Detailing your car
If your car looks showroom ready you can expect top dollar on the resale market. If it looks sad, stinks, and has garbage in the backseat you can expect little interest and low resale value. Take a Saturday/Sunday and make your car look like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
Here are the supplies you will need:
- Detail Brush Set – 2 Pack
- Microfiber Cleaning Kit
- Roll of paper towels
- Sprayway Glass Cleaner
- Engine Degreaser
- Baking soda
- ArmorAll
- Dri-Clean Upholstery Cleaner
- Lexol 1115 Leather pH Cleaner Spray
- Lexol 1015 Leather Conditioner Spray
- Chamois for drying car
- Carpet Stain and Spot Lifter
- Soap and water
- Goo Gone -cleans anything
- Nu Finish Scratch Doctor
- Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish
- Programmable Digital Tire Gauge
Engine compartment
There is a reason the used car dealer spends money steam cleaning the car engine – a clean engine means a clean car; at least in the mind of the buyer. EVERY buyer is going to lift the hood and look at the engine – 80% of them have no idea what they are looking for so give them a bright and shinny engine to admire.
Degrease the engine
Buy two large spray cans of engine degreaser and follow the instructions to the letter – you MUST place plastic wrap over the distributor (the thing with 4 to 8 wires coming out of; its round). I recommend a citrus based degreaser which smells like oranges. The engine will smell of the degreaser for a few days – do this way in advance of having your first buyer drop by.
Clean the battery terminals/cables
If the battery terminals (the two posts with the + and – symbols on the top or side of the battery) have any gray powder around them sprinkle baking soda over the terminals and brush with a toothbrush. Wear rubber gloves and do not touch the terminals with your hand – warning!
Engine oil
Change the oil if it looks brown or cloudy and if low just get an oil change. Nothing says more about the maintenance of a car if the buyer pulls the oil dipstick up and sees new engine oil and its at the high mark.
Transmission oil
Check the transmission oil, with the engine running, and if it smells burnt or cloudy get it changed! If it looks fine make sure it is above the low mark on the dipstick.
Fluids
Check the fluids in the engine compartment – check the brake fluid level, check the windshield wiper fluid level – make sure the fluid is between the high and low markers
Radiator
Check the radiator fluid – make sure the engine is cold – if the coolant is cloudy or not green get it drained and replaced. Make sure there is fluid in the overflow reservoir, and it’s above the low mark
Frame
Use a high pressure water jet to clean the inside of all four wheel wells. Spray the underside of the oil pan – make sure there are no oil drips. Use that water jet to clean the underside of the gas tank in back and clean the muffler. Fix any muffler hangers that are loose or missing. Spray the springs or struts to get rid of grime and dirt.
The underside of the car must look clean if you want to get top dollar. Assume the buyer will look under the car and if they see oil, dirt, and rust you can expect a lower price.
Body
Use a clear coat scratch removal product – go over every inch of the paint and get rid of those swirls. Wash the car and put on a coat of wax; I recommend NuFinish Wax. Wax the bumpers; get rid of dead bugs stuck on bumpers and in the grill. I recommend Scratch Doctor by NuFinish.
If there are scratches get touchup paint and lightly dab the scratch. Be careful here and opt for less paint over more paint. If there are any rust areas either take it to someone who knows how to fix it and not make it worse or buff/polish out the rust and apply a coat of wax. Don’t patch it yourself – it will look worse than simply buffing and waxing.
Check every outside light – check the headlights and bright, check the turn signals, check the brake lights, check the backup lights. Don’t try to sell a car that has a burned out light bulb.
Tires/wheels
Inflate the tires to the proper pressure – don’t guess; look it up. Use a toothbrush and clean the wheels or hubcaps – there must not be one speck of dirt left behind. Apply car wax to the metal or hubcap. Brush the tire with soap and apply a spray on product to make the tire look glossy. Don’t forget the spare tire – inflate the tire to the correct pressure, clean the tire, and apply a gloss product. Check that the jack and lug wrench are in the car – clean them too.
Trunk
Clean and vacuum the trunk – not one piece of litter can be left behind. Make sure the light bulb works. Lift the rugs and vacuum underneath; while there clean the area and get rid of dirt or rust. If rust exists get rid of it and wax the area to protect it.
Make sure the hinges work fine and don’t squeak. Make sure the trunk release works fine. Use Armorall and coat all the rubber molding so they look glossy.
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