Q: How can I keep my whitewall tires looking like whitewalls?
A: Don't use scouring pads to clean your whitewalls. This will deteriorate the whitewall surface. A professional car wash can provide the necessary whitewall cleaner and the proper water pressure to clean your tires effectively.
A: It depends. If your vehicle is exposed to corrosive materials like salt, sand, and industrial fallout, it should be washed often. The same goes for vehicles in areas with high humidity. Moisture attracts contaminants and promotes a variety of chemical reactions that can destroy your vehicle's finishes. Frequent washing is essential to the life of your vehicle's chrome and painted surfaces.
Q: When should I wash off insect residue?
A: As soon as possible, especially if the vehicle is new. Insect residue and bird droppings form acids that immediately start to eat away a vehicle's finish.
Q: What is the major cause of rust?
A: Rust is the oxidation of untreated metal surfaces when they come into contact with the elements. Moisture is the main cause of rust. Since dirt attracts and traps moisture, a dirty vehicle is the instigator of almost all automobile rust, especially in those hidden areas behind the chrome and trim. Only a professional car wash operator has the equipment and know-how to effectively reach all those hard-to-reach places and remove corrosion-producing grime before damage is done.
Q: Aren't hand washings safer for my vehicle and the environment?
A: No! Dirt that collects in the wash water in your bucket, sponges, and chamois will scratch the paint. The wash water at professional car washes cleans cars better, faster, and safer. Also, hand washings can consume 2-5 times the amount of water compared to a professional car wash. In addition, soaps and waxes used by professional car washes are biodegradable and safe for the environment.
Q: What is Gloss?
A: Gloss is an optical characteristic that describes the capacity of a surface to reflect directed light. Dirt, grime and environmental contamination on the surface of a vehicle's paint will absorb and diffuse light, making it look dull and lifeless. No paint will remain glossy if it is neglected. Proper surface care is one of the most rewarding activities you can have performed on your vehicle. Not only do you immediately see a difference, but when it comes time to sell or trade in your vehicle, it will be worth far more than a similar model that has been neglected.
Q: Why do vehicle finishes fade?
A: Due to surface contamination, environmental factors, stains and oxidation.
Q: How can I tell if my vehicle needs waxing?
A: A trained professional can usually tell with the naked eye. However, clear coat paints make it more difficult to determine when your vehicle needs waxing. It may need attention far sooner than its appearance would indicate. When in doubt, there are two simple tests that a professional will use to determine when your vehicle needs waxing: * Wad a clean, dry terry cloth, and rub it along a clean upper surface of your vehicle (hood or trunk). If you hear squeaking, that's a sure sign that the vehicle needs waxing; * After washing and drying your vehicle, take your hand and run your fingertips along the upper surfaces of your vehicles hood and trunk. If you detect rough spots or feel drag, you also know your vehicle needs waxing. If the problem is more severe, the painted surfaces of your vehicle may even need a deep-cleaning prior to waxing. The best course of action is to get on a regular maintenance schedule. A professional can suggest a schedule that is right for your vehicle