January 2021 Newsletter

We Won! We are absolutely thrilled that our community and client base took to the polls and voted us Best Auto Detail Shop in Victoria for the 3rd YEAR IN A ROW!! We can't thank you all enough for the continued support, and look forward to serving you moving forward into 2021! We are forever grateful!

New Year, New Car Maintenance Plan

With 2020 behind us, we too are ready to get back into the "normal" swing of things, if that's what the universe will let us do. While large gatherings, events, and many other normal activities will most likely still be sidelined, there is one thing that isn't affected by a pandemic that some still find enjoyable, and like to do to pass the time. That is maintaining your vehicle.
In our first issue of this new year, we thought we'd give you a crash course on what basic items you should have in your detailing arsenal to make cleaning your ride enjoyable, easy, and most importantly safe for it. Follow along as we look into the Top 5 tools and products that everyone should have if you care for your car.

#1 The 2 Bucket System. This simple yet amazingly effective method of washing uses two buckets to filter away the dirt you've just washed off, without risking putting it back onto the car, resulting in swirl marks and scratches. Use one bucket with your soap and water, the other with just straight water. After each panel washed, dunk the mitt into the straight water to rinse the debris away, before dunking into the soapy water. This way you're always putting fresh, clean soap onto the paint! You can even include a third bucket for wheels if you like!

#2 The Grit Guard. Again, another very simple yet effective tool that can help preserve the finish of your paint better. Drop one into the bottom of each bucket, and it acts as a filter to prevent your wash mitt or tools from touching the base sediment or grit, eliminating or drastically reducing the chances of it being put back onto the paint. Certain brands even have one way "valves" to prevent even the smallest dirt from returning to the top.

#3 Car Wash Soap. While some may argue that soap is soap, we strongly disagree. Specific car wash soap is designed to lubricate and encapsulate dirt and grit away from the surface, helping the wash mitt glide over the surface without much damage. They also contain surfactants to help remove oily films and dirt that other soaps leave behind. They are also pH gentle for your paint too. Dish soap is a big no no. It's meant to strip away grease from dishes and pans, which means it can remove car wax and sealants with ease, leaving your paint bare. Stick to a purpose made car wash soap. It's relatively cheap insurance for your very expensive paint finish!

#4 Microfiber Towels. It's time to get with the program and ditch the old chamois. Modern paints are very sensitive to scratches and abrasion in most cases, and old style chamois towels aren't suitable for them anymore. Microfiber towels, be it for drying, detailing, wiping or buffing, are the only materials that should touch your paint. Microfiber is very soft, and will not scratch easily if used accordingly. The fibres are great for picking up contaminants with your wash mitt, drying the water off with your drying towel, and buffing to a streak free shine with a quick detailer product. Cotton, chamois or any other fabric besides microfiber will surely leave damage to the paint. If you're still using a bath towel on your ride, do it a favour and hang that on the bathroom hook, not the garage wall.

#5 Last Step Protection. Washing your car properly is great. But we're not done yet. Leaving a bare paint surface can be asking for trouble. If you don't already have a coat of wax, or a ceramic coating applied, listen carefully! Adding even a simple layer of a protective detail spray to your paintwork will do many things for it. Add gloss, slickness, water repellency, UV protection, and contaminant resistance. After a wash, follow the directions to apply your favourite product, whether that's a wax based spray or wipe on sealant type product, the options are endless. These products will help shield the paint from damage it's exposed to on a regular basis, and keep it looking better for longer too. Now that you've got something on the paint, both you and your ride can drive easy!

Visit our website stellarfinishautodetailing.com
For pricing, services and more.
Call us at 250-896-2539, we'd love to speak with you!

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Stellar Finish Ltd. · 620 Baker St. · Victoria, BC V8Z2H7 · Canada