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By Donnie Ruff, Owner
Lou Dinatti Services, LLC
Now that the urge to do some
major spring-cleaning has
kicked in, it’s important
not to forget or neglect
your automobiles! For many
people, the words “Auto
Detailing” imply spending
around $200.00 for a
professional to have it done
right. However, detailing is
just another term for a
thorough cleaning (more than
the occasional trip to the
drive-through wash), and the
process may be easier than
you think.
Maintaining your car’s
appearance will help it
retain higher resale value,
too. Here are a few tricks
of the trade:
1.) Clean and wax your
automobiles by hand, using a
bucket of mild soapy water
and a bucket of clean water
to rinse your wash mitt in.
Notice I didn’t say
“sponge.” A wash mitt won’t
trap anything in its fibers
that could cause tiny
scratches and swirl marks.
Be sure to clean the door
and trunk jams. You should
also keep your engine clean
and grease-free to keep the
engine running cool. Use a
micro fiber towel to dry
everything thoroughly.
Air-drying leaves
watermarks. Clean your
windows with a good foam
aerosol cleaner and a cotton
towel.
2.) Having a clear coat
finish doesn’t mean you
shouldn’t wax as often. A
clear coat finish can lose
its oils, making it
vulnerable to oxidation and
turning the finish dull.
Your automobile should be
waxed by hand at least every
season to keep it looking
like new.
3.) A UV protectant on your
dash and plastic interior
parts will not protect them
from the sun. In fact, such
treatments can cause the
dash to crack and create a
glare, making it difficult
to drive. Using UV
protectant on your tires
causes brake dust to stick
and accumulate on the rims.
(You should remove brake
dust from your rims as soon
its starts to collect,
because it quickly eats away
at the finish, and once
embedded, it’s too late.)
Our advice: just use mild
soap, water, and a clean rag
for your dash, plastic
interiors, and tires.
4.) Always wash the
underside thoroughly to get
all road salt and
contaminants off. Otherwise,
it’s hard on the metal brake
lines and, in time, they
will rust out and break.
Road dirt, given a chance to
collect, will hold moisture
and rust out the bottom of
your automobile.
5.) If your automobile has
leather seats, only use a
high quality leather shampoo
and conditioner to replenish
and maintain the oils in the
leather. For cloth seats and
interiors, use a good foam
cleaner/shampoo, but don’t
soak the cloth seats or door
panels, as that will cause a
musty smell and loosen the
glue that attaches the
cloth. For cloth carpet, use
a foam cleaner, again
keeping the moisture out,
because the insulation
barrier under the carpet
will stay wet. Air vents
need cleaned too and, if
equipped with a cabin
filter, should be changed at
least once a year. A dryer
sheet under each seat every
few weeks works wonders.
If you have any questions,
please don’t hesitate to
call Lou Dinatti Services,
LLC at 724-834-3470.
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