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WINTER AND YOUR CAR

bradleyjameskroll@gmail.com (Bradley Kroll) — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 21:51:41 GMT

Winter here in Central Oregon can be very harsh on both the inside and outside of your vehicle. With all the snow, deicer , cinder , dirt , grime and other contaminants all over the road , I thought I would share some things to make your vehicle maintenance easier this winter.

Exterior surfaces on your car can take a beating from the winters here in Bend , Redmond , Sisters and Prineville. The cinders and deicer chip and eat away at your vehicles paint , chrome , trim , wheels and glass. Whats the best way to combat these issues ? Frequently washing your vehicle by hand with a ph neutral soap is the optimal way . We recommend rinseless washing your vehicle . Check out our youtube video on rinseless washing:

Interior surfaces suffer from cinders , mud , dirt , water saturation and so forth . For interior care here in central Oregon we recommend vacuuming out your vehicle once a month and cleaning your interior surfaces and floor mats every other month or as needed based on the weather . Doing this prevent smells such a mildew and bacterial odors as well as keeps your car looking great ! Hope these tips help!

Shane Mayfield Perfection Plus Auto Salon Redmond Oregon

How to find the right auto detailer for you

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:49:22 GMT

Everyone loves a new car ….. There’s no doubt about that. But not everyone like the high price tag that comes along with it. Well the next best option is to have your vehicle professionally detailed, but how do you determine a good detailer ? Ill look into this and more in this current blog.

First lets start with what type of detailing your interested in . Are you liking the idea of a mobile detailer coming to your home , working in your driveway on your vehicle or taking it to a shop location ? There are a lot of guys out there offering mobile detailing services because it is low overhead , easy to start up and they can buy products at walmart or local auto parts stores. But is that what you really want ? Although there are a lot of professional mobile detailers as well. We offer both mobile and in shop services for most detailing projects http://www.perfectionplus.biz

It is always better to bring your vehicle to a shop location to have your vehicle detailed. Most detailing projects require a controlled environment to properly detail in and cannot be effectively done outdoors.

Next on the list is education and experience. A good knowledgable detailer will have at least 5 years experinece in the field. They should also have some professional training under there belt as well as be certified by the International Detailing Association , They are like ASE certifications for detailers similar to what a mechanic would get for training. Make sure to do the homework , get references and research the detailer your deciding to use. They should be licensed and insured as well.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET YOUR DETAILED???

The answer to this question depends on a few things. First , What kind of usage is the vehicle seeing? Is it your daily driver , kid transporter , workhorse or is it a hobby car? I typically recommend daily drivers be washed every two weeks , vacuumed and wiped down at least once a month , and completely detailed by a professional at least once a year. A lot of our clients utilize our quarterly maintenance detail program here at perfection plus auto detailing. The maintenance package is a membership program setup to have your vehicle detailed inside and out every 3-4 months . It includes basic interior cleaning , vacuuming , spot stain removal , door jams cleaned , floormats cleaned , glass cleaned , vehicle washed and ceramic paint protectant applied as well as wheels and tires and trim cleaned and dressed. Check out these tips form our partners at ceramic pro for maintaining your vehicles interior between detailing’s

What all is in a Complete Detail you ask?

Lets start with the exterior . First a professional detailer will deep clean the exterior of your vehicle using a specific automotive type of soap and a product that removes the microscopic environmental fallout that is sticking to your vehicle . You know that rough feeling on your paint after you wash your car? That’s fallout and it happens to every car on the planet , its caused by all sort of environmental contaminants such as exhaust , acid rain , road grime , these particles are so small yo cant see them with the human eye but they reek havoc on your vehicles paint , clogging its pores so that any protection applied such as wax or ceramic coating will not bond properly without being removed first. We use and iron remover and clay bar treatment to remove these bonded contaminants , its like exfoliating your skin but for your vehicles paint !

Next is wheels and tires , with all the brake dust and other contaminates on your vehicles wheels we deep clean them using a brake dust remover and mild brushes to breakdown the brake dust . Usually to thoroughly clean wheels we pressure wash and deep clean each wheel a minimum of 2 times.

