Q: Is Armor All a good
product to use?
A:
Armor All is a popular product used by consumers to
clean and shine the dash board in their vehicle. This product
suppresses the breathing capability of you dash. Your dash has
elements of plasticides that emit vapors. These vapors, thickened
with the Armor All product, will create a residue on the interior
windshield. This residue is resistant to household window cleaners,
and can progress to cause an unnecessary visual distraction while
driving.
Q:
How often should I have my vehicle detailed?
A:
Every
vehicle has individual criteria for a detailing program. At minimum,
a complete detail should be done in the spring and again in the fall,
with very frequent hand washings in between detailing. Black and red
vehicles should have an exterior service at the change of every
season. Vehicles chronically exposed to high traffic areas, tunnel
washing systems or environmental fallout should have an exterior
service at the change of every season. Smokers and pet owners that
travel frequently with their pets should have an interior service at
the change of every season.
Q:
Latte stains and
coffee stains: What to do?
A:
Coffee stains are by far the most common stains found on the seats and
carpet of cars today. As the beverage becomes more
sophisticated, so does the clean up. For basic black, Folex spot
remover works well. For the Mocha Frappachinos with cream and
caramel sprinkles, you now have a stain from Hell. Before using
a Folex or foam spot remover, you have to scrape any excess buildup
with a plastic razor. Yuk! Saddle soap and Lexol can be
used on leather. Always finish any stain removal job with a warm
water rinse, shop vac and hair dryer to remove excess moisture.
Q: How destructive are bugs
to my vehicle, and how do I get them off?
A:
A sticky mess, and ugly to look at, bug splatter can leave permanent
marks if not attended to quickly. Chemicals present in insect remains
can often make the spot hard to remove. The remains are acidic and can
etch a dent or hole right into the clear-coat (similar to acid-rain).
The key to removal of bug splatter is two part; first, a properly
protected clear-coat and second, allotting time for water and soap
solution to pre-soak or chemically dissolve the insect remains. Adding
elbow grease helps. There are a few specialty products on the market
available to professional detailers. They have creative names like,
“DeBugger”, “D-Bug-It”, and my favorite the Sure Scrub “Bug
Block”.
Q: What is the cause of
interior compartment odors?
A:
The major causes of vehicle compartment odors are smoking, eating and
moisture. Bacteria grows on moisture and crumbs causing the odors to
permeate the compartment. Nicotine adheres to surfaces and ashes
disperse the area creating stale odors. Fighting bacteria and moisture
odors are simple; clean, deodorize and completely dry the affected
area. Smoking requires the big guns. Ozone machines clean the air. In
a professionally detailed vehicle, use an ozone machine and you can
eliminate smoke odors for as long as the vehicle remains smoke free.
Q: Do the quality and
brand of wiper blades really matter?
A: Yes.
You can get quality original-equipment-manufacturer (OEM) wipers at a
cost of $18 to $23 each from your car dealer or purchase wipers from a
major retailer for $5 to $10 for refills or $10 to $20 for complete
blades. Sometimes, buying the whole blade makes for easier
installation. You should replace your wiper blades at least
every 6 months. Signs of worn blades are wavy, rough or cracked
rubber. The present highest rated refill wiper is the Anco
Premium 31. The worst rated refill wiper is the Tripledge All
Season. Consumer Reports offers free installation tips on their
website until November 1, 2001. Their URL is: http://www.consumerreports.org
Q: How effective is a full
service tunnel washing operation?
A: The
tunnel brushing systems remove dirt from one vehicle and re-deposit it
onto the next vehicle, and scratches often occur. The brushless
systems remove only surface dirt. Both conveyor-type systems
often cause damage to vehicle accessories. The typical automated
car wash operation is often staffed by low-paid and untrained
personnel. The operation is plagued by high employee turnover
that causes inconsistent results with unpredictable vehicle
turn-around time.
