What Is the Difference Between Car Wash and Detailing?
Is a car wash the same thing as car detailing? In the last two decades, auto detailing services have become increasingly popular, with some people having the false impression that detailing is just a fancier word for washing your car. In reality, nothing is further from the truth. Car wash and auto detailing are two entirely different processes, with the second often including the first.
Let’s clear the confusion and explore the main differences between a car wash and auto detailing
Frequency
The rule of thumb is that you should wash your vehicle every two weeks or if it is dirty. More frequent washing is recommended if you live in an area close to the ocean or during winter if salt is used on roads because salt can corrode the metal in your car and cause rust.
Auto detailing, on the other hand, is a more thorough cleaning method and is recommended 4 to 6 times a year to protect and preserve the vehicle. Even if your vehicle looks relatively clean after regular washes, it needs in-depth cleaning several times a year to prevent grime from building up in hidden spots.
How Each Process Is Performed
Car wash is performed either manually or automatically. In an automatic full-service car wash, the vehicle crosses a tunnel where brushes, soap, and water are applied. The drying is performed by employees using towels or blows driers. A car wash can include an undercarriage wash and applying coat protectors for an extra cost. Automatic car wash is convenient but comes with potential disadvantages such as leaving scratches and swirls in the paint, which diminishes the gloss of the vehicle.
Auto detailing starts with hand washing because technicians pay more attention and also look for areas that need to be reconditioned or restored. Extending the car’s lifespan is a priority for professional auto detailers and both the interior and the exterior of the vehicle being worked on.
The Complexity of The Process
Car wash focuses on efficiency over quality and attention to detail is not the top priority. This is why with an automatic car wash your vehicle often has "missed spots" or leftover grime/dirt.
Auto detailing is obviously a more complex process compared to car washing. If a car wash is like taking a shower, detailing is like an auto spa. Technicians focus both on the exterior and interior of your car and complete the following actions for the exterior of the car: washing, waxing, bug removal, buffing, cleaning, and dressing tires, cleaning the engine, and decontaminating ventilation, restoring headlights, paint correction, and fixing scratches. Inside the vehicle, professional detailing usually involves: vacuuming the interior and the trunk, cleaning windows and mirrors, cleaning door jabs, cleaning the dashboard and the console, cleaning and dressing upholstery, car seat cleaning, spot cleaning the ceiling, shampooing the mats and the carpets, and performing steam cleaning.
Duration of Car Wash Versus Detailing
A typical car wash lasts up to 10 minutes, while auto detailing takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an entire day to complete, depending on the vehicle’s size and condition. Vehicle owners who opt for detailing the need to secure alternative transportation for the day or find something else to do while technicians work on their cars. However, detailing is performed less often and delivers advantages that are not possible with a simple car wash, so waiting for the car to get some special care is definitely worth one’s patience.
Cost of Car Wash Versus Detailing
Auto detailing is more expensive than a car wash because it lasts longer, is more labor-intensive, and uses more cleaning products. Automatic car washes charge anywhere between $10 to $20 for a simple exterior wash. Auto detailing costs generally vary from $50 to $500, depending on the amount of work required to detail a vehicle. Vehicle owners can reduce the cost of auto detailing by opting for partial detailing, such as car interior cleaning, instead of a full one and focusing on those areas that need more care and thorough cleaning.
Substances Being Used
A simple and fast car wash can use as little as car shampoo, but a professional service will employ substances such as presoak, detergents, tire cleaners, conditioners, drying agents, sealants, and protectants.
Auto detailing uses even more substances to deliver an excellent appearance of the vehicle and reach the highest cleaning standards. Additional to substances used in a car wash, at Stuey’s Green Auto Clean we also use protective sealants, bug and tar removal substances, clay bar surface, degreasers, and many others, all EPA certified to ensure a safe and healthy driving environment for our customers and passengers.
Purposes of Car Wash Versus Detailing
Car washing is a must if you want to have a clean and functional vehicle and you need to complete this process regularly. A simple car wash is recommended when you need a quick clean and especially when winter grime starts to build up. Some seasons require more frequent washes than others, such as spring and early summer, when pollen circulates and you can get a yellow coating of pollen that is hard to remove when left for too long.
Car detailing should be performed a few times a year, usually between seasons, before an important event, when you’re planning to sell, or simply because you need to make sure dust and allergens trapped in the cabin are not causing health issues.
Auto detailing is an investment in your vehicle, drastically improving its appearance and making it look showroom-ready. To benefit from the best car detailing, opt for a company offering a wide range of detailing services and servicing multiple areas of NYC, such as Stuey’s Green Auto Clean.
