Tips On Detailing Your Mercedes-Benz

The devil’s in the detailing. Detailing is like an extreme makeover for your car. But it doesn’t have to cost a mint and doesn’t require any special expertise. What it does require is time, effort, and just a little bit of know-how. Here’s a Mercedes-Benz of Princeton guide to help you detail your car like an expert. If any of our Princeton neighbors have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to contact our service center in Lawrenceville!

What You Will Need To Detail Your Car

• Vacuum cleaner
• Rags
• Q-tips
• Small brushes (toothbrushes work best)
• Canned air
• Liquid spray bottles
• Cleaners: upholstery, carpet, glass, wheel, and all-purpose
• Bucket
• Car washing soap
• Sponge or mitt
• Newspaper
• Wax
• Chamois
• The Soundtrack to Car Wash (optional)

Start Detailing From the Inside Out

• Step One: Start with the interior of your car. Take out your car mats. Vacuum and shampoo, if necessary, and set aside to dry.
• Step Two: Remove everything from the car, including those dried-out Bic pens and stray French fries under the passenger seat. Toss the trash and decide what should go back in.
• Step Three: Work on the dash, doors, and steering wheel before you clean the upholstery and carpets. Use Q-tips to dig into crevices on the dash. For areas, you can’t reach, try the compressed air.
• Step Four: Work your way from top to bottom. The key to good detailing is, not surprisingly, attention to detail. Clean everything. Then clean the areas you skipped. Wipe the vents and the door jams. Use a soapy cloth to get things spotless. Every nook and cranny should be wiped, sprayed, and cleaned. Get as OCD as you can.
• Step Five: Clean the interior windows. Use newspaper to minimize streaks.
• Step 6: Now, it’s time to clean the carpets and upholstery. Vacuum between and under the seats. (Yes, that’s what those little attachments are for.) Then use an upholstery cleaner appropriate to your interior and work out any spots.

Tips for Washing Your Car

Now that you’ve detailed the interior, it’s time to move to the exterior. That means, giving your car a good wash. For a quality wash, here are some basic rules to follow.

• Wash it in the shade. Avoid direct sunlight.
• Give it a rinse first.
• Wash and rinse one section at a time. Don’t scrub too hard, or you might scratch the paint. Take your time to work out stubborn areas.
• Work from top to bottom.
• Rinse your sponge or mitt often.
• Save the tires for last, and don’t forget under the wheel wells.
• Dry quickly using 100% cotton towels, microfiber towels, or chamois.
• Apply wheel cleaner.

Be sure you pay attention to the small things. Use small brushes to get into the little spots on your wheels. And don’t forget to polish the mirrors.

Wax On, Wax Off

Make sure your car is cool to the touch before waxing. Using a small foam pad or soft cloth, apply the wax in small sections using overlapping, circular motions. Watch Karate Kid I, if necessary, to perfect the technique. Let the wax dry to a haze before wiping it off. Shake out and flip your cloth frequently to get rid of waxy bits. Then give the whole shebang another wipe-down.

Finally, clean the exterior windows. Now you can empty the soapy water from the bucket, fill it with ice and soak your sore elbow. You just detailed your car. Now take it for a joyride down a Hamilton highway and show off that sheen.

Reach Out to Mercedes-Benz of Princeton for More Information

Just call us at (609) 771-8040 and be sure to check out service specials to see if you can save on that tire rotation you’re due for too. We look forward to helping our neighbors in Mercer County keep their automotive investments in tip-top shape!