparkling clean.
It's easy to overlook them, but a beautiful set of black tyres really adds to the overall look of your car. Use a pressure washer or hose to remove dirt, making sure to attack it from all angles. You might notice brown sediment in the water - this is most likely dust from the brake pads which often accumulates around the wheel rim.
Apply a degreaser or wheel cleaner and leave it to soak in, as this will help to remove stubborn dirt. Scrub the tyre itself (including the tread) with a hard bristle brush, but switch to a soft brush for the rim to avoid scratching the metal. Run water over the rim as you scrub, as this will also help to avoid scratches caused by loose dirt or grit.
Dry the tyre and rim with a microfibre towel, then - for the very best results - apply a protective coating. Tyre dressings (or vinyl protectant) are a spray-on liquid that restores old tyres to make them beautifully black and shiny. They also provide a layer of protection against cracking, fading and hardening of the rubber.
People often think these are the same thing, but they are two completely different processes:
While it's okay to polish your car once in a while, waxing is by far the most important step and will protect your paint job for many years.
Apply the wax with a power buffer, removing any excess wax with a soft clean microfibre cloth to avoid making swirl marks.
Now to move on to your car's interior, and this is where our tips can make a huge difference; your car will look as if it's been to a professional detailer!
The very best way to begin cleaning your car's interior is by giving it a thorough going over with a powerful vacuum cleaner. This will make your job easier and highlight areas that need more attention later. Make sure that the hoover is empty and the filters are clean, as this will make it more effective.
Make sure you have a set of crevice tools as these are ideal for reaching tight spaces and hard-to-reach areas.
Again, always work from top to bottom: if you start by hoovering and shampooing carpets they'll only get dirty when you clean gunk and dust from the rest of the inside.
Keep that hoover handy, as you're going to need it!
This is where the Leather Colour Doctor's expertise lies, as we have an excellent range of products specifically aimed at cleaning, restoring and preserving leather of all kinds.
A gentle, non-toxic cleaner that lifts grease, oil, stains and dirt that are ingrained into your leather seats. Simply scrub a small amount in with a soft-bristle brush, leave it for a few minutes, and then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
The Leather Colour Doctor's restoration kits are ideal for revitalising old, faded leather seats.
Start with the cleaning fluid (as above) then apply the wax balm restorer to restore its colour and to condition the surface. The wax should be rubbed in lightly using small, circular motions and left to soak in, after which it can be buffed to a beautiful sheen.
Protection cream can then be applied to keep your seats in tip-top condition. It protects against cracking due to UV rays, guards against stains, and restores the original leather scent!
If there are cracks or small holes in seats or dashboard, our leather filler repair paste is just the job. It is applied in thin layers using the spatula and you can see up the drying process using a hair dryer. Add as many layers as required, then sand with an 800 grit sandpaper. We also have superior car dyes that can be added to restore the colour.
The Leather Colour Doctor is your first stop for car leather dyes! We stock dyes that are suitable for most premium car brands, including Jaguar, Audi, Porsche, Maserati and Aston Martin. If your leather is in need of some TLC, check out our website to see our exceptional range of high-quality leather care products.
Pet hair can be a real nuisance when it's stuck all over a car interior. The vacuum cleaner doesn't always pick these up, as they become embedded in the fibres. One way to overcome this is through the simple application of packing tape (or any sticky tape). Wrap a length of this around your hand, sticky side facing outward, and rub this lightly across the surface of your car seats. You'll be amazed at the amount of hair and fluff you retrieve!
Stained or dirty fabrics can easily be sponged down with a cleaning solution or a weak solution of laundry detergent and water. Dab this on and scrub any stubborn stains gently with a soft brush. Don't overload the sponge (or cloth) with water or the seats will stay wet for hours.
Some sites suggest using vinegar, but there is a danger that this will make your car smell!
When detailers talk about interior surfaces, they usually mean the car's dashboard and any consoles. These need more careful handling in modern cars, as they tend to be more complex, so maybe just give them a gentle wipe with a clean cloth.
One of the biggest headaches is gunk and dust stuck in the gaps and cracks around fixtures and fittings like cup holders, consoles, vents, etc. You can get around this using a small air compressor and blow gun to blast the dirt out and vacuum it up afterwards.
As an alternative to compressed air, you can use silly putty! Seriously, press this into the gaps and it soon picks up the dirt.
Apply a small amount of trim dressing to all interior surfaces and buff them with a microfibre cloth.
This is often a source of frustration for millions of us. No matter how hard you hoover those carpets, you can never get all the dust, dirt, grit or sand out! That's because it becomes lodged deep in the fibres, so you'll need a way to shift them.
Here are a few tips on how to solve the problem:
These soft brush attachments are excellent! Attach them to your regular drill and run it across the carpet, you'll soon get all that debris out. Remember to vacuum as you go and your carpets will be super clean in no time.
Ideally, buy a drill brush set, as you'll get a variety of sizes that are great for removing dirt from tight corners.
Essentially, these machines are much like carpet cleaners but designed for long-term cleaning of heavily stained carpets that have been left too long. They're also a bit like a steam cleaner, although they don't heat the water anywhere near as hot. However, the results are astonishing!
Use a good brand of car shampoo to spray over the carpet, leave it for a while, and then wipe it down several times with a damp cloth until the shampoo is gone. Don't saturate the carpet or it won't dry properly! Leave your car doors open to allow air to dry it naturally (best done on a warm day).
Brush attachments on your vacuum cleaner might do the trick, but if not, use a small paintbrush that will fit into the vent. Spray it with a splash of furniture polish and work it back and forth along the fins to loosen any dust lurking there, and hoover it up as you go. Make sure you wipe the brush down before you clean the next vent.
Whether you're a devoted car enthusiast or you just love a clean car, these tips from the Leather Colour Doctor will make your vehicle sparkle like new and smell fresh once again. Regular washing - inside and out - is the key to keeping it that way, and these tips will help you to go one step further and achieve a professional level of car detailing!
