What Sets Our Detailers Apart

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There are some questions I receive regularly when helping schedule our detailing services.  Things like how long a service takes, how much it costs, and where we are located pop up daily, if not hourly.  One question has begun to arise, however, and that is how good our detailers are.  

I personally can say firsthand I know how good our detailers do, as I have seen the fruits of their labor on many vehicles, including the cars of my family!  However, our detailers are more than that. They are skilled, hardworking, and care about the job they perform. So today, I’m going to take the opportunity to put our detailers in the spotlight and share what makes them amazing!

  1. They are experienced and professional

Every so often I get a question about our detailers, namely if they actually know what they are doing or if they are some high school summer hire.  Each of our detailers has been doing this job for a long while, and whenever we hire someone new they are trained thoroughly and given time to learn our processes fully, having another detailer work with them until they are deemed ready to work solo.  This helps perpetuate the work ethic and tone of the company, and allows the new person many chances to learn a variety of tasks. We are continually doing trainings to refresh our knowledge and to stay up to date with the most efficient and effective ways to complete details. Since we are a small company, we also get to know each other more personally, allowing us to explore strengths and weaknesses to help raise each other up.  They love a chance to show how professional they are, something we are always glad for! 

  1. They are IDA certified

The International Detailing Association, or IDA, states on their website that “leading industry association for professional detailing operators, suppliers, and consultants to the industry. The association is dedicated to promoting the value of professional detailing services, the recognition of professional detailing as a trade, and empowering detailing industry professionals at each stage in their career.”  Part of our being involved with this association is that our detailers undergo a special certification which includes a ten-part exam and a practical test of their ability. When presented with this opportunity, many of our detailers have risen to the challenge, and all who have risen to it succeeded! When our detailers arrive on the job, you can rest assured they know what they’re doing- the IDA has declared it so.  

  1. They love a job well done

Our detailers come from all different backgrounds and can be very different from one another.  But if there is one thing they all have in common, it is knowing they’ve done a job very well.  

We have given them all kinds of seemingly impossible tasks, and they have stepped up time and time again.  Recently, we had given one of our detailers a minivan that had been neglected for so long it had maggots and pests in it.  He worked for hours in the hot sun, not once complaining, and made it like new on the inside. Our detailers love sharing their before and after photos with each other, and are not quick to give up on a tough job.  Another example was when a detailer got a boat that was huge and needed oxidation removal all over. Not only did he work all day on it, another detailer came to help when he had finished his own work. This got the job done in good time and made it shine!  After customers leave from in-shop jobs they often come up to me and ask if the customer was happy, which shows how important it is to them.

  1. They communicate with clients

Some companies train their workers to try and sell the most expensive products or sneak in services to charge later.  Our company does not care for this method, and to support that image, our detailers take great care in talking to their customers and clients about the work they are doing and making recommendations on what is best for each situation.

Our detailers talk to you through multiple steps of the process if needed – they will call upon arrival or when on the way if you request it, and they will contact you if they feel your vehicle needs a little extra work.  If you are doing a service like boat or RV detailing, which is hourly, they will discuss how long they believe it will be and tell you about any changes before going through with them. This allows you to say yes or no to a service, and prevents surprise or otherwise unwanted charges.  Our goal is to do our best based on what you want, and if you become a regular customer, you can request the same detailer to come again.  

  1. They work all year

Some people believe we are only open when the weather is good, but this is not entirely true.  Our detailers are prepared to work in all kinds of weather conditions, which allows us to stay open during the winter.  You may be thinking, why would I want to get a detail in the wintertime? We answer that in this blog: https://onsitedetail.net/blog/top-10-reasons-why-its-more-important-to-detail-your-car-during-the-winter/

When hot weather strikes, our detailers know to stay hydrated and keep cool.  In rainy weather, they call ahead to confirm if you still want your detail done and help find ways to make it work.  Snowy weather doesn’t deter them either, especially since we have garage areas in-shop that they can work out of if you don’t have a garage or other coverage!  Our detailers don’t just appear for a few months to work, they stick with us all year, and are more than happy to come out and work in any situation. Even if the weather isn’t great, call in!  They’ll be eager to make it work and get the job done for you.

We at Onsite Detail could go on forever about our detailers and the good work they do.  Our company would not be possible without them! If you want to thank your detailer for the hard work they do, give them a compliment, leave them a good review on Google or any of our social media, or give them a tip for a job well done- even a small one will get the message across.  Let us know you’re looking for a detail through a call or our Request Form, and we will take care of the details!

by Miranda Hughes, Onsite Detail

Hard Water Spots On a Vehicle

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What is the Cause of Hard Water Spots on a vehicle?

If you have ever thought it was a good idea to have your car parked next to an area that regularly gets hit by sprinklers because you think that it means a free car wash..think again! Utah has some of the worst hard water in the nation and do you know what city in Utah is one of the worst offenders? If you guessed Salt Lake City you are correct. While sprinkler water is not the only culprit, for most the vehicles we see this is the most common hard water spot producer by far.

Hard Water Spots on Car from Sprinklers

Hard water comes from water having high levels of calcium and magnesium. The white build-up that can be seen on the end of your shower or faucet head is a good indication that you have hard water. That is the calcium that, overtime, will build up and can cause build-up damage. The areas of the hard water that become visible once it dries is the calcium. The calcium doesn’t become visible until the water dries. ‘Hard water spots’ is the common term used for those areas that become visible. If ignored or not taken care of, those areas will become harder and harder to eliminate. Especially if they are exposed to the sun for a long period of time. If it is continued to be ignored, the calcium in the water can actually etch into the paint causing possible permanent damage. If you haven’t picked it up by now, you don’t want hard water spots on your car so you will want to stop parking by the sprinklers as soon as possible. It’s not washing your car, you’re adding to the work that it will take to really wash and detail your car.

