Door Jambs? Do you do them on Exterior Details?

David Fermani

Forza Auto Salon
Just wondering if anyone includes door jambs when only doing an Exterior Detail? We just quickly wipe them out to remove any polishwax residue we install, but nothing more than that.
 
Depends on how much time I have to work on the vehicle. The more time I have the more I do. I am just a hobbyist though and know 90% of the people I am doing it for so I don't mind doing a little extra if I have the time.
 
I wipe them with a damp rag first and after the exterior is done I'll detail spray the jambs more to get the dust out than anything. .
 
I don't detail for money, but I do always wipe down door jambs after I wash the exterior during the drying process. I simply spray them with UWWP/ONR and wipe clean takes a few seconds per door. I regularly apply white lithium grease to the hinges and locks to keep them from squeaking/rusting (another few seconds).
 
At minimum I give them a quick wipe down. But depending on the type of job I will be sure to fully clean them. Mainly on correction/coating jobs.
 
ALWAYS !
Use a combination of pressure washer from the outside into the jamb openings (front jamb and rear door jamb), and steam with the door opened, steam along with a good APC sprayed into the almost always dirty front door hinges area and beyond..
Dan F
 
I still PC my own door jambs once a year or my family members jambs using a lite polish or just a paint cleanser. Doesn't take long to do 4 jambs, maybe < 1 hour. For everyone else its pay as you go.
 
I've always considered jambs as part of the interior process. To thoroughly clean many of them, you need to introduce some wetness into the jamb (for us) and that could mean that the interior could get flying debris/wetness in it. This makes much more work for you when you're only doing an exterior.
 
I think wiping them is necessary, especially the door sills along the bottom. Now in where the hinges are (where they get really gunky), I consider that to be either part of an interior detail, or an additional service.
 
As a non-Pro who can be kinda extreme about those areas (nah, not *always*, but often) I find this thread kinda interesting.
 
I thought we were talking about waxing/sealing/coating door jambs lol. So to change my original answer yes they always get cleaned up even after a wash.
 
Or perhaps put another way, why would one wash the exterior, knowing, water, is now inside and mixing with the dirt, dust, etc., that is already in the door jamb from normal driving, and not want to clean all this out after drying the car?
Your/their vehicle is now very clean and shiny, and the door jambs are all spotted with water and dirt, etc., no ?
Especially on black vehicles, which show everything..
I think it all has to match - clean exterior = clean door jambs - at a minimum wiped down of all moisture..
Dan F
 
Always.

For me jambs are the neutral zone and I'll do them for both and exterior only and and interior only details.
 
Good thread/Question, i was just in the middle of typing down the breakdown of my menu as i saw this. I found that i do them on both interior and exterior details. If it's a first time customer, i will of course add time($) to include the hinges and if it's just a maintenance wash i just do a simple quick wipe down as a preventative thing. As mentioned already, it's a "neutral zone".
 
I do them every time I wash. I wipe down with whatever detail spray I am in the mood to use. It is usually UWW+, CG Speed Shine, or Mothers Showtime. I will usually use a spray wax if I am redoing the LSP.
 
I usually 'wash' them after the tires, but before I wash the car. That way when I rinse the car off, 90 percent of the soap & water are flushed away by directing the hose stream into the panel gaps and all I have to do is maybe use a QD and wipe out the excess water & soap residue.
 
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