Interior detailing consists of cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces utilizing European dry steam and specialty automotive detailing cleaners for each type of material we are cleaning . In some cases deep extraction shampooing is needed to remove years of dirt and grime embedded in seats and carpets .

After all the cleaning is done , now its time to protect your vehicles surfaces from the elements . We choose to use Ceramic Pro for our interior and exterior protection as it provides durability and longevity in our central Oregon environment. After extensive testing in Redmond , Bend , Sunriver and Prineville and many coatings later we know Ceramic Pro will hold up to our harsh Oregon High desert atmosphere.

Different Levels Of Detailing and Detailers

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 21:42:29 GMT

In the auto detailing there seems to be this misconception among consumers that all detailers and detailing are equal . As a 15 year veteran of this industry I can guarantee you that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There a many different levels of detailing and detailers. In this article I’m going to break this down for you .

I’ve said this before , anyone can honestly “detail” a car . Its doesn’t take a degree or years of experience to do basic car cleaning . That’s the exact reason why just about anyone can open a car wash or detail shop , its also the reason you as a consumer need to be cautious on what detailer you choose and educate yourself on what to expect from an educated , experienced detailer .

Lets start with basic detailers and basic details . A basic detailer to me is someone who has less than 5 years professional experience , very minimal time using a polishing tool and minimal knowledge of chemicals , there uses and proper procedures. While they can make your vehicle look good , 99% of the time they are using the wrong product on the wrong material , going as fast as they can to make as much money as they can and don’t take much consideration in making sure your vehicle is detailed safely with proper products, minimal chemicals , and correct protection . They usually offer basic packages and lack the knowledge to properly remove or repair defects . These types of details and detailers are more budget friendly but are not healthy for your vehicles longevity and quite possibly your loved ones. If your vehicle is still full of chemicals when you get it back from the detail and you put your pets , children etc in the vehicle they are being exposed to the off gassing of these products.

Next lets talk about the journey man level detailer and detail shop. At this level your vehicle should be nearly restored back to like new condition , the detailer should be able to perform multi step paint correction with out leaving buffer trails , swirl marks etc in your vehicles finish, they should also have a multi step stain removal process and products to remove specific types of stains . They should have better knowledge of chemicals , there uses , knowledge of types of stains such as protein, tannin , ink etc. They should also offer different levels of protection for your vehicle not just basic waxes or sealants. They should also be IDA certified and have some kind of proper training under there belt. There services are a bit more expensive than the basic detailer but still affordable and you can feel safer knowing that they have safely detailed your vehicle , rinsed any chemicals out of the vehicle etc.

The Master level detailer is rare , even after 15 years in this industry I don’t consider myself a master level detailer. These detailers have unmatched skills, knowledge ,tools and products . They are who everyone is this industry thrives to be . They charge a premium for there details but the results are second to none. This level of detailing and detailer is usually reserved for the higher end of the market . They use premium products , they practice using the least aggressive method to safely clean and protect your vehicle . They always take into account the preservation of your vehicle . They are willing to spend countless hours to achieve the ultimate level of near perfection .

Please choose your detailer wisely , your vehicle is your second largest investment . You should do your research and spend the amount of money necessary to have your vehicle properly detailed and protected.

WINTERIZING YOUR VEHICLE

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 21:39:59 GMT

I have a lot of clients this time of year who ask “why should i do the outside of my car in the winter its just going to get dirty”. While that is true, the answer to that question is simple. PROTECTION, with all the bad chemicals, salts, cinders and everything else on the road your vehicle needs to be protected. Thats where a ceramic sealer or Carnuba Wax comes in . Also it is not good for for your vehicles exterior materials to be left in chemicals, salts, cinder etc , as these harsh things will break down your vehicles plastics , chrome , glass , and paint. This leads to expensive repairs and rust damage.

My recommendation is to protect your vehicle before the first heavy snow of the year . Wash your vehicle after each passing storm and have your undercarriage rinsed at lease once during this time of year to prevent rusting and corrosion of your suspension parts, frame , underbody etc.

