Car Care & Detailing
Car Care & Detailing brings together everything for the full wash–prep–protect workflow and workshop consumables. For day-to-day maintenance, browse Car Cosmetics; for refinishing and touch-ups see Automotive Paints; and for bonding, sealing and threadlocking rely on proven Loctite Products.
Brief summary + key benefits
Detailing aims to clean, correct and protect vehicle surfaces. A structured sequence—pre-wash, contact wash, decontamination, inspection and protection—minimises marring and delivers durable hydrophobics. This category also covers paints for refinishing and adhesives/sealants for reliable assembly.
Technical basics
Preparation: foam pre-wash loosens grit; a slick contact wash with a soft mitt reduces friction. Chemical decon (iron/tar) and mechanical clay restore smoothness. A panel wipe removes residues to ensure maximum bonding of waxes, sealants or coatings.
Protection & care: waxes offer warmth; sealants add longer durability; ceramic coatings provide top-tier chemical resistance and water behaviour. For the cabin, APCs, fabric/leather cleaners and dedicated dressings restore a clean OEM look—see Car Cosmetics.
Refinishing: for stone-chips and cosmetic parts use Automotive Paints. Components exposed to heat (exhausts, callipers, engine covers) require Heat-Resistant Paints with proper curing cycles.
Assembly reliability: threadlockers secure bolted joints; retaining compounds and sealants fill gaps and prevent leaks—choose by substrate and temperature. See Loctite Products.
Selection criteria
Task-driven: exterior/interior care → Car Cosmetics; cosmetic repair → Paints; high heat → Heat-Resistant Paints; bonding/sealing → Loctite.
Compatibility: match chemistry to substrate (plastic-to-plastic needs flexible impact-resistant bonds; metal-to-metal must consider corrosion and thermal expansion). With paints, observe primer/top-coat compatibility and proper flash/cure times.
Safety: work in shade on cool panels, respect dilutions/contact times and wear PPE.
Application & maintenance
Flow: pre-wash → contact wash → iron/tar removal → clay → panel wipe → protection (wax/sealant/coating) → maintenance. Maintain with pH-neutral washes and periodic quick toppers.
FAQ
When do I need heat-resistant paint? Where continuous high temperatures exist—exhausts, brake callipers, engine parts.
Wax vs coating? Wax for quick warmth, coating for maximum longevity and resistance.
Which Loctite strength? Medium for serviceable joints, high for permanent—always follow the TDS.
How to reduce wash marring? Pre-wash, two-bucket method and plush microfibres.
