How do you detail?

[bates]

back bacon?

 

[aldive]

Interior Detail

I start my detail day with an interior detail. I am not striving for “show qualityâ€￾ appearance, just a very sanitary and orderly interior.

I divide the tasks into several parts:

1 Floor mats, cargo cover and carpet
2 Upholstery
3 Plastic trim
4 Vinyl trim and dash/center console covering
5 Instrument cluster, radio, AC controls and AC vents
6 Glass

I vacuum the floor with the mats in place first, then remove the mats and re-vacuum. While vacuuming, I do the seats also. After that I vacuum the rear cargo area with the cargo cover in place, then remove the cargo cover and re-vacuum the carpet. The Explorer’s carpet is in admirable condition; consequently all the cleaning I do is vacuum. The floor mats, after removal, are methodically shaken and once again vacuumed, and then they are shampooed with 303 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner. The cargo cover is scrubbed with 303 Aerospace Cleaner, allowed to dry, and then given a 303 Protectant treatment.

I use the vacuum to scrupulously clean the seats and the center console. The plastic parts on the console are given a 303 Protectant treatment. After the interior detail is accomplished, I use 303 High Tech Fabric Guard on the seats as well as the carpet and the floor mats.

All of the plastic trim in the Explorer is treated with 303 Protectant. After lingering on the plastic for 5 minutes, the excess is removed with a MF towel.

The steering wheel and interior vinyl trim is also treated with 303 Protectant as was as the plastic. The headliner is given the once over with the Swiffer Duster.

The instrument cluster in addition to all of the vents and controls are first cleaned with a Swiffer Duster and then the plastic instrument cluster cover is cleaned with Invisible Glass whereas the remainder is treated with 303 Protectant.

The interior glass is cleaned with Invisible Glass. I have tried virtually all the glass cleaners on the market, some home brews, and RO/DI water and now have settled on Invisible Glass. I buff the Invisible Glass off the windows with a Glass Wizard. I give the rear view mirror the same treatment.

The interior is kept smelling “new carâ€￾ like with an Ionic Breeze Dashboard Ionizer ( see http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120435&highlight=interior+odor ).

Materials used:
303 Aerospace Cleaner http://www.303products.com/main.php?infopage=products
303 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner http://store.yahoo.com/autopia/303-30551.html
303 High Tech Fabric Guard http://www.303products.com/main.php?infopage=fabricguard
303 Protectant http://www.303products.com/main.php?infopage=protectant
Invisible Glass http://store.yahoo.com/classic-motoring/9116.html
Swiffer Duster http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiffer/usenglish/products/dusters_hand.shtml
Glass Wizard https://www.drdynamics.com/products/glasswizard/?tag=15065
Ionic Breeze Dashboard Ionizer http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview/sku=SI737SNX/hppos=1

This is by no means the definitive way to detail the interior, it’s just the way that I do it and it works well for my requirements.

It takes a good hour to detail the interior. It’s a pleasure to drive a clean truck.

 

[Crankcase]

I never would have guessed the interior would be tan. That exterior color just seems like it would be matched to a Grey Int. Did you order your truck new Al?

 

[Bill Kemp]

Due to the MI winters and my love of a clean car I use the hated auto car wash in the winter. Each Spring I have to remove the swirls & scratches deposited in the paint by the car wash. For this I use Menzerna Intensive Polish w/a rotary buffer. Followed by Menzerna Final Polish w/an orbital buffer.( http://www.properautocare.com/meninpol.html ) Menzerna leaves no fillers so it is "Zaino friendly)
This is followed by a Zaino car wash and the Z5 w/FFX (two coats) followed by Z2 per the Zaino instructions.
Tires & wheels are cleaned w/ A to Z cleaner and tires get Meguiars Endurance (low shine type). Trim is shined w/Meguiars Trim Detailer.
Interior is cleaned w/a solution of Woolite & water and finished w/303 & Zaino Leather-in-a-Bottle.
Engine is cleaned at the quarter car wash & finished w/Mop & Glow.