Even though you don't get to enjoy the wow factor of a nice shiny exterior for very long during this time of year it is still a idea to have it protected for the harsh weather.

What is Auto Detailing? What are the benefits?

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 21:35:48 GMT

This is a great article from Washos blog:

What is Car Detailing?

Simply put, getting your car detailed means a top-to-bottom thorough cleaning of your vehicle using specialized tools and products. Normally, a detailer will also perform some light cosmetic touch-ups, but the process does not include paintwork or body repairs.

Car detailing involves cleaning and reconditioning the interior and exterior of the car. The aim of this is to restore the paintwork by eliminating scratches or swirl marks to make the car look almost brand new like it did when you first drove it out of the shop.

A simple car wash gets rid of dirt on the outside of your car, and if you clean the interior you might catch some of the grime with a vacuum, but car detailing takes this process much further. Every car we detail has every last imperfection buffed, polished, or vacuumed out, leaving it fit for display in any showroom.

Since there are no set guidelines, you will see a great variety in terms of the services included in a complete detail. our detail consists of an exterior detailing using and high-end wax, an advanced interior cleaning with stain removal and leather treatment as well as dressing on all the plastics.

What are the steps in Auto Detailing?

A thorough car detailing consists of two main phases: interior detailing and exterior detailing. We are going to break down each phase so you know exactly what to expect when you get your vehicle detailed. Feel free to ask your technician if you have any questions about the process, as most of them love to share their art of detailing with others.

Exterior Car Detailing

We begin with an exhaustive exterior wash to remove as much dirt as possible. By allowing the soap to foam, dirt and mud are softened and lifted off the surface.

Next, using special brushes and wheel cleaning products, the detailer takes off all the dust and filth from the wheels; brake calipers, lug nuts, etc. The wheels are usually the dirtiest parts of the car!

After the wheels have been cleaned, the paintwork is washed and dried from top to bottom using washing mitts and soft microfiber towels. The paintwork is then clayed using automotive clay bar that removes the tightly bonded dirt of the surface of the car, which is your car’s clear coat.

If required, the paint is polished to eliminate any light scratches, oxidation, and swirl marks. The paint can be polished by hand or by a polishing machine. This can be the most time-consuming part of the detailing service depending on the car and the state of its paintwork.

Finally, the paint is waxed to give it an additional protective layer using high-quality carnauba based paste wax. This added protection results in a noticeable shine too, the kind that you saw when you first bought it!

The remaining exterior parts, like the windows and other rubber parts, are then polished and methodically cleaned, adding the finishing touches in all the corners of the car’s body and exterior trim to make the entire car sparkle.

Interior Car Detailing

All of the upholstery inside the car is thoroughly vacuumed and shampooed to remove stains and dirt. If the car has leatherwork, this is often conditioned and scrubbed to remove dirt that is deeply ingrained. Plastics and vinyl are also properly cleaned and dressed.

Lastly, the interior glass is also cleaned and polished.

An Important Optional Step

Cleaning the engine bay is an important step but a lot of people simply don’t do it. The reason for this is probably that some people don’t care what their car looks like under the hood, or that they think only mechanics should venture to clean anywhere under there.

Having the engine bay cleaned can make identifying any engine problems easier and faster. Mechanics love working in a clean engine bay, and if the car owner is having the car detailed before selling, a clean engine bay can make a big impression on how well maintained a car is. Anyone that purchases a used vehicle will likely glance under the hood, and a clean engine bay can only raise the value

However, there are steps you can take when you have your car detailed to protect some components from wear and tear. The detailer cleans the engine bay by lightly spraying it with water, and then wiping it down with a degreaser before rinsing everything clean. Once properly dried, all silicone, plastic and rubber components should be properly dressed to protect them from cracking. This is a simple process that ultimately serves to protect the car from everyday problems of wear on rubber and silicone.

What are the benefits of getting your car detailed?

A complete car detail will bring your car to its best condition. You can then perform mini details to keep your car looking as good as new.