If you’re just learning that it’s bad for your clear coat/paint, you either just went and moved your car to a different spot or won’t park where sprinklers hit anymore. The water that goes through your home absorbs the calcium and magnesium minerals from the ground and then makes its way through the pipes and faucets of your home. This can especially be proven when it rains. You will notice that when it rains, the rain water will not leave severe water spots on your vehicle, unless the air is dirty or there is dust in the air while it rains.

How do you remove Hard Water Spots from a vehicle?

Now that I have taught you most of what I know about hard water and how water becomes “hard”. Now we are going to get into the removing of these stubborn hard water spots. It’s important to remember that you don’t want to compromise the integrity of the clear coat/paint. So you want to avoid using cleaning agents that aren’t safe for car paint or don’t have the proper PH balanced soap. The sad news is that it will take much more than car soap to remove hard water spots. In most hard water cases it will take using an acid cleaner. Many of the acids that are most effective will need to be handled with care. Believe it or not there actually is a hard water removal acid. When properly diluted and correctly used, it can produce some amazing results. I will give a rundown of how I most effectively use acid to remove hard water spots.

The first thing I do is spray the area with some water. Sounds redundant because water is how we got in this mess in the first place but I digress.

The second thing I do it to spray the acid on the affected area. It is wise to dilute the acid. The less the dilution, the smaller the area you should work on at a time. You DO NOT want to put yourself in a situation where you are trying to rush to get the acid off of a large area. If the acid is left on the car it can cause severe damage to the clear coat of your vehicle.

The third step is what i call the agitation step. To agitate, I do an extremely quick spray of water. Not to spray the acid off but to, what I call, activate it. 

I then quickly grab the scrub brush or wash mitt and scrub the target area. If the area is really bad I will even spray some acid on the brush or mitt to assist with the hard water removal. 

After you have given the area a good scrubbing. Give it a good water rinse. You will have to dry the area to really see how much and how well the hard water spotting was removed. You will really be able to tell if you caught it early enough if the hard water is most to all of the way gone.

If you were successful in eliminating the hard water spots, you will want to prevent it from happening again. My first piece of advice for preventing it would be to not let your car get hit by sprinklers again BUT if that’s inevitable then I would say to keep a good wax or sealant applied to the paint at all times. Many waxes won’t completely stop from hard water spots appearing but they should make any new water spots that appear much more easy to remove. Even without needing to use acid. Depending on the consistency of your vehicle getting hit and/or the severity of the calcium in the water you will want to make sure that you apply multiple coats or use a high quality wax or sealant to protect the clear coat.

How do you remove severe Hard Water Spots from a vehicle?

Hard Water Spot Etching in Paint

If you are not successful in eliminating the water spots with a water spot remover chemical it is safe to say that you weakened them enough to proceed with paint correction steps. Any of the steps in the paint correction process may contribute to removing the hard water spots. Starting with spraying hard water removing acid on the surface and giving the vehicle a good clay bar treatment. A clay bar treatment is a procedure that removes surface contaminants from the paint. Be sure to keep the work areas small, lubricated and to rinse with water regularly and dry.

If that does not work then you could be looking at paint that has actually been etched from the hard water. It is also possible that the “water spots” you see still were actually caused by acid rain or other chemicals that splashed or found their way onto your vehicle’s paint. To fix this you could be looking at a process that could involve wet sanding, compound buffing, polishing, etc. Word of advice…don’t have to get to that point. Deep hard water removal can be expensive and cause damage to the clear coat and paint. I will close with a sonet. ‘Hard water break-ith the spirit of thy automobile’. That is all my friends. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a detail service, request one here, or give us a call or text (801) 412-9274, or email. Safe Travels! 

by Andy Stallings, CD, Operations Manager, Onsite Detail

Most popular detailing services this Summer

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The most popular detailing services this Summer we’re probably some of the following;

  • RV Details
  • Boat Details
  • Hard Water Removal
  • Interior Details
  • Overspray Removal
  • Buffing & Polishing

Summertime is a special time of year.  It’s the time when we travel, join friends and family outdoors for festivities, and when fresh fruits like watermelon are ripe and juicy.  The sun sets later, the air is hot, and campgrounds open after slumbering all winter long. As our kids’ summer vacations prepare to make way for the Back to School sales, we know it will still be a few months before we start to feel the chill of fall.  

This time of year brings special kinds of messes to us here at Onsite Detail.  As we come close to Labor Day and the end of summer vacations, we want to share with you some of our most popular detailing services done this Summer 2019!

RV and Boat Details

It’s no surprise that when it gets warm, the big toys come out!  Lakes fill up from winter snow and campgrounds light up with fire pits and families.  Starting around late May we started to see a steady growth in requests to clean RVs, Boats, Motorhomes, and other big vehicles.  

We have done just about everything there is to do with big vehicles.  Our detailers have spent many hot days removing oxidation and rust from vehicles, cleaning dirt and grime from the exteriors, took care of sun damage, and added protective sealants all around.  We have even gone in and cleaned the inside of a few, including some particularly nasty vehicles. In June we cleared one RV’s refrigerator of maggots, and just this month we deep cleaned a rat-feces infested motorhome.  Now we prepare to detail a few more for the Labor Day weekend and winter storage, and have even scheduled some for their return from Burning Man!

Sprinkler Hard Water Removal

Our hand washes have made hundreds of cars shine in the sun!  However, some have come in needing a little extra elbow grease- and hardwater stain removal.  Now that sprinklers have been on all summer, we have seen multiple cars come in with hardwater spots dotting the paint and windows of a car.  Thankfully we have been able to take care of many a stain.

