Automotive Academy

1) For the best results you will want to not only clean the outside of the wheel but the inner section of the wheel.

2) To wash the tires you should use a cleaner degreaser, this can also be used to clean the wheel arch if you decide you want to. The wheels can be a time consuming task if you haven’t done them before, it will get easier the more you do it – trust me.

3) Once applied let it set for a couple of seconds to bond itself with the dirt and grime on the wheel.

4) If possible you should use a wheel cleaner on the actual alloy as this will give the best results, ensure that you are wearing gloves when handling acid based products.

5) Using a sponge you can begin to clean the arch well while the products are setting onto the tires/alloy ready to be removed. You should always use a separate sponge when caring for separate products to avoid damaging your car with dirt or gravel. Remove the soap from the arch well with a hose pipe ready to begin on the actual wheel itself.

6) If you have a longer sponge you should use that on the wheel so that you can get inside the alloy and ensure that it’s all clean. Use a paintbrush around the spokes if you have any so that you can ensure the alloy cleaner will remove all of the dirt.

7) Spray this off with a hose pipe and see the final result. If you have missed certain parts then you can go back over them and ensure they are clean before you move onto the next wheel. Simply repeat steps 1-7 on each wheel and you have finished cleaning your cars wheels.

1) Before you start you should thoroughly vacuum the carpet to ensure that it’s dirt free and clean. If you have any car mats you should take them out and clean them separately as it will make it easier for you.

2) The carpets should be clean if you have had your mats in for any length of time, if there are any stains or marks on the carpet you should spray them with general purpose cleaner or degreaser depending on the severity.

3) Apply a little water to the soiled areas and then scrub with a brush, again depending how bad the stain/mark is will determine how long/hard you will need to scrub for.

4) After you are satisfied with the result you can simply hoover everything up which should leave your carpets clean and fresh.

5) You are best doing each section of the carpet before moving onto the next section, the process itself is not very hard or time consuming but can make a great difference to the smell and appearance of your car.

6) Once you have done the carpets you can concentrate on your car mats, spray them with a hose and apply the same cleaning product used on the carpets. Scrub with a brush and repeat the process you did on the carpets.

7) Put the mats back in and you have finished.

1) Most odors tend to be from spillages in the car that don’t dry up or get cleaned up properly. The proper method to remove the smells would be to take out the carpet or upholstery, clean it thoroughly and they let dry out properly.

2) Not many people would be happy to do this so there are other options you have, buying and using anti-bacterial spray will kill the source of the smell whether it is mould or mildew.

3) You should always wash and shampoo the area first and wait until it’s dry, then apply the anti-bacterial spray evenly and lightly. You then just simply let it dry out and the odor should be gone. You may still find small traces of the odor depending on how severe the flooding/spillage was. If you want to remove the smell completely then you would have to replace the area that was contaminated.

NOTE: Avoid getting this spray on any plastics in the car, they may stain.

4) If you have identified that the odor is coming from the vents then professional help is required. Never try to use any solution yourself as you may end up damaging the ventilation system of your car.

1) Before you do anything with wax you have to ensure your car has been thoroughly cleaned and dried if you want the best results.

2) Apply the wax to the paint of your car, if the surface is quite hot you may be best applying it direct onto the buffer pad.

3) It makes it easier if you split each area up and focus on waxing that before moving on, using a buffer you should rub the wax in evenly. Never hold the buffer still on the paintwork as it could burn or mark it.

4) After each section is complete I would advise you to rub off the wax, leaving it on too long (especially in heat) will allow it to set onto the car. This will make it much harder when it comes to rubbing it off.

5) If possible, use a microfiber cloth to remove the wax opposed to a normal towel. It will make it easier to remove the wax and the end result will look much better.

6) For smaller areas such as mirrors, lights and section on the bodywork you should apply the wax with a wax pad instead of the buffer. Not only will it make it easier to do but you will not risk scratching or damaging anything.

7) After that it’s just a case of going round the car getting the desired result.