Protection

Another benefit of auto detailing is the added protection against the elements. When a wax coat is routinely applied to the exterior painted surface, it protects the finish from contamination and oxidation (rust).

Attention to Detail

Since detailing is an incredibly thorough process, you can expect the detailer to meticulously assess every crevice of your car to suggest customized solutions. You will not get this kind of personalized service at a car wash.

How to Choose a Car Detailing Service?

Now that you’ve decided to get your car detailed, and you know roughly how much it’s going to cost you, you will need to do some research to figure out where to take your car. The quality and experience of the detailer makes all the difference here.

You will also want to study the different packages offered and whether they provide services your car needs. The whole idea of detailing is centered on its bespoke nature. If it doesn’t work for you – your car, your needs, your vision – it doesn’t work at all. Be picky! That’s the point! So, we are going to give away our best-kept secrets to help you find the perfect detailer for your car.

1. Services Offered

Start by looking for a detailer that offers exactly the kind of services you’re looking for. If you’re looking to get rid of all that dog hair in your car but the company doesn’t offer pet hair removal then you’re not going to get the best results.

2. Pricing

Car details can become very expensive quite quickly due to their use of high-quality cleaning products, and you will want to find someone that provides the best bang for your buck. Keep in mind though that a complete detail is worth the short-term investment, because of the long-term value it provides!

3. Reviews

These days it is impossible to not look for reviews before making a decision, and it’s always a good idea to search on Yelp or Google to see what other customers have had to say about their experiences.

At Washos, we take pride in our customer satisfaction and we work hard to maintain our five-star rating on Yelp. There will be times when things don’t go right but our responsiveness in fixing any mistakes goes a long way to proving our commitment to the highest quality service.

4. Mobility

We understand that modern life can be incredibly busy and that taking your car to a washer is something that some people simply don’t have time to do. If that’s you, you should keep an eye out for mobile car detailing services. These detailers will come to your location, at home or at work, and provide the same high-quality service you would get by driving to a detailing shop.

Conclusion

While we have only scratched the surface of detailing, the world of auto detailing is very exciting and highly detailed. There are tons of forums where you can find in-depth guides for all of the different parts of the detailing process, or you can ask other car enthusiasts about car detailing.

If you have any questions about auto detailing that you’d like to put to us after reading this, please write them in the comments section and we will help you out.

Exterior Detailing in Winter Time in Central Oregon

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 21:26:00 GMT

Here in central Oregon we have a harsh climate for vehicles , not just in winter but in summer to . In 8 years in the detailing business here , I’ve noticed that every winter people seem to only want there interior cleaned not the exterior because its winter . I understand the thinking : Why should I have the outside detailed its just going to get dirty right away. In this blog I’m going to explain why.

In Winter there are a number of environmental hazards here in Oregon that you should be conscious of , cinder , de-icer, road salt , road oil , tar , snow , dirt , debris , and the list could go on . Having your car detailed just prior to winter is ideal , a fresh coat of sealant , ceramic coating or wax goes along way to protecting your vehicles paint , chrome , plastics , and glass from the environmental hazards. Even in the middle of winter if you haven’t waxed or protected your vehicles exterior in a while it is a good idea to get a fresh coat of protection applied . That’s one of the benefits of having your exterior detailed : PROTECTION . Even though you don’t get to enjoy the shine of your vehicles freshly waxed paint , you do get the piece of mind knowing that your investment is protected! Also a fresh exterior detail , done by a professional detailer will make getting all that road grime, cinder and de-icer a lot easier to remove . Your vehicle will look a lot better after winter because it had been protected through out the harshest time of the year.

I usually recommend to my clients to have there vehicles detailed and protected twice a year here in central Oregon . Once in October , November , just before winter. Then again just before summer (May/June). By protecting your vehicle this way , you are putting a shield of protection on your vehicle just before summer ( harsh UV rays , bug gut acids , tree sap , bird droppings , environmental fall out etc) and right before winter to protect against the hazards described above. As far as the type of protection goes , there are several options : Wax is the cheapest option but also the least durable and only last a month or two at most. Sealant are a great middle of the budget option , they are more expensive than wax and last 6 months to a year . Ceramic coatings are the future of vehicle protection and there are coatings that last from 1 year to 10 years !!! Ceramics are much more durable and more chemically resistant , they are also on average 10x thicker than wax or sealant. They are a more expensive option than the other but there protection and longevity is far superior .