In addition to removing hardwater, we have also been selling Glassparency to help water and debris fall off the windshields and vehicle glass!  This not only helps keep glass clear; it also helps rain and snow from sticking to it, which adds life to the windshield wipers.  You may want to consider it as we go into more rainy months. Check out more here https://onsitedetail.net/windshield-and-glass-coatings/.

Interior DetailsInterior Car Detail Utah

We have done hundreds and hundreds of interior details this summer!  Whether on their own or as part of a package deal, we have cleaned just about every kind of mess inside of a vehicle.  While our customers work hard in their businesses or are taking care of things in the home, we have helped make their lives easier and healthier by cleaning the interiors of their vehicles.  

We have taken care of everything from pet hair and food spills to vomit and deep stains.  Our vacuums and steamers have worked overtime, and we have used gallons of shampoo on all different types of carpets and seats.  We love sharing photos among ourselves of a job well done and have been told by customers that their interiors look as good as new.  You have been busy this summer, so we are glad we could help take away some of the work!

Overspray Removal

Summer means fun in the sun… and construction.  Lots and lots of construction. I’ve received so many calls in need of overspray removal this summer, some even from reputable companies who just had an accidental spill that caught a car.  Between paint from the streets, debris that falls from buildings, and tar on the roads, we have fixed it all.  

Among our more extreme situations was a case where concrete had been kicked up on the front of a car, and another was where five or six cars had paint splattered all over, including the roof!  We have certainly mastered our overspray techniques this summer. And if it’s not overspray we are taking care of, it might be…

Buffing & Polishingpaint correction utah

Utah is notorious for its gravel and sandy roads.  When not getting the car dirty and forcing people to use car washes that leave swirl marks, rocks kick up and scratch our cars.  Damage like this makes our vehicles unsightly and can lead to future problems like rust or oxidation if not taken care of.

Thankfully our Buffing & Polishing service has prevented a lot of this damage from this summer alone.  We have had many cases of cars, vans, RVs, and even boats receiving some buffing and polish to smooth them out and keep them healthy, per se.  Among our more interesting cases were a front door of a car that a dog always ran up to and scratched upon seeing the owner, leaving minor but annoying scratches. Another was a car that had gone through a car wash that went awry, using mostly plastic items that left markings everywhere.  One final strange case was a car door that had swiped a pole in an apartment complex, leaving white paint over surface level scratching that covered the entire passenger door. With some claybar, buffing and polishing, and a bit of elbow grease, the only sign the door had any problems was a dent made significantly less noticeable!  

After reviewing the most popular detailing services this summer, its sad to say but summer may be coming to a close, but our shop certainly is not.  If you would like to have service done we are open year round, and we would love to see what kinds of services we do the most this Fall and Winter.  We hope to hear from you through our Request Form or phone number, 801-412-9274, and enjoy your remaining summer break!

by Miranda Hughes, Onsite Detail

Benefits of a Deep Odor Removal Service

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What is a Deep Odor Removal Service? Well, have you ever gotten inside of a vehicle that stunk really bad? Spoiler alert: EVERYONE has been inside a car that stinks! If you don’t think you have ever been in a stinky vehicle, there’s a very good possibility that your vehicle is the smelly one… just saying!

The most common vehicle odors we deal with are;

  • wet dog smell
  • pet potty oopsies
  • body odor
  • spoiled food
  • spilled drinks (especially stinky are the dairy based beverages)
  • rotting fruit and/or veggies
  • mold and mildew
  • musty stench
  • kid stink (unidentified combinations of spills and crumbs)
  • the granddaddy odor of them all…cigarette/cigar smoke odor

If I’ve missed any, just fill in the blank. Check out our previous blog on the Do’s and Don’ts of Proper Odor Removal from Your Vehicle.

Benefits of a Deep Odor Removal Service

There are many benefits to having a deep odor removal service done on your vehicle. Especially if you’re getting ready to sell your current vehicle or just bought a new (to you) one. It is wise to get an interior detail with deep odor removal before selling and after buying. One thing I’ve heard many customers say when they just bought a used vehicle is that the vehicle is clean but they still wanted to get it detailed. I have heard more than once that people wanted the dirty to be “their dirty”. Even if the car was mostly clean when they got it but maybe had an odor that wasn’t “their odor”. Which sounds weird at first but thinking about it for a few seconds makes a lot of sense. Having a deep odor removal service will not only remove deep odors but in many cases will have a good detail done on it before the deep odor removal process. While you are looking for deep odor removal services, be sure to choose a service that has a detail with the deep odor removal. A good detail will be a big part of the odor removing process. A proper detail will be able to penetrate many surfaces and materials and will also prep the surfaces for the deep odor removal treatment.

You may be wondering at this point, “what is done to do a deep odor removal service?”. In many cases a good deep clean and thorough detail will remove many odors. But, as I mentioned before, there are smells and odors that a deep clean will not remove. The deep stench of tobacco will take much more strategic combating than just a detail.

Chlorine Dioxide Odor Removal

One method of a deep odor removal involves a little chlorine tablet that is in a little canister. After some water is added the chlorine tablet dissolves and releases an odor eliminating gas that spreads to the entirety of the vehicle to all the cracks and crevasses. The process for this will usually take a few hours and it is usually wise to leave it overnight to let the odor eliminating happen. Upon checking on it the next morning, you will notice right away that your car may smell like a swimming pool. Know that this is normal and that you will want to open all the doors to let it air out for 30 minutes or so. The chlorine smell will continue to fade quickly but when all is said and done, you will have a more fresh smelling vehicle. The cautions with this deep odor removal method are that the gasses created that kill odor causing bacteria, etc can also cause potential problems to people if the proper PPE and steps are not taken. Also the water level is too low in the canister the reaction of the tablets can cause “splashing” to occur and it has the potential to bleach. These reasons are enough alone to always follow the instructions exactly as the manufacturer has written them.

