A full car detail covers all the non-mechanical components of our car such as our tyres and wheels, exterior paint and chrome trim and the car's interior.

Whether we are selling our car or simply wanting to restore the aesthetics of our vehicle, detailing our car can bring it to life in terms of its looks. But remember, it only covers the superficial aspects of our cars. It can make them look amazing but don't let the following inclusions fool us into thinking the car we're looking to buy is better than what it actually is. It's a makeover, not an indication of the quality of the car itself.

Particularly in the outback of Australia but even in our cities our cars can take a huge beating. Dirt, dust and grease collect on the surface of our car's paint and overtime these can eat into the paint and cause it to fade, chip and corrode.

In a full car detail, the exterior of our car is pressure washed to remove excess dirt and then hand dried. Sometimes a clay bar is used to remove embedded surface contamination that still remains after the initial wash. Lastly, a polish is applied to give the car a nice shine and remove any small scratches.

Aside from cleaning the exterior paint on our car, any exterior accents such as plastic, rubber and chrome are also restored during a full detail. Chrome trim is often added to a car around the door handles, windows, headlights and tail lights. It is used to customise a car and make it look more expensive than what it is worth. However when the trim gets dirty it loses its main purpose - to enhance the overall look of our car. A chrome trim is quite easy to clean and polish - and once complete - it rejuvenates the look of our car.

Overtime, so much dust and dirt collects in our wheels and tyres and they can become very difficult to remove on our own without the help of a professional. During a full service detail these blemishes will be removed and our hubcaps polished. Our tyres will be left looking shiny and new through applying a rubber sealer which as a bonus protects them from any future tough stains.

A full car detail will completely clean and refresh the interior of our car including the dashboard, the door interiors, under the seats and the entertainment console. After the clean, a sealant is applied to protect the interior from any future harsh spills and to give it a high-gloss sheen.

Our own vacuum cleaners are not enough to give our car seats and carpet a deep clean. During a car detail, special equipment is used to give our car seats and carpet a thorough shampoo and get rid of any odors and blemishes. If we have leather seats, different products are used to help clean the leather and protect it from stains and water damage.

Even if we regularly vacuum and clean the interior of our car, getting our car professionally detailed will do a much better job at removing deep stains and giving our car a new look. We also note that products are used during the detailing process to help protect the car against future stains, grime and dirt.

Understanding what goes into a full car detail will help us see the past the gloss and focus more on the performance of the car itself when assessing a used car to buy. A certified vehicle inspection is the only way to really know the quality of the car underneath the shine of a full car detail!

Happy glossing... (and seeing beyond it!)