Streamlining the "Full Interior Detail"

[Ted S.]

Ok, so a few of the members were discussing the time it takes to do a full interior in a thread. That being said, the member that started this thread posting his process, here is the link:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/35411-how-long-full-interior-detail.html

The idea of this thread is to compile the best info from the best minds and come up with a standardized process to do full interiors with the tools available to the detailer(because not everyone has every tool).

I, too, take forever to do interior details, but I am new to this stuff. If we can all come up with a fail proof method of addressing a full interior detail, we may all learn something valuable.

Lets not concentrate on the products used but the basic process itsself. For example:
1. Clean up trash
2. Vacuum headliner>seats>carpet.
3. Clean headliner>seats>dash>console(s)>doors>carpet.
4. Clean mats.
5. Dress all trim from the top down.
6. Spot vacuum once more.
7. Windows
8. Threshholds(door jambs).

4

 

[Ted S.]

:bump:

 

[JonMiles]

Ok, so a few of the members were discussing the time it takes to do a full interior in a thread. That being said, the member that started this thread posting his process, here is the link:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/35411-how-long-full-interior-detail.html

The idea of this thread is to compile the best info from the best minds and come up with a standardized process to do full interiors with the tools available to the detailer(because not everyone has every tool).

I, too, take forever to do interior details, but I am new to this stuff. If we can all come up with a fail proof method of addressing a full interior detail, we may all learn something valuable.

Lets not concentrate on the products used but the basic process itsself. For example:
1. Clean up trash
2. Vacuum headliner>seats>carpet.
3. Clean headliner>seats>dash>console(s)>doors>carpet.
4. Clean mats.
5. Dress all trim from the top down.
6. Spot vacuum once more.
7. Windows
8. Threshholds(door jambs).

4

That process isn't bad.

My process uses 3 different vacuum attachments for working.
1)Pick up all the stuff in the car and box it for the customer to do what they please with it.
2)Put on the soft dusting brush attachment and pick up the loose stuff from the dash, doors, seats, trim etc.
3)Grab the crevice tool and hit all the crevices.
4)Claw attachment for larger areas.
5)APC+ wipedown of everything hard (vinyls,leather,plastics), folex on everything fabric/carpet.
6)Scrub carpets, extract
7)Dress everything with UIGP
8)Windows

I probably missed something, but my interior details hardly ever take longer than about an hour and come out very nicely. If necessary due to heavy crud, I'll replace the APC wipedown with a deep clean with tornador or by steam. I just feel that an APC wipedown is sufficient for most cars as long as they are not too nasty.
2

 

[Kristopher1129]

I have a definite system for interiors.

-Air gun between, under, and around seats and tracks. Also in tight spaces to bring most the debris to the floor
- vac
- clean seats
- prep carpet, scrub and extract carpet, and mats
- magic sponge all trouble spots, and APC all vinyl
- Tornador for dressing
- Leather conditioner (if needed)
- inside windows
- final vac

Works every time. :dblthumb2:

 

[D_Nyholm]

Well, my process goes like this:
1.) Clean up loose trash and remove floormats from the car
2.) vacuum carpets (and removed floormats), seats, cracks, rubber on door jambs
3.) spray cleaner on carpets (and floormats) to treat stains and dirt.
4.) scrub dirty areas to release dirt with a wet brush
5.) vacuum to remove all released dirt
6.) starting on drivers side, scrub leather seats, door panels, and dash
7.) work my way around to drivers rear, passenger front, passenger rear.
8.) dress vinyl and leather and clean up excess water and dirt that may come to the surface
9.) return mats to car at end up detail (after the polishing of the outside) to give them extra time to dry if they were extremely dirty).
10.) clean windows and polish any wood/carbon fiber/painted areas.

It usually takes me about 2 hours to do this process by myself.

 

[Flash Gordon]

Well, my process goes like this:
1.) Clean up loose trash and remove floormats from the car
2.) vacuum carpets (and removed floormats), seats, cracks, rubber on door jambs
3.) spray cleaner on carpets (and floormats) to treat stains and dirt.
4.) scrub dirty areas to release dirt with a wet brush
5.) vacuum to remove all released dirt
6.) starting on drivers side, scrub leather seats, door panels, and dash
7.) work my way around to drivers rear, passenger front, passenger rear.
8.) dress vinyl and leather and clean up excess water and dirt that may come to the surface
9.) return mats to car at end up detail (after the polishing of the outside) to give them extra time to dry if they were extremely dirty).
10.) clean windows and polish any wood/carbon fiber/painted areas.

It usually takes me about 2 hours to do this process by myself.

This exactly ^ Accept I clean the windows before doing the dressing

 

[mcpp66]

I have a definite system for interiors.