Ozone Machine Odor Removal

Another method of a deep odor removal is an ozone machine. Basically the way an ozone machine works is that it charges the air that passes through it with an electrical current which then separates the oxygen molecules in the air. The odor eliminating will happen when those oxygen molecules that have odors attached to them go through the ozone process. With those molecules being separated those odors will not be able to survive the ozone process. If those odor molecules that have been separated continue to go through the machine then they will continue to be separated and the odors will continue to be eliminated. You will want to be cautious using an ozone machine. The “air” that is created by the ozone machine is not safe to breathe. It can cause slight chest pain, lung irritation, shortness of breath and coughing. It can be especially dangerous for someone who has any lung diseases such as asthma. But going back to the positives of ozone machine. It can kill living mold spores that create mold and mildew. It can also kill airborne viruses. It will also do an exceptional job with cigarette smoke. Anywhere that air can penetrate can be areas that the ozone machine will help with. 

Between the full interior detail with a deep odor removal service, you will be able to eliminate the odors that you are trying to get rid of.

Penetration is an important aspect to consider when looking at the different methods and how each of them work. I have experience with both methods and they are both effective and work very well.

Replace the Filter

One important thing to remember when dealing with eliminating odors, especially cigarette smoke is that you will want to get the cabin filter to your vehicle replaced as soon as possible. Stay seated and I will explain. Overtime, as the air is circulated through the air vents and as the smoker smokes inside that vehicle, the smoke odor particles will be pulled into the air vents and get pulled through the cabin filter. The smoke odor will absorb itself into the filter. So after the smoker has moved on from that part of life or has sold the vehicle to someone who does not smoke. The odor will remain. Even with the best detail in the world and all the odor eliminating methods you could think of. That odor will live on the filter. As soon as the AC gets turned on on that hot summer day. You will end up with a full cavalry charge of smoke smell coming out of those vents and recycling it’s way back into the areas of your vehicle that you just spent so much money and time getting the smell of cigarette smoke out of.

Hopefully you have learned more about odor eliminating. Regular details will help keep up with odor control and believe it or not, will help with keeping the value of your car high. Your vehicle will also run better. Don’t ask. It’s science. I don’t know how that works but it’s fact! Don’t look it up..it’s true! If you have any questions or would like to schedule a detail service, request one here, or give us a call, text, or email.  Safe Travels and until next time!

 

by Andy Stallings, CD, Operations Manager, Onsite Detail

What is a waterless car wash?

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Have you heard of a “waterless car wash”? So often when we mention a waterless option to a customer we get a confused and/or intrigued reaction. Most people outside of the car wash and detailing world don’t know or don’t understand what a waterless car wash is. Truth be told, a “waterless” wash is not 100% waterless. It should really be called a “less water wash”.

What is a waterless car wash?

A waterless wash is a wash that is done without the aid of a hose, pressure washer or buckets of water. Most of the time a waterless wash is done with no more than a waterless wash solution or chemical in a spray bottle or pressurized sprayer and clean microfiber rags.

Why would you want a waterless car wash?

The point of a waterless car wash is not to avoid using water altogether but to dramatically reduce the amount of water used when cleaning the exterior of a vehicle. The waterless idea comes from the amount of water left over to dry and the amount of water that gets on the ground. With a traditional hand car wash the actual water amount of water used can be as much as 100 gallons without proper knowledge and techniques.  The water left over after the wash process, before drying, can be quite a bit and the run off of soap and chemicals in said water can potentially have a negative impact on the environment.

The federal EPA laws actually prohibit any run off waste water from car washing going down storm drains. It is up to each local jurisdiction to enforce these laws and requirements can vary from state to state and city to city. A waterless car wash is a sure way to not cause any negative environmental harm.

How to use a waterless car wash?

Depending on how dirty the vehicle is and where it is being washed the techniques and procedures can vary. The biggest concern most people have is that a waterless wash does not have the same amount of lubrication as a normal wash would so it has the potential to scratch and scuff the paint. If done improperly the dirt the rag picks up can potentially rub back on the surface of the paint. Although this is not a problem exclusive to waterless car washing. If done properly, each part of the rag only touches the car once or a very limited amount of times. This will just depend on the dirtiness of the car. 

In my many experiences with different waterless wash solutions and chemicals I have learned the two most important things are getting the proper amount of lubrication and making sure to constantly replace dirty microfiber rags with clean ones. This will vary depending on if the car is just slightly dusty or has “caked on” dirt. If the car is on the dirtier side of the scale you’ll need to use a greater amount of the waterless wash solution or chemical to safely remove the dirt. Another factor in the quantity of the product needed will be the temperature of the surface and if it is being done in direct sunlight or not. 

This brings up another point. Depending on the conditions in which the vehicle is being washed will determine how much product it will take and how many rags you may need to use. It will also change the workable area on the surface that you can do at the same time. Also be aware that many waterless wash products come with a wax as well so it may streak if not under ideal conditions. 

Right solution in the right situation

Waterless washes are amazing time, money and environment savers in the right situations. Waterless washes are great for quick maintenance in between more thorough washes and details. Waterless wsahes are great for dusty indoor projects and vehicles in storage. They are even great on gel coats and fiberglass finishes such as boats and RVs. Waterless washes are a great way to maintain ceramic coatings and show vehicles.

