my time for detailing is horrible!!

Q

quamen

New member
I will post pics,but I did a 2004 chevy silverado ext cab pickup bed. It wasnt in bad shape, and did a full interior and exteior 2 step detail. This took me from 9 am to about 5!! that is horrible, how can i cut down my time? tommorow i have a minivan to do tommorow, and dont want to spend all day on it, but i want some great reuslts. I have read other similiar posts on this,but im experienced, but still seem to move slower than crap!!:nixweiss But the owner of the Chevy was blown away by the job so that was a plus.
 
What steps and in what order did you use? I need more information on how you are doing your details to see if there is a way to speed them up.
 
My time detailing is bad also, but it doesn't have to be good. I have another full time job so the time I spend detailing for money is not going to make me a rich man. I use the time to think, meditate and, yes, relax. I am too much a perfectionist to make a living detailing.
 
this is my method. i start with the inside first.



1.I remove all the personal items.

2. vaccum.

3. clean all the plastic and interior peices.

4.clean all the seats/leather/carpets.

5.dress the inside.

6. windows.



outside.

wash

2.clay

3.corrective buff

4.polish.

5.wax.



I think the inside is slowing me down the most, the outside seems a tad faster to me.
 
I feel your pain. I have an Expedition. I started claying it around 3:00 PM. My wife came out after about an hour and started to help me. Then I started to AIO. Around 6:30 we stopped. We still need to finish the roof. 3/4 of it still needs to be clayed and AIO'ed. I planed to use a more agressive polish and then AIO, that will wait untill I get a cyclo.



What type of vacuum are you using. Are you having to go over the carpeting and seats again and again to get them clean? I found that with a good vacuum I can really speed up my interior detail.
 
yeah i have to change the vacuum situation. I bought a craftsman shop vac, but i feel it doenst give me the suction power it should to perform the job and a waste of tme occurs there.
 
I think a job like that is going to take you 6 to 8 hours to do. Your doing alot of work I just hope your getting pay for it. About all I can say is that maybe you could drop the dressing the interior and claying. Something that I just learn is acid works great on chrome and clear coated rims. Sometime I could spend hour on just rims now only 15mins.
 
Sullybob said:
What kind of acid? Is it safe for clear coated rims?
Click to expand...





I been using Meguiar's Wire Wheel Cleaner with awsome results. There is some risk while using a acid cleaner on some rims but I have had no problems. You can alway try to test a area on the back side of the rim first to make sure its ok.
 
i would stay away from acid on clearcoated wheels



if they are REALLY BAD (meaning soap and water wont help)...then try p21s wheel cleaner and then use a power washer..



my wheels were really bad from the winter...i mean REALLY BAD...with the method i mentioned above + some claying i was able to get everything out that could be gotten out
 
Wash_Me said:
I think a job like that is going to take you 6 to 8 hours to do. Your doing alot of work I just hope your getting pay for it. About all I can say is that maybe you could drop the dressing the interior and claying. Something that I just learn is acid works great on chrome and clear coated rims. Sometime I could spend hour on just rims now only 15mins.
Click to expand...



Acid wheel cleaner is not safe for clear coated rims. Be careful, you can strip the clear right off the rims. I don't even buy the acid wheel cleaner anymore.



Here are a few more reasons why not to use it.



If it is chrome plated (dipped) you can peel the chrome.

If it gets on the paint, you can screw up the paint.

Better hope it don't back splatter in your eyes. OUCH!

DEP/EPA don't like detailers using it. real bad for enviroment.



The acid cleaner does work, but you must be smart with it.
 
quamen said:
this is my method. i start with the inside first.



1.I remove all the personal items.

2. vaccum.

3. clean all the plastic and interior peices.

4.clean all the seats/leather/carpets.

5.dress the inside.

6. windows.



outside.

wash

2.clay

3.corrective buff

4.polish.

5.wax.



I think the inside is slowing me down the most, the outside seems a tad faster to me.
Click to expand...



Once you vacuum, whichever way the seats are all the way back or up, start at that point (ie, if the seats are all the way forward, start in the back) so you don't waste time moving the seats more often than needed. Do all the cleaning in each section, the carpet, the seats, the door panels, headliner, etc. This way, you only go around the car one time, instead of doing the carpets, then going back around and doing the seats, etc. Complete clean every bit of each interior area (right rear, left rear, right frong, left front) before moving to the next one.



After I completely clean the interior, I do the wash, clay, polish and wax, all interior and exterior windows and then dress the interior and exterior. The theme is to do all jobs using the same products (like glass cleaner) and then move on to the next product (ie dressings). You will be suprised at the time you save.



Once I switched to completely cleaning each interior area before moving to the next area, I was saving 45-60 minutes on the interior.
 
thanks for that good advice from all of you. also, scottwax that is a really good idea i never thought about. Try to use the product as few times as possible for the different areas.
 
I am a hobbyist / part-time wannabe pro detailer. I did a white Ford 350 dually last weekend, spent 15 hours. Probably 2 hours was just on removing the tar specs. heh

The owner does a lot of off-roading, and the mud on just the door jams made me change my bucket of soap for each door. I'll never make any money at this venture myself, because the local express "Four Monkeys with Towels" charges $75 for a small car full detail, and $125 for a large vehicle. And most people, while they can _see_ the diference, don't appreciate the time/effort/products I consume during the process.

I charged the guy $120, just to stay under the going rate.
 
Scottwax said:
Once you vacuum, whichever way the seats are all the way back or up, start at that point (ie, if the seats are all the way forward, start in the back) so you don't waste time moving the seats more often than needed. Do all the cleaning in each section, the carpet, the seats, the door panels, headliner, etc. This way, you only go around the car one time, instead of doing the carpets, then going back around and doing the seats, etc. Complete clean every bit of each interior area (right rear, left rear, right frong, left front) before moving to the next one.



After I completely clean the interior, I do the wash, clay, polish and wax, all interior and exterior windows and then dress the interior and exterior. The theme is to do all jobs using the same products (like glass cleaner) and then move on to the next product (ie dressings). You will be suprised at the time you save.



Once I switched to completely cleaning each interior area before moving to the next area, I was saving 45-60 minutes on the interior.
Click to expand...



Scottwax,

I have a question because you are kind of contradicting yourself. First you say to complete one section of the car's interior before going to the next section then you say stay with one product. Can you please clarify?:nixweiss
 
Malachi said:
Scottwax,

I have a question because you are kind of contradicting yourself. First you say to complete one section of the car's interior before going to the next section then you say stay with one product. Can you please clarify?:nixweiss
Click to expand...



For all interior cleaning steps, completely finish the entire area before moving on. For all protecting steps, do all you can with each product before moving on to the next. I do apply vinyl protectant and leather treatment at the same time though so I can finish out that area.
 
So Scott... are you saying you vac AND clean each section at a time? Or do you vac, then go around and wipe/clean after the whole vehicle is vac'ed? That's where I got confused on your technique.
 
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