Detailers... top mistakes customers make

**JBM** · 06-08-2016, 03:28 PM

When I was a 20y.o. I would wax my car with turtle wax and drive around with it like that for a day so it would "bake in". Holy jeepers was it hard to buff off.

**Mr. Slick** · 06-08-2016, 04:22 PM

Setting bags with rubber wheels that pick put grit on the top of a perfectly polished car *gag*

using a California duster and applying tons of pressure to get the dust and sand off the car, a nice red Jaguar *cringe*

setting keys and shoes on the trunk after I polish it. A BMW owner did this and I cringed because I just polished marks from bags sliding off the trunk to perfection

I haven`t even had many customers yet...

**Nth Degree** · 06-08-2016, 04:42 PM

Washing a car right after getting back from a long drive and spray water onto hot hood, wheels and rotors.

**Mary B** · 06-08-2016, 07:34 PM

How `bout this one : Not reading Autopia Forums

**4u2nvinmtl** · 06-09-2016, 12:24 PM

I saw someone literally waterless washing their car (dry towel on dry paint without any products). That one takes the cake for me.

I saw someone else using Windex as quick detailer at a car show.

A lot of people lick/wet their finger and rub off bug`s/contamination.

People think they look cooler when the lean against my SRT, this one really pisses me off.

When I was a kid we would slide across the hood of my father`s friends Tans Am and Corvette like in the TV shows. We`d also jump over the door and into the drivers seat (with the T-top open and windows down). It was fun but in hindsight, I feel bad for the paint.

I see a lot of people on my street using their relatively dirty household mop buckets and plastic bristle brushes to wash their cars. These people also leave their cotton or shammy drying towel on the ground until they are ready to use it.

A Jamaican friend of mine literally fought with me to dry his car with his shammy from the trunk of his 1992 Lexus SC400 (the shammy was likely as old as the car). When I shook the towel it was so full of dust and dirt I couldn`t help but laugh. I might as well used my from doormat to dry the car. I put my foot down and told him to use it on a CD first and if it scratches then no go on the paint. That`s the only test that got it trough to him that it was going to scratch the paint.

Most people leave their rings, belt, necklaces, ect on while washing. I`ve tried pointing it out to people but they just don`t listen.

My mother always has her car keys in her hands when she gets in or out of the car and puts that hand on the A and B pillar. The drivers side of the car is full scratchs from her purses metal buckles scraping accorss the paint. The lid of the truck is exceptionally bad (she puts her perse down there). Where as the passangerside of the car is basiclly perfect (we car pool to work and I keep my side clean). Shes 64 years old and shes set in her ways, but it really gets me when she holds the keys in her hand and tries to get in my car. I stop her 3 feet short and ask her to put her keys in her pocket or purse. My friends think I`m an ass cuz they can`t tell a swirl from a squirrel.

Just a few ways I`ve seen a lot of damage occurs to cars paint.

**ca.detailchick** · 06-10-2016, 12:29 AM

Letting children in their vehicles.

**Bunky** · 06-10-2016, 05:21 AM

Going to back when I knew nothing...

Thinking any soap is good.
Pay attention to your wash and dry media ...they will tell you how well you are cleaning and rinsing
Using old rags and towels to wash and dry.
Learning that pre-rinsing well is key to a safer wash
Rubbing too hard in all aspects
Washing with one bucket of dirty water
Over applying products, then buffing them off poorly (usually streaks, etc), end up rubbing too hard to remove
Frequent clean is easy clean (Barry Meguiar quote)
Resist the temptation to touch paint when dry to remove spots

**Lonnie** · 06-10-2016, 07:23 AM

OK, this one will NOT sit well with a lot of do-it-yourselfer`s:
Trying to do some intricate and experienced-required skill aspect of detailing after watching a YouTube video, then thinking you can, too. (Like operating a rotary buffer on your new Mercedes or wet sanding your Corvette to get rid of the orange peel.)

Some things are better left to professional with the proper tools, chemicals, experience, and expertise/skill/aptitude.

