The basics of a valet

What is Car Valeting?

Don’t you wish there was a way to get your car back into the same condition it was the day it left the showroom and even better? Actually there is, car detailing but i will put a post up about that soon! – but car valeting gives you the means to clean and maintain your car to its perfect condition. In fact, valeting can actually make your car look better than it did the day it was driven off the dealer’s lot. What should you know about car valeting?

What Does Car Valeting Include?

To properly valet your car, you will need to wash the exterior, polish and wax it, clean and shine your wheels and tyres, and more. You will also need to consider the engine, clean the carpets and mats, clean the glass, plastic and vinyl in the interior and exterior, remove odours and stains, and properly care for your leather upholstery, as well.

Cleaning

The first step is to cleaning the exterior of your car. You will need a quality wash mitt or even better a natural sea sponge to help apply water and shampoo to your car. When choosing a wash mitt, opt for one made of real wool. They are the softest option available (so you do not scratch the finish), and they can also hold quite a bit of water and shampoo.
One important note here is to wash your car using a three-bucket system. One bucket to clean your wheels, and one to hold water with a Ph balanced shampoo with NO wax in it, while the other should hold clean fresh water for rinsing. Bucket guards should also be used. These are placed at the bottom of a bucket, preventing your wash mitt from carrying dirt and debris back onto your car.
It’s also important that you use a quality car shampoo. While you can save a bit of money with “bargain brands”, they lack the performance and protection afforded by high end products.
Also, make sure that you have a good drying towel – a microfibre drying towel is the best solution, though PVA chamois are not good leave light swirl marks. You should finish your wash by rinsing your car with a good jet nozzle with fresh clean filtered water.

Polishing

First you should clay bar the paintwork before polishing,  Using a special product designed to remove minute imperfections from the surface of your paint. It does not harm the finish of your paint. Ideally, you want to use a fine polish, as it will offer a sleek, wet finish when you’re done. You can polish by hand, or you can use a buffer to do the task but i would not do this without clay barring as you can and probably will. If you choose to use an electric buffer, make sure that you use the correct method – overlapping motions at a slow speed at first.

Waxing

Waxing is used to seal your finish, and is applied over the surface of the polish. It will help keep the “freshly polished” look to your car’s paint. A good wax should be made of natural ingredients, such as carnauba wax, or a high quality synthetic. As a note, do not wax your headlight and taillight lenses – use a special plastic cleaner to remove discolouration.

Your Wheels and Tyres

Preparing your wheels and tyres is another important part of car valeting. Make sure you clean them well with a none acid cleaner and shampoo then rinse with fresh water. You will also need a brush. Tyre dressing will be used to finish the process.

Engine Cleaning

Cleaning your engine will require that you have a quality engine degreaser, as well as a means of covering important sensors and components during the process. Engine protectant should be used at the end to keep your engine protected and clean.

The Interior

To clean the interior of your car, you’ll need quite a few things. A powerful wet/dry vacuum is vital, as well as vacuum attachments to allow you to clean in tight spaces. You’ll also need carpet shampoo to clean the dirt from your seats, carpets and mats.
The interior of your car requires several steps. For instance, you will need to clean the windows with a quality glass cleaner, as well as a buffing cloth or towel. The vinyl and plastic in your interior should be cleaned with a special vinyl and plastic cleaner and treatment.
If there are stains in your interior, you will need to use a neutral detergent and water to remove them. You’ll also need a detailing tool or two, such as a scrub brush, long brush, clean microfibre towels and a vacuum.
Finally, if you have leather upholstery, you will need to clean it properly. Use a high-quality leather cleaner and a leather upholstery brush and the feed the leather.
Here is one i did, But i clay barred it before polishing.

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Empire Mobile Valeting Services
Mobile Vehicle Valeting And Detailing
Paint Correction
Covering London and Surrey

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