Tips from the Pros!

Tips and Techniques for making your vehicle look better in less time with less effort and for less money! We will update these pages with some of our own tips, your tips, and the best techniques we have found to make auto detailing a pleasure for everyone!

We do everything within our power to not add tips that can have damaging results but we must insist that we are not responsible for damages.
***Use tips responsibly and use at your own risk!***

New How To Make Money Series
The Real & Free Auto Detailing 101

Want to make money auto detailing?

In this series I will be discussing making a profit by cleaning up other people's vehicles, the basic skills you will need, and in the next several series I will give you more insight into the auto detailing industry as I have viewed it. There are so many things on the internet to make money or get rich quick and I wanted to explain the good and the bad of auto detailing. What sets this apart from all of the other information is I am not going to ask you to buy a book or buy products. However if you find this information useful I would appreciate a donation of any amount $1 to $1,000 and if you use my information and do make some extra cash consider me and donate.



Enough with the pleasantries let's get to making you some money! If you have any questions I will try to address them in a timely & professional manner send any correspondence to CAutoC3@aol.com

1) Do you have any experience?
Do you get compliments after cleaning your own vehicle? This is always a good start to have some basic knowledge to be able to make your customers happy. Keeping your own car sparkling is also a good way to gain business and show off your skills. You must have a desire to make your customer happy, unlike a customary job where you mainly have to keep the boss happy.

I recommend starting by doing jobs for friends and relatives but charge them a small fee while you are still learning the trade. As you work progresses charge your customer more. Don't be afraid to negotiate when you are just beginning. When I started out I would also try to get feedback from the customer especially is they are friends and family on there satisfaction of the job. If they have a problem with your work or are not satisfied either try to fix there issues immediately or offer them a discount on the next time you clean there vehicle.    

2)What is the best way to keep your customer happy?
Simply doing a good quality job for your customer does not always please a customer. One of the first things I do when I have a new customer is to ask them if there is anything in particular in which they are concerned and 9 times out of 10, They say yes there is a stain here, or there is a scratch here. Then do not lie to the customer, if you can do what they need then describe a little of the process you use in fixing there problem. If you can NOT fix a specific problem they describe then tell them that the problem they are describing requires some additional work by another professional. However you can tell them you can polish on the spot but the scratch is too deep to be removed completely or the stain will not completely remove but cleaning should help the area to not be as noticeable. Set your customers expectations to your own capabilities. If they expect there car to look like new and it has been used as a farm truck and gone off-roading everyday for the past 5 years in most cases you're not going to be able to give them a new looking car. If you tell your customer what to expect from the job you will be doing then your customers will be satisfied.

Before the next installment of the "How to make money detailing" try reading up on the following tips to learn more about the Auto Detailing Trade. For now, remember customer satisfaction is your goal because they are the ones paying and keep them happy!


Overspray Removal

Q: We have a 2005 Jetta Black and some how my wife has gotten overspray all over the car.  I have no idea what kind of paint it is.  It could be road paint or someone painting a building.  The whole car is covered with overspray.  I have taken it to a couple of car detailers in the Cleveland Ohio and Prices range from 75.00 to 275.00,  what can I try to get rid of the paint myself?

A: The estimates you have are both reasonable. One thing you should be aware of is if they use a clay bar. These are great however they do leave small scratches all over your vehicle and require the vehicle to be buffed and polished afterwards, I am guessing the lower of the estimates were to just clay bar your vehicle all over with a wash. The high estimate I expect is from a more reputable dealer that has had experience in removing overspray. Unfortunately, there is not a really an easy fix.

