Car Wash

It often happens that the vehicle’s technical condition is very good, but the paintwork loses its original shine and fades. Sometimes, microcracks appear on it, they eventually transform into scratches. The modern market offers many products to improve this situation, but many of them provide only a short-term effect. To completely get rid of minor defects and prevent their emergence, car wax is used – a very effective and available option to most car owners.

Cold Vs Hot Wax for Cars

The main feature of such products is the formation of a protective film on the paintwork surface, which will reduce the negative impact of moisture, dust, dirt, and chemicals on existing microcracks. Besides, car waxing will:

• refresh its appearance;
• give the coating a shine;
• facilitate washing;
• promote quick drying;
• protect the coating from ultraviolet rays.

Depending on the method of application, there are:

1. Cold wax – the main components of such a product are emulsion wax and cationic surfactants. This substance fills in all microcracks, gives the car a well-groomed look, and protects the body surface. The only significant drawback is the fragility of such a coating, therefore it is recommended to apply it after every second wash with a car detailing steamer.
2. Hot wax is a very persistent substance made of natural or artificial ingredients. Very often, it includes chemical compounds that slow down corrosive processes. This product is melted in hot water (from 40 to 90°C), after which it is manually applied to the car and polished. The cost of hot wax for a car is quite high, but the application is carried out rarely – every 6-12 months.

The choice of waxing method should be based on the tasks: for example, it is hardly advisable to do hot waxing for the pre-sale preparation of a car. It is enough to clean it with an auto detail steam cleaner and apply cold wax after washing.

How to Apply Wax?

For a high-quality coating, you must adhere to the following rules:

Steam cleaners can be called a universal tool for cars. Many consumers use this device to clean the interior or car body. Many car enthusiasts have to clean their vehicles in several stages: vacuum the seats, clean the rugs with water, etc. A car detailing steamer may accelerate this process significantly. It can replace several devices at once while cleaning with the greatest efficiency. If you have decided to purchase a  steam cleaner for cars, the below selection tips will come in handy.

How to Choose a Steam Machine for Car Detailing?

A large variety of auto detailing steamers with various functionality and design are represented on the market. To select the equipment that is suitable for cleaning your car, we recommend paying attention to several details:

1. Steam pressure and power

The cleaning efficiency depends on the steam pressure and the power. The optimal power for cleaning is 1,500–2,000 Watts. The pressure indicator should reach a level of 4-8 bar, while it is desirable that the steam supply is regulated. By regulating a steam jet, you will be able to influence different materials in a certain way. This is true for a car, as it has different types of materials and coatings.

2. Weight and dimensions of the device

Since there are many hard-to-reach places in the car, the auto detail steam cleaner must be compact in size. You also need to pay attention to the weight of the device. For the convenience of the user, it should be small.

3. Attachments

The availability of various attachments makes a difference when it comes to the selection of a device. The basic kit must be equipped with nozzles of various configurations (flat, round), and for processing different materials. For example, a regular conical attachment is irreplaceable for hard-to-reach places.

4. The water tank volume

The long operating time of the equipment is dependent on the water reservoir capacity. The bigger it is, the less often you have to top up the water for treatment. A liter of water is enough for about 30 minutes of the operation. Meanwhile, there is also a difference between the household washer and industrial steam cleaner. You also need to pay attention to what kind of steam it generates. When treating the interior of the car, you need to use dry steam, which doesn’t make the chairs wet. read more

Any motorist likes to drive along the newly repaired road. However, the euphoria after such a trip can be eliminated by the emergence of bitumen stains on the car body. Bitumen sticks to the car body from the repaired area of the road. A novice driver, having discovered bitumen on the car body, may not attach much importance to this, but experienced drivers know how difficult it is to remove these contaminants without damaging the paintwork.

Why Is Bitumen Dangerous?

