Q. What is polish or polishing?
A. Polish or polishing implies rubbing the surface with an abrasive liquid or paste to produce a smooth glossy surface using deoxidiziers (cleaners) or compounds.

Q. What is a Glaze?
A. A Glaze is a product that provides a hard glossy finish or coating to any surface. A wax, polish, or sealant could be considered a Glaze.

Q. What is waxing?
A. Waxing means to rub, polish, cover, smear, or treat with a wax.

Q. What is a paint sealant?
A. A paint sealant contains a chemical called polymer, combined with wax, plastic, silicone, etc., and is used for sealing a surface. Although sealants will seal a surface, the length of time or durability for each particular additive should be considered carefully. Be careful when buying a paint sealant w/Teflon. If a person is focusing on the fact that their product is full of Teflon, this person does not know his product. Fact: In order for Teflon to be effective; the product needs to be baked quickly at 5,000 degrees over and over for it to actually perfom the "non-stick" features it produces. So unless your Auto Detailer or AutoDealer Ship plans on burning your vehicle to a crisp they are not informed (or lying) about paint sealants with Teflon. Teflon Resins may be added to a Paint Sealant, but I can assure you they have not received clearance from Dupont to use the name Teflon!

Q. What exactly is a silicone?
A. Silicone is any of a large class of polymers, which are natural or synthetic substances or mixtures, consisting of a high molecular mass. Silicones are used as lubricants, resins, varnishes, and water resisting films.

Q. What is an amino-functional silicone?
A. It is a silicone or polymer that cures and plates a surface when exposed to air. They provide exceptional durability, gloss and resistance to repeated washing with mild alkaline detergents used in car washes.

Q. Where does wax come from?
A. Wax comes from plants, trees, insects or it is man made from petroleum products.

Q. What is the best type of wax to use?
A. Carnauba is the most common. There are 3 grades. #1 is the hardest, offering the most durability. Many petroleum waxes are blended with carnauba to produce ease of application, rubout, balance Ph, and stabilize products. Carnauba is rarely used by itself in manufacturing, but it offers the most protection from waxes. Waxes will only last about one to two weeks before they start to break down.

Q. What is an abrasive?
A. An abrasive is a substance that wears away a surface through rubbing. There are several grades of abrasives used in compounds, cleaners, polishes or glazes. In compounds the particles are jagged, and do not flatten out when buffing, creating deep scratches. Polishes and glazes contain soft particles that flatten out when buffed, eliminating further scratching or removing existing scratches.

Q. What about abrasive content?
A. That all depends on the type of paint, cleaning capabilities of the product, whether it be a compound, cleaner, glaze, or one-step cleaning/glazing polish. Always test a small area before applying cleaners or compounds directly on the finish to prevent damage.

Q. Is there such a thing as non-abrasive products?
A. No. All products contain some form of abrasive powder. The size, shape, hardness, and flattening capabilities of the particles during buffing determine the scratchability or non-abrasive characteristics as it is called. Some products contain powder carriers that, visible to the naked eye, do not appear to scratch the finish.

Q. Are Silicones bad for vehicle paints?
A. Not at all. As a matter of fact, new paints being produced for vehicles today, are made with silicone resins to increase gloss and durability.

Q. Do UV sunscreens really work or is it a gimmick?
A. Paint manufacturers use ultra-violet sunscreen in paints to increase protection from damaging UV sunrays. Glazes and sealants containing sunscreens, when applied to the finish, add protection to the paint.

Q. I applied wax on my vehicle. After I hand washed the finish, swirls reappeared and the paint looked hazy again. Why?
A. The product you used probably consisted of water, abrasives, solvents, oils and possibly a small amount of wax. After washing the vehicle with detergents the oils and wax break down and wash from the finish. The paint will immediately start to dull out once again.

Q. I know my product works because water beads on the finish. Why should I switch?
A. The worst waxes on the market will make water bead on the finish. Products that contain oils and silicone distribute a thin, even film over the finish. Creating a thin layer of protection. This is not a good way to judge a wax. A good wax should protect your vehicle for at least 3 months.