There are really only three ways to remove overspray; two different types of physically/manually removing the overspray and the other way is chemically removing the overspray. Using a high speed buffer with a mild compound is one option. Using a clay bar and then polishing the vehicle is the next physically/manual choice. The only other option is to remove it chemically. Sometimes the overspray is light enough that a paint thinner such as lacquer thinner can be used. However, I implore you to test an inconspicuous place before proceeding. Lacquer thinner doesn't harm many of the newer Urethane paints and I recommend a professional doing the job. Once you rub the thinner on the paint it evaporates fairly quickly but it can cause damage if left sitting on the paint and trim for a fairly short period of time. Once you have used any harsh chemical on your paint such as lacquer thinner, you must protect your car with a wax or paint sealant. Sometimes it is best to polish your vehicle with a high speed buffer after using these chemicals and protecting the finish with a trusted paint sealant (and yes I recommend Classic Auto Care's Super Paint Sealant!)

My professional opinion is if you haven't polished a vehicle and aren't familiar with any of these techniques make your life a lot less frustrating a leave it to a qualified professional. Thank You for your question and I hope you successfully rid your wife's vehicle from overspray.

Addressing Swirl Marks,
Those Enemy Scratches

Q:  i was just wondering about this product ( Super Paint Sealant)....i have bought alot of different waxes but none seem to please me .......i have a black car about 4 years old and the paint is in great condition......but i can see alot of swirl marks.....will this product get rid of those swirls???....reg wax only gets rid of a little bit and then all the swirl marks show again after a week or two thanks

A: Black is the most difficult paint to prevent or remove swirl marks. Because there are so many causes of swirl marks including washing, drying, and just about anything that touches your vehicle will cause light scratches and enough of these "micro" scratches will look like swirls. Also, if your vehicle has been high speed buffed incorrectly or inadequately will result in swirl marks. The way I remove swirl marks is to polish with a high speed buffer with a foam pad using a quality polish or glaze. This will remove the majority of those nasty swirl marks. Waxes and Paint Sealants will only cover up swirl marks and will reappear after several weeks of bad weather and several washings. Super Paint Sealant will definitely help to keep your car protected and looking great. It will even diminish the swirl marks. However it will not remove your swirl marks forever. A high quality paint sealant, Super Paint Sealant, is definitely great protection and works great to keep your vehicle glossy.

Even Better Way To Apply Tire Dressing

I found an inexpensive foam pad (TIRE SWIPES) at Walmart. They have a concave curved shaped that perfectly matches the sidewall of your tire. I just apply/spray the pad with your Deep Blue Shine. Then I dress the sidewall of tire without any overspray on paint or windows. Happy Detailing! Thank You very much for that valuable tip Mr. Hardin your information is very helpful and appreciated.

How often should I wax my vehicle?

Classic Auto Care's Super Paint Sealant protects from harmful UV rays and most everyday road grime. It also helps paint to keep from aging as quickly. It will help remove light oxidation but if you have an older vehicle in which your paint has not been protected since it was new it may have more damage than our paint sealant can repair. Super Paint Sealant can last for up to a year if your vehicle is garaged kept and you use a car wash solution that does not remove or strip the wax.

Generally, I recommend using it every six months unless you live in an area where:
(1) salt is used on the roads often or salt gets on your vehicle from sea spray
(2) frequently washing your car 
(3) using anything other than a wash that does not remove or strip the wax. I do not recommend using dish washing liquid because this strips any protection from your vehicle.

If you live in an area with any of these conditions I recommend at the most every 3 months to ensure your vehicle's finish is adequately protected. Our paint sealant does last longer than regular wax and the customers that have used it all have agreed with very positive feedback.

What is meant by the term detailing?

Many people do not realize what is meant by the term detailing in the automotive industry. Although there are many definitions the one most referred to is automotive cleaning and finishing. You can think of auto detailing as the services done to a vehicle that enhance the aesthetic appearance. These things include but are not limited to polishing, waxing, vacuuming, and shampooing. It can also be said more appropriately a detailed cleaning, this would include the vents, cracks, and crevices. Auto Detailing also may include touchup painting, striping, pin-striping, and protective coatings. Auto Detailing basically refers to paying attention to all of the details of cleaning and accenting a vehicle.
 