Future of waterless car washes

I do believe waterless washes play a huge role in the current state of the detailing industry and they play an even bigger role in the future of detailing industry. The technology continues to improve and the processes and techniques continue to be refined. I do not believe waterless washes can fully replace other methods of washing, at least not yet. There are many situations and things a waterless wash alone can not take care so for now traditional washing methods such as hoses, pressure washers and bucket washes are needed. Sometimes combinations of the methods can be used to increase efficiency and results.

by Chris Blaisdell, CD-SV, Onsite Detail

Chris Blaisdell is the owner of Onsite Detail and has been detailing  for 12 + years.
He is a Certified Detailer-Skills Validated detailer through the
International Detailing Association. The industry leader in detailing standards.

10 Unique Detailing Services You Didn’t Know We Could Do

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When I receive requests from people about detailing services, they usually say the same things.  “I want a detail,” “I’d like a wash and detail,” and “Just a detail” are all common, though when I ask what kind of detail they would like, most respond with “I don’t know, what do you do?”

While our Interior Details and Full Combo Details are our most popular detailing services, they are not the only kinds of detailing we do.  In fact, our detailing services go far beyond vacuuming and washing the car- heck, it even goes beyond waxing and shampooing! To get a better idea, here is a list of ten detailing services we can do (that you maybe didn’t know even existed).

  1. Claybar Treatment

This was a detailing service I didn’t even know existed until I started working at Onsite Detail!  Claybars are clay-like bars (as the name suggests) that pull contaminants from vehicle surfaces.  Vehicles have multiple layers of paint and clear coat, and things get embedded into them that we cannot always see.  If you run your hand over your freshly washed car and feel a rough surface, you likely need a Claybar. This extracts contaminants and keeps paint and clear coats from oxidation and other potentially expensive repairs!  If you want to know more, I recommend a blog dedicated entirely to Claybars written by our own Operations Manager: https://onsitedetail.net/blog/the-little-known-world-of-the-clay-bar/ 

  1. Deep Odor Removal

A step up from our classic Interior Detail + Odor Bomb, this new detailing service gets smells other detailing services just can’t get!  Long-term smells like smoke and mildew like to embed themselves in cars and could return even after deep cleaning.  

Our Deep Odor Removal service aims to tackle those persistent smells once and for all.  Done after an Interior Detail and spending a night in our shop, it can remove smells many thought would be permanent.  Say goodbye to cigarette smells for good!

  1. Ceramic Coating

Traditionally people protect their vehicle exteriors through wax or paint sealants, which are viable ways of keeping it shiny and safe!  However, what if there was a solution that allows your vehicle to have that gloss with even more protection? This is where our Ceramic Coatings come in.

Ceramic Coatings create a strong protective layer over most of the exterior surface of the car, even bonding with existing clear coats to be more durable.  This layering keeps the vehicle safe from contaminants and comes with an extra special process from our company. Our Ceramic Coating installation includes a decontamination of the paint, which utilizes our lovely Claybar, and Paint Correction, which restores paint imperfections such as swirl marks and water spots.  These extra steps help make your vehicle glossy and give it a longer-lasting “just waxed” shine that can, with good maintenance, last for years!

  1. Child Seat Detailing Service

Our Child Seat Cleaning is one of our detailing services that is often overlooked by customers, but can be a big lifesaver.  Many of us here at Onsite Detail have children of our own, and we know firsthand that all our love and attention can’t prevent every mess a child makes!  Rather than just quickly vacuum out the seat, we go as far as to deep clean it, including steam cleaning and shampooing to fully clean and sanitize it. It’s a great service to pair with an Interior Detail!

  1. Glassparency

Glassparency, or Glass Protection, is a detailing service we now provide for windshields and all glass surfaces, including sun roofs!  This hydrophobic application gives special advantages to your glass surfaces, the most noticeable being that rain, mud, and similar hazards will fall right off!  (Some have even reported that their wipers last longer since they do not need to use them as often.) it also reduces glare, makes windows easier to clean, and protects glass from mineral buildup.  

  1. Plastic Restoration

Plastic and rubber are not what one usually thinks of when thinking of cars.  However, they are not immune to the elements and other hazards! Over time these fade and become oxidized.  

We carry a solution to this in our Plastic Restoration detailing service!  We use a special solution that is absorbed into the plastic and rubber, restoring its color, repairing oxidation, and even giving it further protection from the elements.  We even make sure to apply this by hand so it is done evenly and thoroughly.  

  1. Hard water/Sap/Tar Removal

Summertime brings more hazards than sunburn and heat stroke.  Hard water from sprinklers, tree sap from camping, and tar from construction love to appear and make life difficult!  Thankfully our year-round services includes taking care of hard water spots, sap, tar, and any other sticky situations you may have.  

  1. Engine Detailing Service

Engines need love too!  Engine Details include degreasing your engine, shining the metal, and dressing the plastic and rubber bits.  This not only makes it look car-show ready, it also has helped some people sell their vehicles and in one case helped find a leak that would have cost tons in repairs later on!  They come for free with our Full Combo Details or can be added to any service.  

  1. Headlight Restoration

A simple but important service is our Headlight Restoration.  Headlights like to fog up over time, and this haziness can make a car look old and its lights more dim.  We simply go in and polish the headlights to remove that haziness, leaving them clear as the day it was made!

  1. Over Spray Removal

Has your vehicle been sprayed by a truck that was painting the roads?  Did industrial fallout land on your car and refuse to come off easy? These are things we have experience in handling!  Our detailers are trained in removing difficult over spray, and as construction increases in warmer months, you may want to keep us in mind in case any accidents like these happen to you!