Basically, bitumen is a mixture of resin and solvents. Getting on the car body, solvents penetrate the structure of the paintwork. If the bitumen is not removed in a short time, the solvent will evaporate, and the coloring pigment will remain in the paintwork structure forever. Automotive enamels such as metallic especially suffer from the negative influence of bitumen.

In summer, bitumen penetrates into the paintwork much more actively, since the car body heats up more, which contributes to the rapid evaporation of volatile fractions from the bitumen. In winter, car tires intensively crumble the asphalt surface, and bitumen microparticles mixed with a winter road reagent fall on the car body, forming a hard-to-remove and poorly washed off layer of dirt on the surface.

How to Remove Bitumen from a Car Body?

Fortunately, ​​there are a huge number of means for cleaning cars from bitumen today. Therefore, there is no universal answer to the question of which method is better. Your choice must be made based on the following factors:

1. Body contamination level 

If an insignificant amount of bitumen got on your car and you noticed it on time, then you can use an auto detail steam cleaner to remove it. 

2. Available funds 

If you do not want to pay a lot of money, then use the regular solvents available in the market. In case of minor contamination, they will surely help you.

3. Availability in stores 

Despite the fact that at present there is no shortage, the assortment of goods in stores is formed by wholesale suppliers. Accordingly, car owners are forced to use those that are on the shelves or apply the auto detailing steamers.

4. Composition and impact on the paintwork 

Special industrial detergents for removing bitumen are neutral to the paintwork. Do not forget, after using such products, to wash the surface of the auto with shampoo or a steam machine for car detailing. It is also advisable to use polishing after that. read more

When buying a new car, every car owner wants it to remain shiny and elegant as long as possible. However, over time, the paint coating fades, and the interior gradually becomes dirty, even if the owner makes every effort to care for it. Professional processing of the vehicle can help to restore the original appearance. What is it and how to do it correctly – read in the article.

What Is Car Detailing?

One of the important areas of automotive service is detailing, or a set of procedures aimed at maintaining the appearance and interior of the car in perfect condition. As a rule, it includes professional washing with a car detailing steamer, paintwork polishing, deep dry cleaning of the interior, and treatment with various types of protective coatings. Thanks to the detailing, the car is kept in perfect condition, even after 10-15 years of daily use. 

What Is Included in Auto Detailing?

As a rule, changes in the appearance of a car become obvious after three years of operation. The smallest scratches on the paintwork remain after contact with small stones flying out from under the wheels, branches of trees and bushes, ice freezing on the body in winter, etc. However, the main enemy of your car’s paintwork is the improper car wash. With each new cleaning, the number of scratches grows, and after two or three years they already cover the entire body with a dense mesh. However, the auto detail steam cleaner at home can save you from it.

1. Car wash detailing 

Before starting any repair, it is necessary to clean the body surface from dirt and dust. The detailing washing is carried out in a contactless way with a steam cleaner for cars. It allows you to remove almost all dirt from the surface.

2. Interior cleaning

High-quality detailing necessarily includes interior cleaning. It’s not just cleaning rugs and removing the most visible stains. In the process of detailing, washers get to the most inaccessible corners of the cabin, removing stubborn dirt from them with auto detailing steamers. To make it easier, the seats are removed from the cabin. All surfaces are processed, achieving perfect cleanliness, after which modern protective coatings with a dirt-water repellent effect are applied. read more

A car owner who really cares about one’s vehicle and finds the time to give it a proper look, prefers to wash the car oneself with a car detailing steamer. Moreover, knowing how to properly clean a car with the Fortador yourself, you can remove even difficult dirt without damage to the paintwork, optics, and plastic trim.

Removing Stains with a Microfiber

Dirt particles are an indication that there is detergent residue in the vehicle, which can react with the paintwork and cause corrosion over time. Especially if the bodywork is already damaged and scratched. Then the car can be thoroughly dried, or if necessary, polished to a gloss using an auto detail steam cleaner or special wipes.