Removing Yellow And White Road Paint

We have all seen or worse yet been behind the road construction crews while they are painting new marker lines on the roadways. Then it becomes inevitable that we have to switch lanes and hear that swishing sound of wet paint slinging up against the side of our vehicle. The paint is made to be permanent on the road so it almost instantly becomes impossible to remove. Make that virtually impossible.

There are several ways to remove fresh road paint but it is not an absolute science. You may have to try several different methods to find the right solution to your road paint problems. If it happened recently you may try a solvent such as mineral spirits or something a little more harsh like lacquer thinner. In some cases rubbing a rag soaked with thinner will soften and eventually remove unwanted paint. Lacquer thinner is safe to use on about 90 percent of finishes today including the most common urethane clear coat.

If the road paint has been on your vehicle for a while you can try to remove it spec by spec using a plastic razor blade or a strong fingernail. I do not recommend using a metal razor blade because there is way to much risk in damaging your vehicle's finish. Sometimes a combination of these methods can help soft the road paint and then it may be easier to pick off.

One way to help prevent damage to your vehicle is to keep your vehicle protected with a paint sealant. This cannot prevent the road paint from getting on your vehicle but it may make it a little easier if you have to remove it. Try Super Paint Sealant available on our products page.

Ink Stain Removal From Interior

A wonderful little girl Jasmine from the Pigeon Forge area has inspired this tip. She decided to write her name on Mommie's interior. There are several ways to remove ink from vinyl, leather, or upholstry. Sometimes just a quality interior cleaner or upholstry cleaner will work if you scrub persistently. If it is a stubborn ink stain then you may want to try Lacquer Thinner. Always test for color fastness in an inconsipicuous spot. Place a small amount on a towel and wipe the ink gently. Thank You Jasmine and I hope your Mommie is doing well!
Tire Dressing On Tires Not Everywhere Else

You just finished washing and waxing your car and now it is time for the finishing touches. You clean your windows and dress your tires (hopefully with CAC's Deep Blue Shine). You put everything up and come out to enjoy your nice clean shiney ride when you notice the tire dressing has left little silicone spots all over your vehicle. You try to wipe them off to only smear them all over your paint and windows! The best remedy for these spots are to dress your tires while the wax is drying on your car and save the windows until the very last part of detailing your car. If you dress your tires after you put the wax on your car and before you take the wax off the wax is used as a protective barrier. The tire dressing will be much less likely to leave spots on your finish. You can also use a large piece of cardboard cut to the size of your wheel to keep the overspray of tire dresssing from resting on your paint and windows. If you do have some small spots of dressing still left on your ride, use a quick mist detailer like our A.S.A.P. to get rid of them quickly and efficiently.
Make Your Wax Job Look Professional

Have you ever walked by a vehicle that looks good but when you look closely you see some of that white wax residue? That white wax residue is difficult to avoid if you are being very thorough. If you aren't careful you get in it the cracks, crevices, and in the moldings. It does not look professional and you will hardly ever find a car show winner with these eye sores. You can make your job look much better with a few small preventative steps. 

The easiest way to avoid that unsightly white wax residue is to just stay away from the edges. You can achieve this by taking your time when you get near the edge. This helps because when you wipe over the edge of a panel the wax tends to load up and ooze into the crevice. If your vehicle has black moldings that are porous do whatever it takes to not even barely brush up against them with wax. Once you get wax in these black porous moldings the wax tends to be very stubborn to remove and often times the only option for ridding this mess is to cover it up with a black molding paint. One option is to use masking tape and mask off the moldings and/or edges. Do whatever it takes to keep the wax out of the cracks and crevices. This will not only make your vehicle look even better, It will make your job much more professional. Nothing says I am a moron and don't know what I am doing more than having a freshly waxed car with yuckie white residue by the hood and all in the moldings.
Check Back For More Tips Coming Soon!