 

All of these services are done by professionally trained detailers who love restoring vehicles of all kinds.  In fact, many of these can be done to vehicles like RVs, boats, motorhomes, motorcycles, and more! If you have a special need for your car, give us a call!  We likely have a solution for you.

by Miranda Hughes, Onsite Detail

Best way to remove melted crayon and candy from your car

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The Pinnacle of all Detailing…

This blog may or may not be the pinnacle of all detailing… removing melted crayon and candy from a car. I can’t count the amount of interior detail jobs I’ve done when either a melted crayon or melted gummy candy had softened, melted, and somehow hardened it’s way into the carpet, cracks and crevasses of a vehicle. Unfortunately this might be the way you have described the interior of your vehicle to a friend… you may have said things like, “there’s melted crayon in the back cup holder” or “there’s a melted gummy bear on the car mat on the passenger side”. If you’ve never said those words you’ve at least thought them or have heard someone say it. If you’ve never heard anyone say anything like that I promise you know someone who has. The thing I’m trying to get at is that melted substances in vehicles happens to the best of us in one way or another. It’s a fact (that I may or may not have made up for the support of my writings today). 

List of melted sticky things we’ve found in cars;

  • crayons
  • candy and chocolate
  • wax (candles, etc.)
  • deodorant
  • spilled sticky food
  • lipstick/chap-stick
  • makeup
  • fruit
  • donuts/pastries
  • unrecognizable gunk…

Crayons, gummy candy and chap-stick are very different… although young children will try to eat all of them. There are many methods and techniques that you may hear that you can use and that are effective in removing melted crayon and candy from a car and off of vehicle carpet and out of vehicle cup holders.

My experiences with removing melted crayon and candy from a car, out of vehicle carpets and off vehicle interior surfaces has been trial by error, always starting with the least aggressive method first if you are not sure what it needs. In many cases the process in getting them out of the carpets or cup holders will be the same. I will mention a few chemicals and/or techniques that will work for removing the sticky and hardened substances in your vehicle.

Loosening up the sticky stuff

The first thing you want to do before you can actually be removing melted crayon and candy from a car safely is to soften or loosen it up. I usually test the area with some all purpose cleaner (apc) or a light duty degreaser. You will want to let the apc/degreaser sit on the area for a minute or two to let it soften the crayon or gummy. If you have a putty knife you can use that to separate the substance from the carpet or fabric, but be extremely careful that you do not damage the surface that you are working on. In some cases it could also be on a leather seat. It may be slightly easier to remove from leather but the care that need to be taken is even greater with vinyl or leather. The damage to leather can be irreversible so be sure to be extremely careful or it would need to be repaired. We will come back to leather in a little bit. After letting the apc/degreaser or a solvent based chemical (do not use on the leather, vinyl or sensitive materials) soften the crayon or gummy candy, continue analyzing, loosening and scraping.

The Power of Steam

One of the most effective ways to loosen and remove these substances from the carpets and fabrics and using a steamer. The steamer will do an excellent job at loosening and separating the crayons and gummy candy, etc. from the fabric and carpet fibers. With the steamer you will want to make sure to extract it fairly quickly. With the heat of the steam softening the crayon or gummy enough to get it off the carpet, you will want to make sure you get it extracted as fast as possible for the best results. Letting it sit too long could give the substance time to either harden or with it being softer, it could seep into the fibers even deeper. A great tool for extracting after being softened is a hot water extractor. Keeping the wax from the crayon or the gummy candy soft and warm will enable you to extract the substance from the carpet much more doable. Before using the steamer or extractor, you will want to attempt getting off as much of the substance as you can. The more crayon or candy that is on the fabric when you start steaming, the bigger the possibility of all that getting pushed further into the fabrics thus making it much more tough to remove. Especially if it hardens again.

Something you will notice with the crayon almost immediately is that it will leave it’s color behind. If this happens, don’t worry. This is common and normal. The sad truth is that the color from the crayon will most likely dye the carpet. The paraffin wax and color pigment, when heated, will create an oil like substance that you will want to make sure you remove as soon as possible. That is another reason you will want to try to gently remove as much of the crayon as you can before heating to avoid dying an even larger portion of the carpet. When done successfully the carpet will be clean but might have a dyed portion. Know that it’s clean but may be permanently colored. When it comes to the gummy candy, you shouldn’t have the worry of dying the carpet but will still want to make sure it is removed with the same quickness and method as the crayon.

Careful with the Leather

When it comes to the leather, it may be a little easier but will take a little more care to clean effectively. Again, you will want to make sure that you remove as much of the crayon or candy as possible. If it is possible to do a deep clean on the leather without applying the heat do that. Keep the spot moistened with apc/degreaser to keep the substance from adhering back onto the leather. With the last resort being hitting the spot with the steamer. Try to avoid using straight steam on the spot for an extended period of time. It could damage the leather. Some steamers will come equipped with a brush that you can attach to the end. After attaching the brush, wrap a rag or cloth around the brush. I would recommend a microfiber rag. This will disperse the steam enough to not damage the leather but will still get it hot enough to separate the crayon and gummy from the leather. Spray the area with some properly diluted degreaser and start gently steam cleaning the area. You will want to closely monitor the area you are working on to make sure the leather is still in good shape. Once clean make sure to recondition the leather as we do with our Interior Detail.

I hope you have enjoyed it and learned something. The auto detailing world is continually growing and progressing. There may be other methods for removing melted crayon and candy from a car out there that would be more effective in your specific situations and I would encourage you to search them out to find something that works for you or feel free to reach out to us and we can help you out. Contact via phone or text at (801) 412-9274 or you can request an appointment on our website! Safe Travels!

by Andy Stallings, CD, Operations Manager, Onsite Detail

 

Benefits of GlassParency Window Treatment

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The first time I heard of a GlassParency window treatment or coating I didn’t quite grasp the concept. I wondered what could be done to improve the glass fresh from the factory. Isn’t brand new glass perfect? Glass does not oxidize or fade like paint does, so what would the point be to get a window coating treatment. Well, truth be told, glass can be enhanced for many reasons, including;

  • Safety: Most of us would consider ourselves and everyday driver. We are most concerned about things that are practical and how the product is going to benefit their vehicle and their driving experience. The number one thing for us is that we get to and from where we need to go in safety. GlassParency window treatment  increases visibility in the rain, at night and during snow. It increases a driver’s reaction time by up to 34%. Optically improves the clarity of the glass and reduces night and day glare.