-Air gun between, under, and around seats and tracks. Also in tight spaces to bring most the debris to the floor
- vac
- clean seats
- prep carpet, scrub and extract carpet, and mats
- magic sponge all trouble spots, and APC all vinyl
- Tornador for dressing
- Leather conditioner (if needed)
- inside windows
- final vac

Works every time. :dblthumb2:

Air gun? What are you using?

 

[Kristopher1129]

Air gun? What are you using?

Any kind of air gun attachment. I have two, the shorter "gun" style, and one with a much longer barrel for tight spaces or mainly the space between the seat and console.

I can't imagine doing an interior without them. Really cuts time in half.

 

[mcpp66]

But what does the attachment attach to? I wonder if I could safely use my metro master blaster in this fashion?

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Any kind of air gun attachment. I have two, the shorter "gun" style, and one with a much longer barrel for tight spaces or mainly the space between the seat and console.

I can't imagine doing an interior without them. Really cuts time in half.

Agreed. Only two things I would add are:

1) Always look under the seat or between the seat and console before blowing stuff out. You don't want any sharp objects flying at you -- more than once I've found insulin syringes or sewing needles in those areas.

2) For the same reason, wear eye protection. Dirt and dust can fly around pretty good under the influence of compressed air.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

But what does the attachment attach to? I wonder if I could safely use my metro master blaster in this fashion?

I believe Kris is referring to the type that hook up to an air compressor. Something like this:

You sure could use your metro blaster for that purpose if you attach a small nozzle to the end of the hose.

 

[Ted S.]

My process was just a sample to get an idea of what I was looking for. I am going to have to evaluate responses a few times tomorrow morning or evening, and try and create a good compilation.

I'm now interested in looking into the air compressor ideas, also. I've seen Kris and some others use them on interiors before, but never considered using them myself.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I'm hoping ideas keep flowing through this thread so we can come up with a well defined industry standard for full interior details. Hopefully this standard will become an invaluable foundation for everyone getting into, and even those currently involve in car details.
:thankyousign: :thankyousign: :thankyousign: :thankyousign: :thankyousign: :thankyousign: :thankyousign: :thankyousign:

 

[maximus20895]

Any more suggestions?

Doing two tomorrow!

 

[AeroCleanse]

1) Pull out the mats
2) Vacuum
3) Clean everything with the Tornador
4) Mist the carpets with (Gtechniq W2 at carpet cleaning strength)
4) Scrub carpets
5) Wipe up residue with a terry cloth towel
6) If needed repeat step 4, then steam
7) Re-vacuum as needed
7) Dress

Steam can be switched out in place of the Tornador

 

[Ted S.]

Using a hard bristle brush as much as necessary seems to work pretty good.:xyxthumbs:

 

[Bunky]

This exactly ^ Accept I clean the windows before doing the dressing

I always do windows after dressings since I end up getting something on the glass.

 

[daves120]

For those that use an extractor, whcih one would you recommend. Today, for the first time, I ran into carpet so bad that my steamer would not work. Also, the steamer broke and have decided to add an extractor. All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I normally use Folex and OPC diluted 3:1. Also have DP total interior cleaner and Ultima shampoo gel.

 

[WindyCity]

For those that use an extractor, whcih one would you recommend. Today, for the first time, I ran into carpet so bad that my steamer would not work. Also, the steamer broke and have decided to add an extractor. All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I normally use Folex and OPC diluted 3:1. Also have DP total interior cleaner and Ultima shampoo gel.

I would go with the mytee hp60, i LOVE mine, however it is big so if you are mobile you will probably need a trailer, also it draws ALOT of power so you will need a generator or something because using the customers power will constantly blow their circuits.

 

[ALLN1WASH]

My process is similar to a lot of the ones already listed, but still some differences that some might find helpful.

1. Open all doors and remove and bag all trash and personal belongings.
2. Romove all floor mats and set aside for later.
3. Tornador all hard surfaces( plastics, vinyls, dash, cup holders, interior post, door panels, etc.)
4. Back to the dash, cleaning the air vents once more with brushes and air gun.
5. Air gun again, blowing crack/crevices/ and under seats.
6. Soft brush attachment and vacuum door panels, and dash.
7. Thorough vacuum of all headliners, seats, carpets and floor matts.
8. If the vehicle has leather seats, this is where I clean them. If not, I go ahead and treat and stains on headliner, cloth seats, carpets and matts.
9. Pre treat any/all cloth seats/carpets and extract.
10. If there were leather seats, this when I usually condition them. If not, I go straight to conditioning/protecting all hard surfaces with an interior detail spray.
11. Final vacuum.
12. Interior windows.

 

[daves120]

At this time I just work out of my house. However, my business is starting to pick up and want to maximize my money when purchasing as extractor. I do like the specs on the HP60 but it is quite a bit of money. Anyone else like to chime in on the type of extractor they use?