H&W Auto Detailing

H&W Auto Detailing
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Why is it important to understand the difference between a detailer and a car cleaner?

A detailer follows a certain set of standards when it comes to cleaning and maintaining the cleanliness of a vehicle. Here are some questions that you can ask to help determine if a person truly knows how to detail a car:

1. How do you wash the car?

Answer: Top to bottom, Front to rear. A person who understands detailing knows to always start from the top as all the dirt will wash down, and go from front to rear they wash off the dirt to prevent any dirt from returning onto the vehicle. Given that we are in Texas a detailer will most likely want to do it in a garage or under a canopy if possible. Not all vehicles can or will fit in one or if they’re skilled enough won’t need to use one. But washing in a shaded area helps prevent the hard water commonly found here in Texas from drying and caking on your vehicle.

2. Wax & Polish?

A common misused phrase is “wax & polish.” A true detailer will actually polish a vehicle first then apply wax. Not the other way around. So ask them do they wax first then polish? If they answer yes to that question then they didn’t read up thoroughly on how to properly apply

3. How do you clean the tires?

A detailer knows to use a different rag, sponge, or cleaning tool when it comes to tires. If they use the same cleaning tool on the body as they do the tires that is what we call cross contamination. Tiny pebbles, mud, or rocks could easily get stuck into the cleaning tool and when reused on the body of your car will cause micro scratches or other damages to your body.

4. How often to they change rags while cleaning?

For every chemical used on a car, a different clean rag should be used to apply or remove excess. If a person uses a rag to shine and uses that same rag to clean a window they are causing cross contamination. Putting chemicals in areas they’re not supposed to be at. While harm or damage may not be obvious at first, it could cause problems in the longer run of things.

5. What is their rate?

A detailer that is experienced and knowledgeable understands a few important factors:

•What is their worth
•What is the cost for products
•What is the cost towards the business

Average hourly rate for a experienced detailer hovers around $50 per hour. Depending on the cost of products some may be slightly cheaper then $50 per hour or slightly more. If you find someone is charging less than $30 an hour there are a few questions that need to be ask:

•What is their experience in detailing
•What products are they using
•Are they a legitimate business or side job worker

Going through someone who is a recognized business is a safer bet as they’re likely to have insurance, hold theirselves to a certain standard to continue gaining more business, and obey the law as they do not want to be sued or held responsible for anything through the courts of law.

While the price of the detail seems like a great deal and they may have photos or videos showing they have a great service it is always wiser to error on the side of safety and question their legitimacy before having them work on your vehicle. Remember your vehicle is not a cheap investment. Don’t just settle for a cheaper detailer or cleaning service simply because it’s cheaper. Old saying goes “you get what you pay for.” If you want it done right the first time around then make sure to ask the questions to test their legitimacy of being an actual detailer, find out why their prices are so cheap, and research them to see their past results. Sometimes what you find is all photos or videos look amazing but all they done is vehicles 4 years old or less which means they have yet to truly get down and dirty when it comes to detailing. If your vehicle is 4 years old or less then the likelihood of your car being done properly is a good chance but never a guarantee as there are some issues your car may have that they have no idea how to fix and that is where the difference between a detailer and car cleaner becomes clear.