What's the difference between Interior and Exterior Detailing?
EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DETAILING
Many people think car washing and car detailing are one and the same. But this is not the case. Detailed car washing goes beyond the normal car wash to make a vehicle look spotlessly clean both inside and outside, removing stains and bringing back a vehicle's shine. Unlike car washing, car detailing involves a few hours of deep cleaning.
EXTERIOR DETAILING
Exterior car detailing is not just a quick wash of a car. A good car detailer will make the car gleam, minimize surface scratches, and should always apply a shielding paint sealant.
The common exterior process includes:
Hand/Buff Wax– After a car has been used for a while, it is normal that it loses its polish or shine. Therefore, in this process, the original polish is restored.
DynaGlaze – To give the car a glossy shine, a sealant is applied, and in some cases, wax can be used.
Other exterior services that can be done include repainting, engine detailing, headlight polishing, engine pressure cleaning, and paint touch up.
THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT:
INTERIOR DETAILING
Interior detailing involves cleaning the inside of a vehicle. Some of the components found in the interior cabin include leather, plastics, vinyl, carbon fiber plastics and natural fibers.
The common interior process includes:
Stain Removal– We use deep cleaning techniques to remove any stains from milk, pens/markers, paint, you name it, no matter how long they've been there.
Carpet/Seat Shampoo –
If you're needing to deep clean your seats to get rid of any stains or smells, we've got you covered! Our safe, yet-effective shampoo cleaners allow for us to remove unwanted odors and stains while preserving your interior.
Note - all interior cleanings do come with exterior wash.
THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT:
FULL-SERVICE DETAILING
Needing both the inside & outside deep cleaned for your vehicle? We've got you covered!
This service includes:
- HAND WAX
- SHAMPOO CARPET & MATS
- CLEAN WINDOWS IN & OUT
- CLEAN DOOR JAMBS
- AIR VENT BLOWOUT
- VINYL/UPHOLSTERY CLEANED
- ULTIMATE WASH
THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT:
INTERIOR VS. EXTERIOR DETAILING:
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Car detailing is divided into two components: interior detailing and exterior detailing, and full-service detailing. Exterior Car Detailing restores the car's surface to the original condition and may include products like polishes, wax, detergents and degreasers. Interior detailing is about cleaning the inner parts of a vehicle: vacuuming, wiping and conditioning leathers and vinyl, carbon fiber plastics and natural fibers. A full-service detail includes both!
What can I expect from Interior Professional Detailing?
Vehicle Cleaning: Inside and Out
When you get professional car cleaning, we vacuum carpets and seats, steam-clean fabric seats, clean the windows, counsel, door jambs, and all vehicle surfaces, condition any leather, and do what we can to make the inside of your vehicle look as good as the outside.
Quality Care
You’ll experience a more hands-on and quality cleaning service for your vehicle. Our employees are trained professionals who have the tools to get the job done right. They use their knowledge of how to effectively care for your vehicle.
Extends Life of Vehicle
Getting a detail on your vehicle once every 6 months can help extend the life of the vehicle and help save you money in the long term!
Best option for routine car care.
While full service car washes are comprehensive, old fabric stains and caked cupholders are likely to remain and that's what we can help solve with interior detailing. Our interior detailing includes:
- Vacuuming – The first step to cleaning the interior of a car includes vacuuming seats, headliners, rear cargo area, trunk and shelf. To get the best out of vacuuming, floor mats and the vacuum should be cleaned separately. As for the difficult areas that cannot be reached using a vacuum, an air compressor can be used.
- Brushing and Steam Cleaning – This is used to clean carpets and mats. A thorough scrubbing is done on the mats in order to remove any stains and blemishes that may have accumulated over the past years. To be more effective, a steam-cleaner should be used. However, carpets should be left to dry completely to avoid mildew.
- Glass Cleaning – A glass cleaner is used to clean the glass. It ensures that the glass remains sparkling and ensures the driver’s view is not obstructed.
- Leather Trimming – A leather cleaner, saddle soap and leather soap are used to clean all the leather parts. As for the soapy areas, a damp cloth is used to remove the excess soap. If the leather is dry, a conditioner customized for leather can be used to make cleaning more efficient.
- Re-Vacuuming and Wiping – Re-Vacuuming is important just after vacuuming. Any dirt left in the interior cabin is removed. Dashboards and windows should be wiped clean with a clean cloth using a cleaning detergent. After all this is done, a car’s original shine is restored.
- Perfuming – Finally, to leave the car with a good scent, a deodorant is used in the car.
What can I expect from Professional Exterior Detailing?
Exterior Vehicle Car Detailing
Exterior detailing services clean the exterior of a vehicle only. Exterior detailing involves cleaning, and either restoring or exceeding the original condition of the surface of the car's finish (usually a paint with a glossy finish), chrome trim, windows, wheels, and tires, as well as other visible components on a vehicle's exterior. Our exterior detailing service gets you professional car care results at a fraction of the cost. Upgrade your wash with a little extra shine with an exterior detail. Thomas Car Wash offers detailing at our Preston Indian Trail location.
Exterior Detailing Services
If your car needs extra attention to detail, select from some of our other detailing processes like tar removal and bug splatter, detailing the engine, polishing headlights, washing windshields and wiper blades, and cleaning the car’s wheels and tires.
- Hand Wax
- Buff Wax
- Minor Paint Touch-Ups
- Tar Removal
Perfection to your standards.
While professional automotive detailing can seem a bit costly to clients, it’s well worth it. Firstly, it will maximize the vehicle’s lifespan, especially since the wheels and chassis are vulnerable to salt and dirt when in use. Secondly, it will improve and prolong the vehicle’s resale value when it comes time for the owner to sell, even despite the years and mileage the vehicle already has. As a result, interior and exterior detailing are both important parts of keeping cars looking good and staying valuable. Exterior detailing isn’t simply a brief wash of the outside of a vehicle. Rather, it’s a more complex, intensive detailing of its exterior components. A vehicle will no doubt see its share of road salt, rocks, gravel, and/or dust from construction areas. Exterior detailing can help greatly improve its outward appearance by using products like degreasers, waxes, and detergents.
