A question that we often get at Detail Plus is, “How often should I get my car detailed?” Our clients are typically trying to maintain the “new car” look. Many factors determine how often a vehicle should be detailed, which is why this question differs for everyone. Factors may include how much you drive, where you park (inside or outside), and if you drive with kids or pets in the car. 

New Cars

Yes, we do recommend you have your brand-new car detailed! Although it is new and clean from the dealership, detailing will provide protection.

For the interior, we will condition leather, apply UV protection to plastic and vinyl surfaces, and apply fabric protection to fabric upholstery. For the exterior, we apply a polymer-based paint sealant after doing a thorough decontamination wash and polishing the paint. The sealant will protect the vehicle against harmful UV rays and help to maintain a healthy clear coat, so your paint doesn’t fade and lasts 6-12 months.

We also offer a stronger more durable option, called ceramic coating. Our ceramic coating detailing offers the strongest protection for your car’s paint in terms of UV protection, bird poop, tree sap, and other contaminants. In addition to the enhanced protection provided with ceramic coating, this detailing method is extremely hydrophobic which makes it much easier to keep your car clean.

Like-New Cars: Hitting the reset button

Almost every car will get to the point where a basic car wash is no longer achieving the level of cleanliness that you want. Crumbs, hair, and dust are starting to pile up in the corners and all the cracks and crevices of the vehicle. The seats look worn out as dirt slowly builds up over the years. The paint no longer has that gorgeous shine after a wash.

These are all signs that the car is due for a Detail Plus detail! After our detailing services, it really is like getting a new car — without the new car payments!

With our interior detail, we clean out the cracks and crevices, shampoo the carpets, and clean and condition the leather. We do whatever we can to give your car that new car look!

With the exterior detail, we hand wash, clay bar, polish, and wax the paint which brings back the shine you once enjoyed.  Not only will your car look brand new, but it will also be protected. Protecting your vehicle will then maintain it, which, in turn, will keep it looking newer.

Car Maintenance

Maintain your car to keep it in tip-top shape! Not only will your family, friends, and neighbors be impressed with how your car looks, but it maintains the resale value of your vehicle as well.

So, what is the best way to maintain your car? Depending on how much the vehicle is used and how dirty it gets, we recommend having the vehicle detailed every 6 – 12 months. This will keep your vehicle protected and will hit the reset button to keep it looking like a new car.

In between these details, we also recommend you use our full-service hand wash to maintain a clean, freshly-detailed look.

TIP: We do not recommend drive-through car washes! The brushes can easily damage your vehicle’s paint. For example, the spinning brushes will cause your vehicle’s clear coat to wear out faster than if your vehicle is properly hand-washed. The brushes can also remove protective coatings, like wax.

So, if you are looking to maintain the best look for your vehicle, we recommend your vehicle is properly hand-washed only.

Detail Services at Detail Plus

Here at Detail Plus, we have the knowledge and skills to maintain your vehicle. Whether we are starting with a brand-new car, or hit the “reset” button, our team can help. At Detail Plus, we are happy to give advice and recommendations, or we can do the maintenance work for you.

If you’d rather sit back and let us do the heavy lifting, bring in your car for regular maintenance. We will make sure you are always riding in the cleanest car around!

When to bring in your car: Bring in your car every 1-2 months for a full-service hand wash and every 6 – 12 months for a detail.

Be sure to check out our website regularly to take advantage of our best offers to help you maintain the best appearance for your vehicle! To schedule an appointment with our shop, give us a call at 408-738-1888 or schedule an appointment online.

If you’ve ever purchased a new or used car from a dealership, you know how clean an engine can look. The valves are shiny. The metal is clean. You can touch any part of its surface without immediately washing your hands. It starts out perfect, but it doesn’t last forever.

Many drivers spend time and effort cleaning the interiors and exteriors of their cars. But they rarely check under the hood, where dirt and grime accumulate for years.  

How can you ensure your engine is properly cleaned? A steam cleaning at Detail Plus will do the trick! Here’s a little bit more about the benefits.

Make your engine long-lasting

Getting your car’s engine steam cleaned can help extend its lifespan by keeping the engine healthy. The process will help get rid of contaminants and stray fluids, which will make your car perform better and last longer – giving you more bang for your buck!

Sometimes, fluids can leak into the engine. This causes a multitude of problems. A technician at Detail Plus can find and stop a leak at its source.

Spot trouble before it’s too late

Having a clean engine can help you spot trouble before it becomes a problem. If your engine is filthy, you’re not going to know if a small fluid leak has been there for a long time or if it just appeared.

Clean engines make leaks, cracks and other issues much easier to spot and take care of quickly.

Protect yourself from engine fires

Stains are typically a cosmetic issue, but they can become dangerous in certain parts of a vehicle. Fluid stains in your engine or undercarriage are often flammable.

Removing the buildup of combustible materials, such as leaves or oil, can lower your risk of fire hazards on the road or in the garage.

Consider scheduling an appointment with Detail Plus for an engine cleaning to mitigate the risk associated with flammable materials.  

Increase your vehicle’s resale value

You might not look at your engine as often as you should, but it’s one of the first things that a dealer or buyer might look at when considering how well the vehicle has been cared for.

It’s fairly easy to tell if an engine has been cleaned, which will increase the car’s resale value.

If you have a spare car that you are planning to give to a friend or a family member, a good steam cleaning will ensure its performance down the line.

Regardless of your car’s make or model, a steam cleaning is one of the best ways to revitalize its running capabilities and add to its lifespan.

Call Detail Plus today or visit our website to learn more about our engine-cleaning services and book your appointment!