I can personally attest to the reduced glare as this was one of the things that not only annoyed me most but caused the most visual problems for me.

One other thing that I love is that fact that during wet weather I don’t need to use my wipers nearly as much which only extends the life of my wipers.

  • Ease of Maintenance: Most people don’t “love” to clean. GlassParency window treatment helps protect against hard water staining and mineral spotting reducing the amount of time it takes to remedy these issues. Also dirt, dust and debris are less likely to stick to treated glass.

How many times have you washed your car only to find bugs still in the windshield… annoying! A simple wipe of your wiper blades and washer fluid will remove most bugs on treated glass. If there are still some a simple wet rag or towel will do the trick.

This easy cleaning is great for show cars, classics and exotics. They don’t see much weather usually but when they are pulled you want them to look as good as possible as quickly as possible.

  • Protection: Protecting the glass is different than paint, but many of the same elements that deteriorate paint can slowly beat up the glass as well. GlassParency helps protect against hard water staining and mineral spots. Bugs, snow, ice and dirt are easier to remove. It keeps glass cleaner improving overall aesthetic of the glass which is especially nice for show cars.

Brand new factory glass is not perfectly smooth. If you look at the window glass through a microscope it will look more like peaks and valleys. There are pores in the glass that create places for things such as water, dirt, dust, ice and bugs to grab on and get “stuck” to the glass. GlassParency window treatment fills these pores and give the glass a more optically clear view. It also seals the glass to help reduce road debris damage. Sealing the glass and filling in the pores helps the glass repel the various contaminants the windows will encounter during its life.

Onsite Detail GlassParency Authorized Installer

Onsite Detail GlassParency Authorized Installer

I would recommend getting GlassParency installed at least on your windshield but all of your vehicle’s windows as well. One of the great things that comes with the initial installation treatment is a 3-year warranty.

If you have questions regarding GlassParency window treatment on your vehicle feel free to give us a call or send us a text at (801) 412-9274. You can also e-mail us at clean@onsitedetail.net or fill out an appointment request form.

by Chris Blaisdell, CD-SV, Onsite Detail

Chris Blaisdell is the owner of Onsite Detail and has been detailing  for 12 + years.
He is a Certified Detailer-Skills Validated detailer through the
International Detailing Association. The industry leader in detailing standards.

Top 5 Reasons to Get a Detail in the Summer!

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Should you get a detail in the summer?…

Summer is upon us!  National Parks are open, the weather is clearing up for outdoor activity, and you’ve likely got a vacation or two planned.  Most of us are ready to hit the road and go on as many adventures as possible before we see “back to school” ads again.

However, before you load up your vehicle, I recommend taking a good look at it.  Whether it is your car, your RV, your motorhome, or your boat, you should seriously consider getting a detail at some point this summer.  We’re not suggesting that just because you probably have a family event or two lined up! There are many benefits that come from getting a detail, and this article will tell you five of those benefits.

1. Preparing for Big Trips

Summertime is when many people take to the road, from getting on golf carts and ATVs to taking long road trips across the country.  Some of these vehicles have likely been in storage, waiting for their owners to pull them out and gas them up for another round of memory-making.  Before you jump into the driver’s seat, though, consider getting at least a detail in the summer or a quick wash and vacuum of the vehicle, like with our Express Inside & Out service.  This not only gets the winter dust off, but sets the tone for the rest of the season. Having a clean vehicle now can be a good motivator to keep it clean over the summer, which is especially important because the heat alone can make messes worse!

2. Heat and Bacteria

A mess any time of the year is less than fun (in fact, it’s no fun at all).  However, some messes are worse when it’s hot outside. Dairy spills are a good example of this.  Heat trapped in a vehicle can cause dairy from spilled baby formula or lattes to produce more bacteria that stinks up the whole inside of the car.  Foods that get forgotten or missed can also start to mold quicker in hot cars and can attract insects or rodents.

Our detailers are trained to work in hot weather conditions and do great work cleaning up vehicles with bad spills and messes.  Interior Details are one of our most popular services that not only remove mold and stains, but also make the inside look almost new.  Our newest Deep Odor Removal service is also a good choice for anyone with a really smelly situation. A recent example is a customer who had food left in their RV for weeks without refrigeration, which eventually attracted flies and maggots.  The Deep Odor Removal and Interior Detail made it like it never happened after only a few hours! You can depend on us

3. Protecting Your Vehicle

Our services don’t just help with making your vehicle clean and shiny; we help keep your vehicle protected as well.  Our paint sealants and Ceramic Coating help keep paint and gel coats protected from weather, dust, and other contaminants you pick up.  This in turn helps fight oxidation and other tricky substances, such as hard water and tree sap. Our Glassparency Window Coating service helps prevent bugs from sticking to your windshield and helps keep water off it, which is good for everything from sprinklers that leave hard water to boats that get sprayed from lakes!  You can contact us to learn more about our protective services, which will help keep your summer toys lasting for years to come.

4. Impress Your Family & Friends

Summer is one of the most social times of the year because many of us have vacation time to spend together.  Your near future may include bringing kids to sporting events, traveling an hour to visit someone for dinner, and going to Moab for a few days getaway.  Lots of people will be in or around your car, so why not make it look nice? You paid a lot for it, so make it shine for your family and friends! You can utilize our Paint Correction services to remove scratches and swirl marks, Plastic Restoration to make the plastic and rubber parts look like new, and Pet Hair Removal to clear it of any of our furry (but sometimes allergy-inducing) friends’ shedding.  If you have a spill, smell, or stain you’d like taken care of before going to that Pioneer Day family reunion, you can count on us to make that happen.

