Could somebody in the know please answer the above ?

My perhaps ignorant view is that detailing is a lengthy process, going into virtually every nook and cranny of the car, using various different substances, to get the best possible result next to perfection.

I get the impression that lots of people who post saying something similar to "this is my first detail", actually mean that they've cleaned the car and polished it afterwards.

I come into the latter category, and wouldn't dream of saying that I'd 'detailed' my car.

Is there something drastically basic that I am overlooking ?

If there is - I'll get my coat

Nope, you've pretty much got it

all I can say is my car is often cleaned and cleaned and polished a little less often.

turtle wax car shampoo, autoglym ultra deep shine polish, halfords window cleaner or a household one... and tesco value furniture polish on the wheels :eek: ...... and at shows meg's tyre dressing...... interior regularly hoovered and plastics wiped with a damp leather..... oh and the vRS seats.... cleaned when required with ProShine spray and clean.

I will leave it to others to 'detail' their cars and continue my 'bloody good cleans'!!!

Rob

I think the sort of thing that Baker21 does is 'detailing'.

There is a massive difference between polishing and waxing for instance (OP take note!). The use of a glaze under a sealant or wax can make a massive difference and there is no doubt that some of the paint correction that is done is much more than the average 'bloody good clean and polish' could achieve.

I do agree that a lot of folks just give their car a wash and wax, photograph a deep reflection and then call it a detail. But if you look at the work that the true, professional, detailers are doing to cars (often involving taking out minor dents, scratches and stone chips) then you are into detailing as it should be.

I don't mean to demean anyone else's efforts, and my car is pretty shiney and I've got a garage full of chemicals and the kit to apply them, but I'm not a detailer, and neither are most of the other people posting photographs of well-waxed metal on here.

So, to answer the OP's question - one is a professional job carried out by a craftsman and the other is a bloody good wash and (usually) wax.

I think the sort of thing that Baker21 does is 'detailing'.

There is a massive difference between polishing and waxing for instance (OP take note!). The use of a glaze under a sealant or wax can make a massive difference and there is no doubt that some of the paint correction that is done is much more than the average 'bloody good clean and polish' could achieve.

I do agree that a lot of folks just give their car a wash and wax, photograph a deep reflection and then call it a detail. But if you look at the work that the true, professional, detailers are doing to cars (often involving taking out minor dents, scratches and stone chips) then you are into detailing as it should be.

I don't mean to demean anyone else's efforts, and my car is pretty shiney and I've got a garage full of chemicals and the kit to apply them, but I'm not a detailer, and neither are most of the other people posting photographs of well-waxed metal on here.

So, to answer the OP's question - one is a professional job carried out by a craftsman and the other is a bloody good wash and (usually) wax.

Very well put...... could not agree more.

about 15 hrs by the sound of it ,

I thought that to the normal person the difference was detail.

I would never use a special treatment on the glass, never clean my wheels, other than to blast them with a jet wash, never take out my mats and hoover under the seats, never, ever clean my boot let alone clean out the spare wheel well.

Never do most things but on Saturday I did all that.

I suppose that does count as a bloody good clean though.

a good clean i guess is a bucket of water over the car, wash off and turtle wax and hoover inside. Detail is spending all hours of the day on the car removing scratches and dirt and working on each panel till you get the result you want and not have a time limit of 1 hour to do the whole car.

To me, detailing is repairing the damage that washing does.

I've never actually "detailed" something as I'm too scared! But I do give my cars a damm good wash and wax on the very rare occasions that I've got the full day this will take.

I have to admit I wash mine the same way as Simon (Baker21) did and it may get a quick wax now and again ......but not sure if I have the time to do everything.

UDM vs Skoda Octavia MK2 Estate......... - Detailing World

To me, detailing is repairing the damage that washing does.

Yep this is what it means to me too.

I guess the next step up to detailing is restoration!

the same difference between SWMBO saying 'ah you cleaned the car' to 'are you still f****** out there? How long does it take to clean a f****** car???'

HTH

What's the official difference between a bloody good clean and polish and 'detailing'

A few hundred quid :P

the same difference between SWMBO saying 'ah you cleaned the car' to 'are you still f****** out there? How long does it take to clean a f****** car???'

HTH

Are you married to my wife ????? :confused:

the same difference between SWMBO saying 'ah you cleaned the car' to 'are you still f****** out there? How long does it take to clean a f****** car???'

HTH

It doesn't matter how long I've been out in the garage with the Kestrel, mine just says - come and have a look at this new dress/shoes/handbag I've bought.

A few hundred quid :P

Got to laugh at that reply............

Detailing is when you end up cleaning the back of your alloys with an old tooth brush

I'd argue if you dry your car after washing it, you're on the road to detailing...

Also you're bordering on becoming a detailer if you get a tear in your eye when you see people queuing for car washes...

Any use of cotton buds, engine bay cleaning, rear of alloys, door shuts. There is washing, detailing, and OCD

the same difference between SWMBO saying 'ah you cleaned the car' to 'are you still f****** out there? How long does it take to clean a f****** car???'

HTH

This sums it up for me, Ive had some blazing aguments because I'm 'cleaning' my car...again! SWMBO just does'nt get it but I dont hear her complaining when I clean her car!

in all honesty though I'd say a 'detail' is to do with paint correction. You think your car is clean until you start looking at some of the details on DW etc

I guess there's only one way to sort this out:

Someone gives their car a "bloody good clean" until they are happy with it and provides photographic evidence.

Baker can then turn up and show them what you can acheive with hundreds of pounds worth of chemicals and even more hard work and time (oh and the infamous detailing buddy )!!

Fancy the challenge Baker - as it so happens i've just finished a single bucket wash, with a sponge, using fairy liquid, on my never waxed or polished Octavia.

I am of course joking.........

....I drive a Fabia!

I guess there's only one way to sort this out:

Someone gives their car a "bloody good clean" until they are happy with it and provides photographic evidence.

Baker can then turn up and show them what you can acheive with hundreds of pounds worth of chemicals and even more hard work and time (oh and the infamous detailing buddy )!!

Fancy the challenge Baker - as it so happens i've just finished a single bucket wash, with a sponge, using fairy liquid, on my never waxed or polished Octavia.

I am of course joking.........

....I drive a Fabia!

Now that does sound like a challenge............

Most interesting would be to half and half the same car one side detailed, the other side 'murdered' :P:rofl:

the same difference between SWMBO saying 'ah you cleaned the car' to 'are you still f****** out there? How long does it take to clean a f****** car???'

HTH

Ah, you've met mine too, it seems !

Isnt detailing when you use one of those electric polishers and compound to get rid of swirl marks as part of the process? I think if you leave this step out then its just 'cleaning' , IMHO of course.