WASH BAY
Evaluate the car and it's needs; body; wheels; engine and all jambs
Wet the entire car down with pressure washer
Open hood and power wash engine from top down
Apply engine degreaser and scrub with brush and/or mitt
Rinse with power washer
Close hood
WHEELS
Pressure wash wheels and wheel wells as well as all jambs, as needed.
Apply wheel & tire cleaners to both tires and wheels on one side of the car at a time.
Scrub with appropriate brushes and rinse as completed.
Move to other side and do the same .
Scrub the bugs off the front end & license plate as needed.
Scrub clean the fender edges.
Hand wash the vehicle and rinse.
Apply tar and grease remove to asphalt and wipe off.
TRUNK
Open trunk and evaluate what is needed. Only remove spare tire if it is dirty as well as the area around the tire.
Remove all loose items from trunk and bag, as needed.
If you can remove the mat do so, easier to clean outside trunk. If not leave in.
Vacuum the entire trunk area.
Apply spot remover to mat and then friction and extract shampoo.
Starting at trunk lid clean with chemical and towel.
If jambs still dirty spray in chemical and wipe out with towel.
Shampoo and clean all side walls of trunk area.
If the tire is out clean it in wash bay, as needed dry and replace and spray with dressing.
Dress all rubber; plastic, etc in trunk.
Spray a shot or two of deodorizer.
INTERIOR
Evaluate entire interior and what is needed.
Remove floormats vacuum; spot; shampoo and extract and then leave under the rear of the car. Or, the person cleaning the trunk can clean them. BUT, always clean the mats as soon as they are out of the car or you will forget to do them and they often will get lost from the car.
Next, take Loose Items Bag (s) and bag all loose items in the interior. Ask customer if they want you to clean glove box and/or console areas. If they say yes use a separate Bag for each of these areas. Put these bags in back seat of car. NEVER REMOVE these bags of loose items, too much chance they will never get back in the car.
Remove all ashtrays, clean, wash, dry and replace. (if you don't do it now you will forget).
Flip down sunvisors so you do not forget to clean.
If the car has a lot of dirt on floors do a quick vacuum, if not too much dirt then,
take air blower and blow dirt out of all the cracks; crevices and under seats and areas where you will not reach with vacuum.
Then vacuum entire vehicle out thoroughly as most dirt in cars including carpets and fabric upholstery is dry dirt.
Next, look for spots and stains in carpet and fabric upholstery and use appropriate chemicals and procedures to remove.
Next, get in car with all chemicals; cleaning tools and towels.
Start on the driver's side front, clean headliner from front to about halfway back.
Next, the trim around the windshield.
Clean sunvisor and mirrors there in.
Next, trim around the door.
Next, dash and panel, steering column down to carpets.
Now, spray carpet shampoo on carpets, friction scrub and extract.
Move to seat and shampoo using appropriate methods if vinyl/leather or fabric (catch the console at this point too, in and out)
Next, seat belts.
Next, door panel.
Finally spray all purpose cleaner around entire door jamb and door edge. Wipe dry and throw all towels into dirty towel bin.
IF YOU ARE DOING THIS AS ONE PERSON THEN MOVE TO PASSENGER SIDE AND FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURE.
Move to back with chemicals; cleaning tools and clean towels.
Clean rest of headliner to back window.
Clean rear deck.
Clean and shampoo back seats.
Next, side panels, if there are any.
Next, back of front seat
Next, carpet
Then, door panel
Then jamb as described.
Now that interior is completely cleaned and shampooed it is time for DRESSING and/or LEATHER CONDITIONER.
Following the same procedures and steps for cleaning go back to front driver's side and dress everything that is vinyl/plastic or leather. I like to wipe on and wipe off.
When completed, go back to front driver's side and spray cleaner on windows and clean with appropriate procedures.
Spray deodorizer under seats.
Check entire interior and give it a final vacuum as needed.
At DETAIL PLUS we use seat covers; floormats and liter bags which can be placed in now or later if the car is too wet.
PAINT FINISHING
Evaluate paint finish for appropriate needs and decide on procedure:
3 Step - Buff/Polish/Protect
2 Step - Polish/Protect
1 Step
a. Wax or Sealant Only
b. ONE STEP PRODUCT - which cleans/polishes/protects
Before removing final wax or sealant spray dressing on engine; tires and put on trim so that it will not get on the paint finish.
Then remove final wax or sealant.
When the paint finishing procedure is completed we move to the Final Detail Procedure.
FINAL DETAIL
Critical step to insure a perfect job.
With clean towel and detail brush start at front of vehicle.
Open hood and wipe all four edges of hood
Then wipe out all jambs and close hood.
Start at front end and take all wax residue from grill, edges, emblems, etc.
Move to fender and do same.
Then around windshield and side mirror.
Next open door and wipe door edges & jamb
Close door and detail all areas of exterior door.
If a back door do the same.
Then to quarter panel.
Open gas cap and clean edges and interior.
Move to trunk and open and wipe edges and jambs.
Close and detail exterior of trunk and back window.
IF ONE MAN WORKING KEEP MOVING AROUND CAR AND DO PASSENGER SIDE FROM BACK TO FRONT FOLLOWING SAME PROCEDURES.
WINDOW CLEANING
Starting again at the driver's side clean all exterior windows.
FINAL INSPECTION
Make a final inspection from engine; wheels; body; interior and trunk.
Search Mobileworks
The views expressed in Mobileworks.com Articles are the sole responsibility of the person, company or organization submitting the article.
The views expressed in the columns are not necessarily the views of Mobileworks.com.
Mobileworks.com assumes no liability for information contained in the columns and does not endorse any of the column editors, contributors or companies.
Information contained on Mobileworks.com may not be re-printed or re-produced without the expressed written consent of Mobileworks.com or it's contributing partners.
