Comprehensive Car Detailing Guide by RCZ1 Part 5
15. Engine Bay
This job is best done at the very start of your detail. I clean mine about once a month.
For those of you who like to clean every little nook and cranny then the engine bay will also benefit from a bit of TLC. A product that has proved to do a great job in the engine bay for minimal effort is 303 Aerospace Protectant. Just spray it on, leave for a few hours if you wish and then rub down with a cloth ( not one that will be used on the main parts of your car). Leaves a lovely sheen to the rubber, plastic and vinyls in the engine bay.
303 Aerospace Protectant
Carpro PERL
16. Interior
I tend to clean the interior at the very end but it can be done whenever it suits you. There is no right and wrong way.
I polish the brightwork first, the chrome surrounds, door opener, the handle to close the door, etc. Then it's on to hoovering the carpets. If the hoover nozzle is difficult to get between the front seats, stick a straw in the nozzle and it should reach where you want. If the mats wanted more than a brush down, then I take them out right at the very start and clean with an all purpose cleaner and stiff brush and then leave them to dry in the sun.
Next it's on with cleaning the leather seats and the "fake" leather dash and door surrounds. I use the Furniture Clinic cleaner and Protector.
It's very important to regularly clean and protect leather as it helps to replace the moisture that is lost inside the warm environment of a car. It stops leather from cracking, which is caused when it dries out. The seats and " fake" leather are cleaned fortnightly with the cleaner and then every 3 months the protector is applied. I've used many leather cleaners and have found that the more you pay for them the better they are. Some cheaper ones can make the leather go shiny, which is not what should happen, it should remain matt looking. They can also make the seats become very slippy and then you slide around in them, which is not good.
Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner
G-Techniq C6 Matte dash - use on all plastic areas in the car - door cards, plastics lower down and lasts 6 months or more.
Furniture Clinic Leather Cleaner And Leather Protector (in a kit).
17. Black trim - bottom of wing mirrors, scuttle panel, rear valance, engine bay
A product that has caught my attention recently and seems to give good results is Gtechniq C4 - Permanent Trim Restorer. Apply it to black trim on the bottom of the wing mirrors, the scuttle panel at the bottom of the windscreen (exterior), the rear valance (where the exhausts are) and if you wish to the engine bay. This provides UV protection to trim and stops it fading. It lasts for up to 2 years. It gives a lovely matt sheen. It doesn't alter the colour of the trim. You just need to make sure that the areas you are going to apply it are thoroughly clean, washed and degreased, before the C4 is applied. DO NOT apply it in full sun. It comes in a little bottle and is quite expensive, but you only need to use one little splash on the applicator pad and a little goes a long way. Once applied, immediately wipe over with a clean cloth, don't buff it.
There are very few things that can be guaranteed in life, but if you complete all the above stages, I can guantee that you will have a VERY clean car and a VERY VERY shiny one.
You can of course just pick out the bits you fancy having a go at if you don’t have the time to do the lot in one go