Detailing your vehicle makes it look shiny and new, but there are some downsides to consider before forking over your hard-earned cash. As much as you love your car, detailing isn’t all roses. Here are a few of the disadvantages Of Car Detailing.
It Can Be Expensive
Professional detailing can cost several hundred dollars per visit. While prices vary in different areas and for different vehicles, you’re typically looking at $200 to $500 for a standard wash, wax, and interior cleaning for a mid-size sedan. Larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks will be on the higher end of that range. Add-on services like paint touch-ups, scratch removal, odor elimination, or carpet shampooing can increase the total cost significantly.
For many car owners, frequent detailing may not fit within their budget. While a professionally detailed vehicle will look showroom new, the effects are temporary. Environmental factors like dirt, dust, grime, and contaminants will quickly build back up on the exterior and interior surfaces of the vehicle, requiring another pricey detail shortly to restore its appearance.
Potential Damage to Your Car’s Paint
Detailing your car to a showroom shine may seem tempting, but it does come with some potential downsides you should be aware of before booking that appointment.
The risk of swirl marks and scratches
- Even with the most skilled and experienced detailer, there is always a chance of tiny swirl marks or scratches being left behind in the paint finish. The polishing and buffing required to remove oxidation and scratches from the clear coat can potentially cause new minor flaws if not done properly with high-quality equipment and pads. For the perfectionist, this may be unacceptable.
Paint fading over time
- Repeated polishing and buffing, especially more aggressive cut and polish treatments, will remove layers of clear coat and paint over time. While a quality detailer will take precautions to avoid removing too much material with each visit, frequent detailing can accelerate the fading of your car’s paint and reduce its depth and gloss. For most vehicle owners who only detail once every 6-12 months, this is usually not a major concern but something to be aware of.
Not All Detailing Services Are Equal
Not all car detailing services are created equal. The quality of work can vary greatly between detailers and detailing shops. Some important things to consider when choosing a detailer:
Experience and training
- Look for detailers with a proven track record of experience. Those with certifications from reputable training programs will have a strong foundation in proper techniques and products. Detailing requires a lot of skill and knowledge to do it well without damaging a vehicle’s finish or components. An inexperienced detailer could end up doing more harm than good.
Quality of products used
- Higher quality waxes, polishes, and cleaning products will provide better results and last longer. Cheaper products may need to be reapplied more often and won’t protect the vehicle’s finish as well. Ask the detailer about the specific products they use and do some research on your own to determine the quality.
Thoroughness of services
- Some detailers will focus on just the basics, like a wash, waxing, and vacuuming seats. For the best results, look for a detailer that provides comprehensive services. Things like steam cleaning door jambs and wheel wells, conditioning leather seats, cleaning air vents, polishing trim pieces, etc. These extra touches will make a big difference in how your vehicle looks and feels when done.
Reputation and reviews
- Check online reviews from sites like Yelp or the detailer’s Google Business profile. Look for detailers with a reputation for high-quality work, great customer service, and lots of satisfied clients. While no business will have 100% perfect reviews, avoid those with a significant number of negative reviews mentioning poor work quality, damage to vehicles, or bad experiences.
Choosing a reputable detailer with proper experience, high-quality products and a focus on comprehensive services will help ensure you get the best results from professional car detailing. Doing your due diligence upfront will give you confidence in the work and allow you to enjoy driving a vehicle that looks showroom new.
It Takes Time
Car detailing requires a significant time commitment to do properly. It’s not a quick wash and vacuum—it’s an intensive process that can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on the condition of your vehicle and the level of detail you want. Just washing, drying, and vacuuming the interior can easily take over an hour for a moderately sized vehicle. Then there’s cleaning and protecting the interior surfaces, scrubbing trim and tires, polishing paint, and cleaning every nook and cranny.
- It may require taking time off work or giving up your weekend to have your car detailed. Unless you have a flexible schedule, it can be difficult to find a block of time that long during the week.
- You’ll need to drop off and pick up your vehicle, which also takes time out of your day. Some detail shops do offer mobile services where they will come to you, but that is less common.
- The time required depends on how dirty your vehicle is and how much of a transformation you’re looking for. Just a basic wash and interior cleaning may only take 3 to 4 hours. A full showroom-level detail with paint correction can take all day.
The amount of time and effort that goes into professional auto detailing is one of the biggest downsides for many vehicle owners. While the result can be spectacular, the process itself is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming. If you’re looking for a quick spruce-up, standard washing and vacuuming may suit your needs better. But when your car needs a deep clean to restore its showroom shine, a professional detail is well worth the time invested.
Weather Conditions Can Quickly Undo Your Efforts
Weather like rain, snow, and temperature extremes can easily ruin a freshly-detailed car. There’s little you can do to prevent environmental damage from occurring. No matter how much time and money you invest in your vehicle’s appearance, Mother Nature can undo it all with a single storm. For some, this unpredictability makes the ongoing effort seem futile and not worth the trouble.
Conclusion
So in the end, while car detailing can make your vehicle look showroom new again and help maintain its value, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. There are some real downsides to consider before paying for professional detailing services or attempting to do it yourself. The time, cost, and effort required can be significant, and there’s always a chance of damage to your car’s paint or interior if not done properly. Not to mention, keeping a freshly detailed car looking pristine requires diligent maintenance and care. However, for many auto enthusiasts, the rewards of a sparkling, spotless ride far outweigh any disadvantages. If you have the means and patience, car detailing can be extremely rewarding. But go in with realistic expectations – your car won’t stay perfect forever!