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Not sure if I mentioned this, but I was awarded the opportunity to run a car care column for the paper. (Pioneer Press) Here is the first article I wrote which will be posted in a few weeks. Figured I would give you a heads up and perhaps you might learn something in it. Gary
Perfecting the art of detailing
By Gary Kouba
Special to Pioneer Press
In my business, I’ve seen it all.
People removing wax on their car with shop rags, using rubbing compound
on their finish and even drying their car when it was still dirty.
After witnessing some of these mistakes, I decided to focus on consumer
education as it relates to car care. In addition to running a detailing
shop, I offer free detailing clinics to the general public in the
Chicagoland area, and it will be my pleasure to bring you a new
Q&A-style column in the Pioneer Press AutoMotive Section.
After all, people just seem to want information on how to take care of
the second largest investment they make next to a house.
For example, did you know that one of the procedures for cleaning a car
is the use of the clay car? Automotive clay looks like play dough, but
when lubricated with soap and detail spray, it is the most effective
method of removing micro dirt particles from your car.
Or how about this: Most people think that after going to the car wash,
their car is clean. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Environmental contaminants that are attracted and adhere to a car’s
finish and won’t come off with a simple car wash. Then people are
surprised to see swirl marks and surface scratches on their finish. The
washing and drying cycles are the two most common stages that introduce
these imperfections to a finish.
Plus, when visiting automatic car washes that have drying attendants,
they use the same towels over and over again. This will pick up dirt
and other particles and pass them on to your car.
Something else to consider when taking the easy way out to wash your
car: Touchless car washes use strong chemicals such as acids and
alkalines. What you get might be more than you bargained for. These
surfactants will bleach out pieces on your car such as A pillars and
other plastic trim.
Another huge problem as people detail their own cars is not only the
type of products used but also how the product is used. Washing sponges
can be abrasive, and using old-school chamois can scratch the paint.
The latest technology in the fabric industry is micro fiber. This
fabric has the remarkable ability to contain contaminants within itself
and away from your car’s finish. Micro fiber can also absorb water
more than any chamois. But what’s so micro about this fiber? Each micro
fiber towel has more than 90,000 small fibers per every square inch.
Each fiber is 100 times thinner than a strand of hair. In addition each
fiber can absorb seven times its own weight, making it the ideal
absorption cloth.
Think of micro fiber as a finesse cloth; don’t use them in engine bays,
door jams or on wheels. You don’t want dirt to clog the fibers and
inhibit the ability to absorb.
Never wash micro fiber with fabric softener either, just use soap. Be
aware than whenever a great product is introduced to the market,
someone will figure out a way to make it cheaper. Don’t waste your
money with the cheap stuff, though--they’ll fall apart quickly. As you
are shopping, keep in mind the best micro fiber is coming from Korea,
and you expect to pay around $5 for a 16 x 16 towel. Always use micro
fiber for removing product, such as polish, wax and sealant. However,
you should NEVER use it to apply product.
Then there was the time I witnessed a person removing wax from his car
with a shop rag. This spells DANGER! in bright red flashing lights.
Shop rags are extremely abrasive and will instantly scratch your car.
Use them only in door jams, engine bays and wheels.
Changing simple habits such as changing the type of towels you use will
immediately improve the appearance of your car.
As you can see, people need to have some basic knowledge on how to keep
their cars looking new, and that is exactly what this column will be
about. So send me any questions or concerns that you may have as it
relates to car care—no question is too silly or insignificant.
Remember: second largest investment next to your house.
[edit ekool -- please see our rules, I have warned you already once]
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04-29-2005, 05:49 AM
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