As a professional detailer , my recommendation to my clients is always to detail both the interior and exterior during the winter for the protective aspects of a good detail. I mean you’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on your vehicle so to me its worth a hundred bucks or so to protect it?

Ceramic Coatings VS Wax

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 21:18:48 GMT

“What is the difference between a ceramic coating and a wax job” . This is a question im being asked more and more . Ceramic coating are starting to become more and more popular among car protection and for good reason , they are the future of how vehicle protection.

Lets talk waxes and sealants first : Even the best waxes in the world protect your vehicle for a maximum of 3-4 months , they diminish with every car wash , every passing day . They look great initially but within about a week or so the luster starts to fade, so does the protection. Paint Sealants usually are polymer based and last 6-12 months , again diminishing with every wash , drive , etc . The benefits of these are short term but they are a cheaper option.

I consider waxes and sealants old technology when it comes to vehicle protection. Vehicle protection technology has advanced 10x in the last 5 years , from sio2 9h rated coatings , to material (aluminum,plastic,glass ) specific coatings that are engineered to protect only that . We have a plethora of different coatings to give consumers total vehicle protection both inside and out.

Ceramic coatings are initially more expensive , but provide much better longer lasting , chemical resistant , uv protection . Not to mention the gloss from a ceramic coating is incredible compared to traditional waxing . There are coatings on the market rated anywhere from 2 – 10 years ! Not months , YEARS ! Here in my area (Central Oregon) we have a lot of environmental contaminants that are horrible for your vehicle such as : UV rays, de icer, cinder , environmental fall out , road salt etc. Waxes and sealants will not protect against these things for more than a week or two. At my shop we only use ceramic based products for this exact reason . I do not feel that it would be in my clients best interest to get just a wax job in this environment. It will not hold up to all these elements working against it.

Ceramic coating provide basically extra layers of clear coat , they make your vehicle much easier to clean , prevent damage , and are affordable . They keep your vehicle looking new year after year rather than for 3-4 months . To me a couple hundred bucks more to upgrade to years of protection rather than months of protection is well worth it .

The Art of correcting soft paint

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 21:13:58 GMT

In the detailing world when it comes to polishing paint , soft paint is a detailers worst nightmare. Some describe as trying to polish pudding. It takes a lot of practice , technique and proper equipment to polish it safely and efficiently.

The current shop project, this 1997 Porsche Boxster is no exception . Porsche’s are known for soft paint, some of the softest in the industry. For this project after measuring the thickness of the paint and doing numerous test spots to determine what pad and polish would be the safest. I determined that damp polishing would bring the severely neglected paint back to its maximum potential in the safest possible way . Damp polishing goes against what most body shops and detailers are taught their whole career, most are taught to use a high speed rotary polisher with an aggressive wool pad and aggressive compounds. This method heats the paint up very quickly and removes the vehicles clear coat harshly. Damp polishing is a technique that uses water, spray wax , or rinse less wash sprayed on the pad of choice to aid in keeping the heat to a minimum. With the damp pad and low speed polishing we are able to polish soft paint safely and not potentially cause clear coat failure from heating up the clear coat and thinning it down to the point of no return.