Do Not Leave the Foam

Do not leave the detergent in the heat for more than 2-3 minutes to prevent it from drying out. The foam dries too quickly, making it harder to remove dirt and harder to rinse off. To cool down, rinse the bodywork with plain water or water and shampoo. This applies especially to dark-colored cars that are heated to +50 degrees or more in the sun.

Use Wax

Waxing after washing protects the bodywork against rust and prevents corrosion, making the entire washing process easier. A protective coating helps prevent insect deposits, pollen, tar, berry sap, bird droppings, and other aggressive dirt from sticking to the paintwork. It is also possible to use a steam machine for car detailing.

Rinse Thoroughly

Do not neglect the finishing rinse. Always rinse the bodywork with demineralized water to prevent streaks. Water dries out quickly in hot weather and does not have time to drain off the dissolved minerals it contains.

Car Wash Tips

Hand washing is the easiest way to clean the vehicle. It has been proven that this method only partially removes dirt from the surface of the car. Summing up all mentioned above, we shall allocate the basic tips on car washing.

1. It is not advisable to use excessive pressure when washing the car with auto detailing steamers if the surface of the bodywork has been repaired with putty.
2. Wash the car only once or twice a month with specialized detergents as they contain substances that are harmful to the paintwork.
3. Avoid getting water inside the car, on the engine, wiring, and lock holes.
4. If possible, use a steam cleaner for cars or a cleaning agent recommended by the car manufacturer, as it is suited for the paintwork of your car.

Step-by-step Instructions on How to Wash a Car Manually

How you manually wash your car depends directly on the degree and type of soiling, as well as the available operations. For this reason, the sequence of wash cycles is also recommended. The standard sequence of wash modes for regular washing: read more

Car owners know that the auto requires washing and care almost every week. To buy either a mini-wash or a car detailing steamer is not only a good but also a profitable idea. However, the world of mini-washers is so diverse that it is difficult to determine which model is better, and how to make the right choice. In order to choose the ideal equipment, you should be guided by three simple recommendations.

1. Define the Appropriate Type of Equipment

Let’s imagine that you decided to buy a steam cleaner for cars. In general, there are three types of washers by their purpose:

1. Household washers

These are rather affordable devices, intended for infrequent use. Due to their short operating time, this equipment is useless for business but completely enough for home usage. Such washes should often be turned off, since if they work without stopping, then overheating is inevitable, and this can lead to a complete breakdown of the unit. The advantage of household equipment is its low price, low weight, compactness, and ease of use.

2. Semi-professional and professional washes

Auto detailing steamers, which are usually associated with professional washing, are more expensive, but they also work longer. If the washing process takes place often (daily) and for a long time, then such equipment is irreplaceable: they are of better quality and operate faster than household ones. 

3. Industrial washes

This type of washer is used to clean huge trucks and airplanes. The price of such cleaners is higher. The technical specifications may also be different.

2) Consider the Reliable Manufacturer

Everyone knows that when you go to the store for equipment, you should first of all pay attention to the brand of the manufacturer. Experts recommend choosing a steam machine for car detailing among such well-known companies as:

• Fortador;
• Kärcher;
• Thomas;
• McCulloch;
• Phillips.

If the task of washing the car and its interior often pops up, then it is quite possible that buying an auto detail steam cleaner from a reliable manufacturer will be a very reasonable step for you.

3) Focus on Functionality

To buy a device that can bring you and your business the maximum benefit, you need to pay attention to the following main nuances:

• Working volume. If your task is to regularly clean a large vehicle, it is best to keep the water container as large as possible.
• Heating element power. The more powerful the heating element is installed, the faster the water will heat up and begin to turn into steam.
• Steam humidity control function. A very important parameter, since it allows you to select the optimal operating modes for cleaning the body, external parts of the car, interior, trunk, any fabric products for which a large amount of moisture is not required.
• Operating pressure. It should be at least 6-8 bars, otherwise old and hardened dirt, grease and other substances will not be easy to remove.

We hope that these tips will help you to make the right choice! read more