Q. Is It Safe to Use My Credit Card on Your Site?
A. Shopping with us extremely safe. For each order, we will transfer all of your personal information, including name, address and credit card number over a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) line. This ensures that your information is encrypted and cannot be read by others as it travels over the Internet. We are committed to maintaining your privacy. All information you provide us will be kept in the strictest confidence. We will not release any information without your consent.

Q. How can you wash a car at my office? We have no water access or power.
A. Our mobile units carry water tanks and generators. Leave your keys at the front desk or meet us at the car. This is all you need to do. No leaving your car with us all day or finding a ride back to work or home after you drop your car off at a shop.

Q. How long does a service take?
A. For approximate times click here: Service Times

Q. How often does my car need to be detailed?
A. From our experience we recommend that people have their vehicles fully detailed at least twice a year; but the exterior would be better protected if waxed at least 4 times a year, especially the areas exposed to weather and contaminants (roof, hood and trunk.)

Q. How much should it cost to have my car detailed?
A. The following prices are information from Detailing Concepts. These are average prices around the country. This will vary in different parts of the country but you should expect to pay the following rates. (Pricing will vary with condition of vehicle and size) Full Detail: $125-$225 Exterior Detail: $75-$125 Interior Detail: $75-$125 Wash & Wax: $50-$75 Engine Compartment: $25-$50

Q. What is the best way to wash my car?
A. Important Tip: Never use dish soap to wash your vehicles. The harsh ingredients will strip wax and harm the paint. Always rinse the vehicle first to cool it off. Inspect the vehicle and remove any tar or contaminants with Bug & Tar Remover if needed. Make sure to wax the area you where you used Bug & Tar Remover. Bug & Tar Remover takes the wax along with the bugs and tar. Then use a soap specifically made for auto finishes. Make sure it is a Wash & Wax combination. You will need two wash mits - one for the body and the other for areas with excessive dirt build up (wheels, fender wells, uni-body tires, etc.) Always use clean wash mitts. Dirt on your wash mitts can scratch your paint. Completely cover the vehicle with the soapy solution remembering to get behind the gas filler door, under the bumpers, lower body, mirrors and all exterior surfaces. Using lots of soap will make your job easier by floating away loose dirt. Rinse thoroughly. Use a chamois to dry. Ring it out often and make sure it is free of any dirt or grease.

Q. I am leasing a vehicle how can cleaning help me?
A. Leased vehicles are allowed a certain amount of wear and tear. With the investment of cleaning the vehicle regularly it will hold its appearance and the value will be higher, upon return. Plus if you keep your vehicle in tip top condition you may want to keep it yourself.

Q. I had a dealer applied paint sealant, do I still need to wax my car?
A. Technically no. But you will need to reapply a sealant renewer. Either annually or twice a year. Be sure to do this according the recommendations of the company you from which you purchased your sealant warranty. If you do not, the warranty will be void. Both wax and Paint Sealants are designed to protect the paint finish. Sealants in general last much longer than pure wax, so why would you want to wax over a sealant. Also, since wax does not really stick to the finish to well, it will have a much more difficult time sticking to the sealant layer. If you own a black or dark colored vehicle, and will be showing it off, you may want to apply wax over your sealant. The high oil content in pure wax leaves a slightly more glossy finish but beware of the smears that often occur when the two products are applied together. A damp diaper can quickly remove this kind of smearing.

Q. Are automatic car washes bad for my car?
A. They can be. Not all carwash machines are created equal. In our experience, car washing is best performed by hand, but that is not always practical. The things to look for in a carwash are: 1. Neat, well maintained machine 2. Shaded prewash area 3. Touchless wash system (no mechanical brushes of any kind) 4. Touchless drying system 5. Spot-free rinse water. Remember to talk with the owner or manager to get a feel on how much integrity he/she might have. Some of the spray on waxes can be effective, but don't rely on them for all your wax needs. You can expect above average wear to the paint finish from regular use of the automatic wash, but that can be offset through regular detailing.