Detailing your truck is a lot of work. It can be time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating—but it's also exciting!
It's fun to take a step back from the daily grind and make the most of your vehicle.
You might have heard that detailing is just for show, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Detailing your truck is like a little spa treatment for your car: you're cleaning it and making it look shiny so you can feel good about driving it around town.
But there are some things you should definitely not do when you're detailing your truck—and there are some things you should always do. If you want to keep your truck looking great and in good shape over time, here are some tips on what to avoid and what to prioritize when detailing your ride:
DON'T Use Dish Soap
Dish soap is a very common thing to use when washing your truck. However, it's not the best thing for your truck. The reason why is that dish soap contains chemicals that can strip away your car's wax protection and leave it vulnerable to rust and corrosion. Not only that, but the residue left behind by dish soap can also cause water spots on your paint job. If you're looking for a good way to wash your truck, then we recommend using either a shampoo designed specifically for washing vehicles or plain old water with some vinegar mixed in.
DO Invest in Quality Products and Tools.
When it comes to detailing your truck, it's all about the quality of your tools and products. If you're going to invest the time and energy into actually detailing your truck, then you need to make sure that everything you use is top-notch.
One of the most important aspects of this is making sure that you have a good set of brushes for cleaning. It's easy to get carried away when cleaning your truck, but if you don't have a good brush set, then you're going to be wasting time trying to scrub off stubborn stains.
In addition to this, it's important that you have quality products that won't ruin your paint job or leave streaks behind in their wake. You want something that will give you the results that you want without leaving behind any residue on your paint job (or worse yet: damaging it).
DON'T Clean Your Truck In the Direct Sunlight
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when detailing your truck is cleaning it in direct sunlight.
It's tempting to want to clean your truck in the bright light of day, but you should know that this can actually hurt the value of your truck and damage its finish. Here's why:
Sunlight is hot, and when it hits your truck, it heats up the paint and causes it to fade over time. This means that if you're looking for a way to maintain the look and value of your truck by cleaning it regularly, then you should avoid the sun as much as possible.
DO Start on the Interior and Work Towards the Exterior
DO start on the interior and work towards the exterior. If you're trying to maintain the look and value of your truck, this is how we recommend going about it. Start by vacuuming all of the dirt out of your car, which will get rid of any loose dirt and make it easier for you to spot any stains or spots that need cleaning. Then use a damp cloth to wipe down all of the surfaces of your car, including all door handles, mirrors, steering wheel, dashboard, and more.
Once you've gotten all those surfaces clean and dry, wipe down all of your windows inside and out with glass cleaner before moving on to detailing them with an applicator pad dipped in glass cleaner. Next up is washing off any exterior parts like your tires or wheel wells—you can use soap and water or a specialized cleaner for this step if necessary (just be sure not to use dish soap!).
DON'T Just Use a Hose to Sprinkle Off the Surface of Your Vehicle
A lot of people think they can just use a hose to sprinkle off the surface of their vehicle, but this can actually cause damage over time. Even if you're careful to avoid hitting any part of the paint on your truck with the water coming out of your hose, you're still taking a lot of dirt and debris off with it as well. This means that instead of just getting wet, your truck's surface is actually being scrubbed clean by all those tiny particles dislodged from its surface by the pressure of being sprayed by water.
This can result in scratches and swirls in paint that become permanent after drying out again. In addition, those particles are still bouncing around inside your vehicle's engine compartment, which means they're going to get into places where they shouldn't be—and when they do, they'll cause more problems than simply making it harder for you to find things underneath your hood!
So don't just use a hose! Instead, invest in an actual car wash for your truck—one that's specifically designed for heavy-duty vehicles like yours—and make sure you follow all.
DO Pick a Good Time to Wash and Detail Your Vehicle
When it comes to car care, timing is everything. And the best time to wash and detail your vehicle is when the weather is cooperative.
But don't just pick any old day. If you're washing your truck in the wintertime, for example, you'll need to take precautions to protect yourself from frostbite or hypothermia.
Also, if you're detailing your truck on a hot summer day (or in an air-conditioned garage), you'll want to make sure that any chemicals used won't dry out too quickly and cause damage to your paint job or clear coat.
Takeaway:
There you have it! You've learned a lot about how to keep your truck clean, and we hope you'll continue to keep up with those practices. Not only will it help preserve the value of your vehicle, but it'll also make the daily experience of driving a little more pleasant.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to detailing your truck. Just keep in mind that it's better to call for the help of an expert in detailing to maintain the proper care of your truck.
We at McCoy's Premium Truck Detailing are proud to be the best in Springfield, MO, and we know that your truck deserves the best care. We take great pride in our work, and we want you to be happy with your experience with us. We know that keeping your vehicle looking its best is important to you, and we appreciate your business!