5. Returning from Summer Trips

As with all seasons, even summers must come to an end.  While we have been talking about getting ready for summer, we know some of you may have already gotten a head start on it.  Why spend all that time preparing when your car is just going to get dirty again? Utah’s roads are known for their dustiness and kids will spill just about anything because, well, they’re kids!  

When summer does wind down, even if you’ve not gotten any detailing done, consider us for a detail in the summer.  Add a Child Seat Cleaning to your Interior Detail to prepare for your kids going back to school, wash and wax any of that dirt and sand from your car, and wash & wax your RVs and boats before storing them.  Keep in mind any preventative services you may want before cold and rainy fall seasons arrive- it’s easier to remove hard water and tree sap when it’s still warm than when it’s raining or snowing! Plus getting a wax or paint sealant can prevent oxidation and rust.  In fact, we recommend it- waxing is much cheaper than removing rust and oxidation after all, and it takes much less time!

 

There are benefits beyond these, of course, but these are some of the more popular reasons you should consider getting your vehicle detailed at least once this summer.  Our calendar is filling quickly, so send in a Request Form or call us today at (801) 412-9274 to get your vehicle taken care of! Let us take care of the details, you have a summer to enjoy.  We are looking forward to hearing from you!

by Miranda Hughes, Onsite Detail

Utah Detailing Services Update

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What do you imagine when you think of auto detailing?  Perhaps you think of shampooing the inside of your car, hand washing the outside, or waxing it until the outside shines.  All of these are things we do at Onsite Detail, keeping your vehicles clean, shiny, and clear of impurities that can cause future problems.  Everything from Wash & Wax jobs to Onsite Elite Details are part of our roster of services we love to do! However, we at Onsite Detail like to expand what services we can offer you.  So this article acts partly as a newsletter, a sort of announcement to four services we have added to better serve Utah’s vehicle owners. This article will be describing each one, and hopefully you will feel the excitement we do about having them!  

In-Shop Service

While this is not brand new, it is worth stating again that Onsite Detail has opened its first shop!  Located in Murray, our space allows for you to bring your vehicle to us to work on, as well as provide a few added benefits. As the summer season picks up, mobile services can take five to seven days to schedule, but in-shop allows for earlier times.  We can also hold vehicles overnight as we have secure garages. In-shop is especially beneficial for people who live farther away, as coming to us removes any travel charges we may need to charge. It’s also great if you live or work close by. What is even better is this new space has allowed us to add some specifically in-shop services, as we will list below!

There are some limits, such as not being able to service really large vehicles like RVs or motorhomes.  However, the quality of service and the costs do not change whether we go to you or you come to us (save for the travel charge if it applies to you).  Come take advantage of the new space by filling out a Request Form and choosing In-shop, we are looking forward to seeing you!

Deep Odor Removal Service

Originally we had one method for helping with long-term smells, such as smoke, mildew, or mold, which was the Interior Detail plus an Odor Bomb.  The benefits were that it was mobile-friendly and easy to use, but we found that it couldn’t help every smell situation. It had better success with temporary smells but not for long-term ones.  That is why we added a second method: Deep Odor Removal.

Deep Odor Removal is done after an Interior Detail and requires we keep your vehicle for one night, but has an incredibly higher effectiveness at removing the deep-seated odors that Odor Bombs just cannot penetrate.  Recently it was used to help clean the inside of a camper whose fridge had food left in it for so long it developed maggots. It reeked and had been there so long an Odor Bomb would only provide temporary relief, but the Deep Odor Removal made it travel-ready again.    

Glass Protection

One new service we are all very excited about is Glassparency, also known as Glass Protection.  It is a special hydrophobic application we place on your windshield or all windows of your vehicle, including sun and moon roofs.  Doing this gives you special advantages, including:

  1. Easier Cleaning: Ice, dirt, and insects are significantly easier to clear off.
  2. Better Visibility: Rain, mud, and all sorts of other visibility hazards fall off effortlessly, which has the added bonus of keeping your wipers good for longer!
  3. Reduces Glare: In our Utah summers with lots of sun, that’s always a benefit and adds a safety factor that can’t be overlooked.
  4. Protection: It helps prevent mineral build-up and corrosion to keep your glass stronger for longer.

To add to the benefits, maintaining this protection is easier than ever with the 3-year warranty you can get for it.  With a few reminders via text and/or email, you can bring it in to us and get it touched up so the product doesn’t wear off over time.  Just bring it to us for a few minutes and you are ready to go!

This service is a great add on to our Ceramic Coating installation service, but you do not need to get a Ceramic Coating to get Glass Protection!  Bring your vehicle to our shop and we will happily apply it, it’s a product we love so much we have applied it to our own vans and some of our personal vehicles.  

ATV and Golf Cart Detailing

While this one is not in-shop exclusive, it’s a newer updated service that many do not yet know about.  Before we had no pricing for vehicles the size of cars that were not, well, cars. ATVs and Golf Carts now have set prices and procedures for their detailing, just in time for them to shake the dust of winter off!  Plus, because these are smaller, our in-shop space means you have the choice of us going to you or you going to us, for no changes in price. Shine up your toys before you explore Utah’s off-roads and golf courses in style, or bring them here before they get stored again for the winter months!  These vehicles are for leisure, so let us take care of the details.

We at Onsite Detail are excited for these new services, and can’t wait to show them off to you.  You can check out our website for prices or call us at 801-412-9274 ext. 1 for more information! Let us do the detailing so you can kick off your summer ready to go!

by Miranda Hughes, Onsite Detail