Having a scratch on your car is never pleasant, there are various methods in which you can remove the scratch without having too much expense or damaging the existing paintwork.

1) If the scratch is not that deep you can often remove it using a compound such as T-Cut or other car polish.

2) Using a similar method to waxing your car you should use a buffer or other tool to rub the compound into the paintwork with ease. Remember to keep the device moving because you could burn the paint if held in the same position for any length of time.

You should always start with the device flat and apply pressure to the edges after it has turned on.

3) For the best results you are advised to use another compound which is less abrasive or gritty afterwards, using the same method you simply apply the compound and use the buffer to rub it in. Again, don’t let it stay in one place or it could damage your paintwork.

4) After it has been applied you can use a towel to wipe it down and add a layer of wax if you wish.

5) Check the result, if you are satisfied you can either leave it as that or go over it once more with the buffer to ensure the compound/wax has been rubbed in sufficiently. This time you would be advised to turn the speed down making it smoother.

6) If you do not have the results you were after you can repeat these steps until you are happy the scratch has been removed.

NOTE: Before you start you should always test your chrome polish on a small area of the car before you polish all of the chrome areas, this is because some chrome polishes have been known to scratch the chrome.

If you are unsure which polish to get you can always ask the store you are purchasing it from to see if they can recommend any that will not scratch your car.

1) Apply the polish as you would a normal car wax, it will be slightly harder than applying normal car wax if you want the best results. You can still polish the chrome if it has been tarnished – it will just be a little more difficult to apply.

2) Simply use a different towel and wipe of the wax, you are best wiping down a small section first to ensure that you have the results that you want. If so, continue to wipe down the rest of the chrome area you have applied the wax.

3) If the results are not as desired you can apply more polish to the chrome and repeat steps 1 and 2 until you are satisfied.

This is a process that you will get better the more you do it, don’t be disheartened if you cannot get the perfect results right away.

People often miss out on cleaning the engine bay when detailing their car, this not only will make it harder to do so in the future and could impose problems if left too long. It’s not that difficult if you know how to do it correctly, so let’s get to it.

1) Be careful when using water in the engine bay, on certain makes and models of cars too much water can result in problems. Not to mention any electronics you may have in the engine compartment – damaging these could result in having to have to pay to repair them.

You want to begin by spraying the engine bay down with water

2) Next you need spray the area with degreaser, be careful around some of the components because if too much is applied it could leave marks on certain surfaces. Note: avoid having direct sun light on the degreaser once applied as it will speed up the process.

If you have any excess on certain areas just wipe them off and continue covering the whole engine bay, don’t forget the underside of the bonnet.

3) Use a paint brush to wipe around the area to ensure you have got degreaser everywhere that you wanted, this will also agitate the degreaser making the outcome much better.

4) After degreaser has been applied, simply wash down the area with your hosepipe, be careful again about getting too much water near the engine and other components. Some makes and models are known for having problems when you use too much water.

5) Next you need to dry it, if possible you are best using an air compressor to get most of the water out of the engine bay. Then go round the area with a towel to make sure that it’s all dry. If you don’t have an air compressor you can use a couple of towels to dry the area.

Espuma Clay Bar
Espuma Clay bar is a mixture of clay base and various mild abrasives. Clay along with a clay lubricant is used to remove paint contamination. Road grime, tar, bugs, rust, tree sap and even paint overspray can be removed with a clay bar. Clay bars differ in color and density but what is most important is the type and amount of abrasive particles they contain. All clay bars will be labeled from “mild” to “strong” abrasive quality. Claying does not remove the clear coat of the paint but can cause marring or dullness if used incorrectly. When using a clay bar sufficient lubrication must be present to avoid scratching the paint. It takes a few passes of clay to feel the difference on the surface of the paint. To evaluate the effectiveness of claying dry the area and assess the paint and the bar. The paint should become slick to touch. The clay bar used should be turning gray. If the clay bar is dropped it must be discarded. The clay bar should be folded over frequently to expose clean surface. Claying does not replace polishing. It is a process that should be used before polishing compound is used. Claying should be used once or twice a year.