Todd@RUPES
Just a regular guy
I remember early on in my career as a professional detailer I would be so focused on polishing the paint that I was guilty of over looking some of the details. It was a case of seeing things through my eyes instead of seeing them through my clients eyes...
Clean, polish, and seal the driver's side door handle- Taking a quality polish and applying it by hand, then applying a quality sealant underneath (both sides of the door handle) takes less then two minutes. Other than the steering wheel and shifter, the door handle is what your client's will feel most. Removing (or reducing) and nail scratches, and providing a slick feel to the door handle will go a long way towards creating the impression of something 'more'. Your client may not know exactly what you did and the difference may not be noticeable (they may never stop and say "wow this door handle feels slick" but subconsciously it creates the impression of quality and thoroughness. If you are doing a quick wash and wax style detail and on a quick time crunch, use an all-in-product under the door the door handle to help improve the gloss and reduce nail marks.
Clean the exterior keyhole on the driver's side- If the door has a key hole it is likely covered with grease from operation. An all-purpose cleaner and a q-tip will make quick work of this. I have seen cars that have been detailed for 20-30 hours that still have grease in the key hole. It's just one of those things that is easy to ignore but can make a subconscious impact on a client, particularly if they have had their car's detailed by other people.
Clean the pedals- If you are doing interior work, even if it is just a vacuum and wipedown, take the extra minute and clean the gas and brake pedals thoroughly (clutch pedal as well if applicable). An all purpose cleaner, a brush, and a towel are all that is needed to do a good job. Again this is something that many detailers overlook, even when doing full interior details. Customers see their pedals every day, and they may not notice they are dirty (there is a chance they may not notice you cleaned them) but it adds to presentation of quality.
Go crazy on the steering wheel, interior door handle, and shifter- This one may not apply for all jobs as it isn't a quick minute fix like the other ones, but if you are doing more then just a wipe down on the interior spend the extra time on any surface the customer feels often. If it is a leather wrapped wheel clean the leather thoroughly. If the steering wheel features wood grain, plastic, or carbon fiber give it a coat of sealant to make it slick. Apply a little sealant to the interior door handle (if it is metal of faux-metal) to make it slick. Make sure the shifter is cleaned and dressed appropriately.
Clean the mirrors on the sun visors- The mirrors on the visors are not frequently used but still get film on them. Making sure they are clean, in the case they are used, will make a big impression. Also come clients, particularly those who wear make up, may use the visor mirrors frequently.
Those are some tips and tricks I have used, I would love to hear some from you guys.
Clean, polish, and seal the driver's side door handle- Taking a quality polish and applying it by hand, then applying a quality sealant underneath (both sides of the door handle) takes less then two minutes. Other than the steering wheel and shifter, the door handle is what your client's will feel most. Removing (or reducing) and nail scratches, and providing a slick feel to the door handle will go a long way towards creating the impression of something 'more'. Your client may not know exactly what you did and the difference may not be noticeable (they may never stop and say "wow this door handle feels slick" but subconsciously it creates the impression of quality and thoroughness. If you are doing a quick wash and wax style detail and on a quick time crunch, use an all-in-product under the door the door handle to help improve the gloss and reduce nail marks.
Clean the exterior keyhole on the driver's side- If the door has a key hole it is likely covered with grease from operation. An all-purpose cleaner and a q-tip will make quick work of this. I have seen cars that have been detailed for 20-30 hours that still have grease in the key hole. It's just one of those things that is easy to ignore but can make a subconscious impact on a client, particularly if they have had their car's detailed by other people.
Clean the pedals- If you are doing interior work, even if it is just a vacuum and wipedown, take the extra minute and clean the gas and brake pedals thoroughly (clutch pedal as well if applicable). An all purpose cleaner, a brush, and a towel are all that is needed to do a good job. Again this is something that many detailers overlook, even when doing full interior details. Customers see their pedals every day, and they may not notice they are dirty (there is a chance they may not notice you cleaned them) but it adds to presentation of quality.
Go crazy on the steering wheel, interior door handle, and shifter- This one may not apply for all jobs as it isn't a quick minute fix like the other ones, but if you are doing more then just a wipe down on the interior spend the extra time on any surface the customer feels often. If it is a leather wrapped wheel clean the leather thoroughly. If the steering wheel features wood grain, plastic, or carbon fiber give it a coat of sealant to make it slick. Apply a little sealant to the interior door handle (if it is metal of faux-metal) to make it slick. Make sure the shifter is cleaned and dressed appropriately.
Clean the mirrors on the sun visors- The mirrors on the visors are not frequently used but still get film on them. Making sure they are clean, in the case they are used, will make a big impression. Also come clients, particularly those who wear make up, may use the visor mirrors frequently.
Those are some tips and tricks I have used, I would love to hear some from you guys.