That said, a lot of you fellow Autopians who are truly skilled and experienced vehicle detailers, professional and hobbyist alike, make a living (or side money) from those individuals who had their vehicle prepped or detailed by car dealer "hacks" and detailer "wanna-be`s" that bring their "mistakes" to you to correct (literally) or fix.

Some of the things done to vehicles I see from photos you fellow Autopians post are shocking, to say the least. What is more impressive is the turn-around and saves of these vehicles that you post of the before-and-after photos of your work. It is truly jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring, which photos cannot visibly do it justice. I tip my hat in gratitude and thankfulness to all of you who take the time to post your photos and type out your experiences with such vehicles, not necessarily to brag of your work, but to share it so we all can learn from it. You are an inspiration to me, personally, and I am sure to all fellow Autopians who frequent this forum.

**Migue** · 06-10-2016, 01:16 PM

Putting / resting their feet on kick panels or the panel/strip that covers the footwell carpet right before you exit vehicle. I catch my GF doing this all the time and it bothers me seeing footprints on it, not to mention all the scuff marks that come with it down the road.

**RaysWay** · 06-10-2016, 01:23 PM

Going thru the tunnel wash.

**4u2nvinmtl** · 06-10-2016, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Migue

Putting / resting their feet on kick panels or the panel/strip that covers the footwell carpet right before you exit the vehicle. I catch my GF doing this all the time and it bothers me seeing footprints on it, not to mention all the scuff marks that come with it down the road.

This is still a major issue for me because in the winter people kick the rocker panels with their heels to get the snow off their shoes before putting their feet in. My wife came up with a new way to de-snow her shoes before she puts her shoes/feet inside. She opens the door and sits down sideways in the seat (feet facing out) then clicks her heels three times (seriously she claps her shoes together and all the snow falls off) then she puts her feet on the weather tech mats.

Trying to explain this to another passenger is next to impossible. People just kick the heck out of my rocker panels, and the rocks we use for grip on the sidewalks destroy the paint (scratches so deep that they`re all the way down to the plastic).

I just stomp my feet before I get in and let the snow melt on the weather techs and just dump out the water once I park (zero issues doing it this way also).

**Accumulator** · 06-10-2016, 02:13 PM

4u2nvinmtl- My wife and I do it *exactly* the way your wife does (though we might do more/fewer than three).

I find it odd that you can`t get people to do things like that properly, I mean...sheesh, it`s *your* vehicle so it oughta be your rules even if they don`t get it for some reason. Though we do make exceptions for some of the more infirm elderly folks that Accumulatorette ferries about, when they can barely manage to get in/out of a vehicle we`re willing to make allowances.

**jtford95** · 06-10-2016, 03:26 PM

Letting the kids eat in the car. I think I found peanut butter and jelly on between the back seats and the side panels of my mini van when I bought it. Yes, it was detailed before I got it. Not vacuuming for a long time and telling me, " yea, it`s not that bad". This I love the most.

**Migue** · 06-10-2016, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by 4u2nvinmtl

This is still a major issue for me because in the winter people kick the rocker panels with their heels to get the snow off their shoes before putting their feet in. My wife came up with a new way to de-snow her shoes before she puts her shoes/feet inside. She opens the door and sits down sideways in the seat (feet facing out) then clicks her heels three times (seriously she claps her shoes together and all the snow falls off) then she puts her feet on the weather tech mats.

Trying to explain this to another passenger is next to impossible. People just kick the heck out of my rocker panels, and the rocks we use for grip on the sidewalks destroy the paint (scratches so deep that they`re all the way down to the plastic).

I just stomp my feet before I get in and let the snow melt on the weather techs and just dump out the water once I park (zero issues doing it this way also).

That`s how I do it always as well, click my feet and get on with it. Learned that little trick while being the head wash bay / "detail" guy at a body shop up in Virginia , moving freshly cleaned cars in all kinds of weather . That saved me from having to re vacuum many vehicles before delivery .