Damp polishing takes years to get good at , but it is a great method to use on softer paints like Porsche’s and Subaru’s. It keeps the vehicles paint safe while achieving maximum potential . It takes patience and steady arm speed and pad rotation. You can see in the pictures below , the results are outstanding ! They were achieved safely with the integrity of the paint intact now we can ceramic coat the paint and add more layers of protection to preserve the finish

Why I treat all cars like there my own

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 21:08:22 GMT

I care for every vehicle that comes to our shop for service like I would want my vehicle treated , not because I own the place and want to make a great impression on my customer but because Im a car guy. To me a car guy , a true car guy respects everything auto related , we might have our preferences of brands, makes , models , etc but at the end of the day we have a special place in our hearts for this niche.I care for every vehicle that comes to our shop for service like I would want my vehicle treated , not because I own the place and want to make a great impression on my customer but because Im a car guy. To me a car guy , a true car guy respects everything auto related , we might have our preferences of brands, makes , models , etc but at the end of the day we have a special place in our hearts for this niche.

I got the “car bug” at an early age , my mom was epileptic and could not drive , my dad wasn't around a lot. We had this guy that lived in our neighborhood who had a really loud old car , it was red oxide premiered and us kids would hear him fire that thing up and run out to the street to see what was making that sound. He would gives us rides in it every now and then and do burnouts and doughnuts with us . Its one of my best childhood memories. The car was a 1966 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport. The first time he told us what kind of car it was , it was instantly burned in my brain 66 Chevy Chevelle super sport . I must have said it a hundred times that day . I would tell everyone that i got to ride in a 66 Chevy Chevelle super sport. That was the day I began to fall for cars.

My love for cars today is just as great as that day if not greater . I have a place in my heart for all of them. My employees poke fun at me because sometimes i talk to the cars we are working on or stand up for one when others make fun. If a vehicle is giving me a tough time , I talk to it and assure it I'm here to make them better. Maybe its a mental thing but to me it seems to work better than getting frustrated with it.

To sum this topic up , I treat all cars like my own because, well, frankly I love cars always have , always will. They have given me this opportunity to do what i love and get paid for it. Without them i would probably be stuck in a cubicle somewhere hating my existence, so for that I show them appreciation by the treating them all like there my 66 Chevy Chevelle super sport!

Why your interior needs detailing

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 21:00:04 GMT

Heres a great article on how dirty vehicle interiors actually are:

Car Interiors Are Nine Times Dirtier Than Public Toilets

Let's face it vehicle interiors are tough to clean, they are small tight areas that are hard to reach and take a lot of effort to look nice , even with the proper tools interiors are still the hardest part of a vehicle to clean and maintain.

We are in are cars and average of 2-3 hours a day at least ! Our cars our like our mobile homes or offices , we do almost everything out of them. Keeping them clean is very important to our health , and to the value of your vehicle . Those kid messes in the rear area and the coffee you spilled last Wednesday contain all sorts of bacterias and enzymes that cause headaches , nausea , congestion , and all breakdown the materials you interior is made of.

A great interior detail should consist of cleaning and SANITIZING the entire interior , I see all too often vehicles that are “detailed” but not sanitized, this is the most important step in the interior detailing process. I always say just because it looks clean doesn't mean it is , without the use of proper sanitizing such as steam or enzymes that breakdown molds, bacterias and other organism that live in your interior your not truly getting a “clean ” interior you are getting a “cleaner” interior than you had prior. At my shop we use European steam and live bacteria killing enzymes to properly clean your entire interior.

Some tips to help maintain your vehicle between details:

Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you use it regularly on your hands

If something is spilled in your vehicle clean it up with hot as you can tolerate water. Lightly agitate the surface DO NOT scrub hard .

Vacuum you vehicle at least once a month

My recent training with one of the best detailers in the world!

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 20:53:14 GMT

Last week I took the opportunity to take some advanced training with Renny Doyle who is one of the top three detailers in the entire world, he offers training in all aspects of detailing from the new detailer who has never touched a polisher to even more advanced , experienced detailers like myself.

We learned some great techniques throughout the week and how to safely clean, polish and protect your vehicle to get it to its maximum potential! I also earned several ceritfications including my certified detailer and skills validated certifications from the International Detailing Association as well as a ceramic protective coatings installer certifications and Flex polisher certifications.

It was a great experience working with a world renowned detailer and honing in my skills and now being able to take those skills , train my employees on them which in turn will translate to even better finished products for you , our clients!!!! Thank you Renny and all of our clients for the business.