Mobile Car Wash
SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Avoid scratches as much as possible
We start with scratches. Why? Because they are the biggest enemy to your car's finish. And avoiding scratches is the secret to keeping your car looking good. Dirt and grime, rubbed in while washing or drying, will act like sandpaper and dull your car's paint. There is one basic rule which will guide you whenever you touch the surface of your automobile: Anything that comes in contact with your car's finish should be soft.
2. As much as possible, protect your cars finish from the elements.
This means storing the car in a garage or covered area. Also, the use of a car cover is highly recommended. A car that is constantly exposed to sunlight and other environmental hazards will deteriorate quicker and require significantly more cosmetic maintenance.
3. Always keep a good coat of wax or paint sealant on the car.
In addition to providing gloss and depth, wax will also protect your car from the elements, including sunlight and many other circumstances that you will encounter, from bug carcasses to bird droppings.
4. Be aware of your car's finish.
Make regular quick inspections of your cars surface a habit. Look it over and note its condition, keeping in mind its recent history and what you anticipate will happen in the future.
5. Make a habit of detailing your car.
In most cases, washing your car once a month is adequate. Once every two weeks is better and necessary if the car is subject to harsh conditions.
Your car accumulates numerous particles that can harm the finish. Pollutants, mud, salt, dirt, sand, bugs, tar, rain, sun, etc. are extremely harmful to the paint. Detailing leaves microscopic layers of fine wax particles that provide a deep shine and forming a clear chemical bond that protects the paint and its original clear coat. Detailing guarantees longevity to the paint and retains the value of the vehicle. Professional detailing is not just a luxury it is an investment that has become a necessity!
What is the difference between DETAILING and WASHING?
WASHING removes loose contaminants, dirt and grime. DETAILING removes blemishes, oxidation and etching marks that are caused when contaminants penetrate the surface. Rub your hand across an upper surface. If it is rough, you need to detail your car. It prevents the paint and its clear coat from deteriorating. Retain the value of your car; have it detailed by one of our technicians this week. Click here to schedule an appointment.
WILL IT HURT THE PAINT OR THE CLEAR COAT OF THE CAR WHEN DETAILED REGULARLY?
Absolutely not! In fact, it will actually enhance the quality of the paint. It is recommended that all cars, regardless of make and model, should be detailed professionally once every 3 to 6 months - depending upon driving and parking condition. However, if an amateur detailer performs the detailing job, the likelihood of paint deterioration and damaged molding is possible. Our detailing experts are well trained in this area. We have the experience and the expertise to keep your car looking new, thus, providing protection against deterioration.
What is the difference between PAINT SEALANT and WAX?
PAINT SEALANT forms a clear chemical bond that protects the finish of the vehicle and maintains that new car appearance. It is guaranteed to keep its shine for at least one whole year with proper maintenance.
WAXES leave microscopic layers of fine wax particles providing deep shine and protection. With regular maintenance and care, the deep shine can last between 3 to 12 months depending upon the quality of the wax. We use only the highest quality wax in the industry today.
POLISHING is designed to bring out the gloss. WAXING is for protection. Polishing is what makes the wet-look, deep gloss possible, especially effective on dark-colored cars.
How long a wax lasts depends on a variety of factors such as the environment and how the surface is prepared. Our detailing experts are trained to meet your needs and requests.
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO WAX OR POLISH MY CAR?
It depends on the environmental elements your car typically endures. If your vehicle is kept garaged on a daily basis, then a polish or wax can last as long four to six months. If your car is kept outdoors under harsh conditions, then it will need to be waxed as often as once a month. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend that a light colored car be polished and waxed at least every two to three months. Dark colored cars on the other hand, will usually require more frequent and specialized attention.
WHY CAN'T I USE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS TO WASH MY CAR?
Household cleaners like dishwashing detergent are specifically designed to dissolve grease. Because wax is essentially a grease, household cleaners will remove your car's waxes finish; leaving you with little shine and no protection. Also, some household detergents have micro-fine abrasive in them. These can permanently scratch your car's surface. Always use a premium quality, commercial liquid car wash. They are formulated to dissolve dirt and grime without removing your car's beautiful wax finish.
Your car deserves better than once-a-year products. It is likely the second largest investment you've made, after your home. Don't scrimp on the quality of the products you use to maintain it, or the care you give your vehicle. A regular regimen of washing and waxing pays enormous dividends for years down the road. The intrinsic weakness of once-a-year products will become painfully apparent as the years pass.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WASH MY CAR?
As often as practical. Most enthusiasts wash their vehicles at least once a week. Some folks wash their cars almost every day. With Jon Archer Mobile Car Wash, we have a program called "Hand-Wash & Quick Wax conditioner". This program brings a unique formulation that restores your vehicle's show car shine in-between waxes.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE FREE CAR WASHES AT THE GAS STATION?
Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Many of those car washes use mechanical brushes, which can damage your paint surface. In some parts of the country, the water is recycled, meaning your car is getting the same water applied as the "clapped out" 1970 Plymouth Duster that just pulled out (unless your car just happens to be that Duster). While filters can catch small particulates, they can't filter out the dissolved salt from winter use, or all those hoards of other nasty chemicals.
Most modern car finishes consist of a base coating that contains the color, topped with a protective clear coat that is designed to keep the pigmented paint from oxidizing. This outer clear coat adds UV protection that helps prevent the sun's rays from drying out the base paint. Oxidation was an obvious problem ten years ago because you quickly saw the color fade. Now that the outer layer is usually clear, oxidation is less obvious, yet it still occurs. The sun dries out top paint layers and natural oils are lost. If these oils aren't replaced, the paint oxidizes and the surface gradually becomes duller and duller.
Even more than yesterday's paints, today's clear coat finishes look faded whenever the surface becomes contaminated by airborne pollution, acid rain, industrial fallout, and countless other factors. If the contamination isn't removed frequently, it reduces the reflective quality of the finish until it looks dull and lifeless. If the contamination is left on the car for some time, it can begin to etch into the thin clear coat paint layer and expose the base coat to direct UV rays and even greater damage. Once the clear coat protection is gone, the car usually requires costly repainting.
TELL ME ABOUT WATER SPOTS
Water Spots derive from several sources: car wash, sprinkler system, acid rain, etc. The good news is that all water spots are restorable if they were contaminated recently. However, if left on your car for some time, it can damage the clear coat and cut through the paint. A waxed and sealed car has a better chance of repelling water spots. Though, it is not a permanent solution.
TELL ME ABOUT OVERSPRAY
There are many different types of oversprays: paint, road tar, tree saps, epoxies, urethanes, asphalt, concrete, industrial fallout, and other chemical contaminants. These are airborne emissions created by many sources. Regardless how your car got exposed to the contaminants, timing is the determination factor of the recovery. It tells us whether or not the overspray is removable. If the overspray is recent, we can safely remove the contaminants and restore the structural integrity of the finish. In some cases, the overspray may have already penetrated into the clear coat. At which point, repainting may be necessary.
With Jon Archer Mobile Car Wash, our system of overspray removal will preserve the original paint finishes and avoids the need to replace the trim panels, moldings, glass and chrome parts. Let us help you with your overspray removal needs.