The distinction between “vehicle valeting” and “car detailing” has been increasingly blurred as the popularity of car detailing has grown. If Wikipedia is to be believed, there is no difference, and it is merely known by different names in different countries, such as car valeting in the Dublin and car detailing in the London.
However, the purpose of this blog post is to assist some people who are unaware of some of the differences from a professional standpoint, as well as to clarify my perspective, which is undoubtedly different from that of many others in the field.
So, what exactly is auto valeting?
Car valeting is the process of cleaning, polishing, and waxing a car to make it look like new and increase its resale value.
Cleaning the wheels and tyres, washing, polishing, and waxing the bodywork, treating the exterior plastics and tyres, polishing the brightwork, and polishing the glass are all common procedures.
Iron filings, industrial fallout, tar stains, and tree sap, among other pollutants, should be removed from the paint with a clay bar during the cleaning process. These contaminants cause the paint to feel harsh and diminish its appearance.
The exterior procedure uses a combination of chemicals, equipment, and accessories to reach difficult spots, remove as much soiling as possible, and leave the automobile in as close to showroom condition as feasible.
The dash, centre console, seats, carpets, baggage compartments, and vents would all be vacuumed before a range of chemicals and tools were used to wet clean any filthy areas such as upholstery, trim, carpets, and headlinings.
So, what exactly does ‘detail’ provide?
As you can see, auto valeting provides a thorough cleaning for your vehicle, resulting in a vehicle with a higher market value, a pleasure to drive, and a pleasure to look at.
So, what are your options? Things begin to blur at this point.
The primary difference, in my opinion, is the paint rectification/correction procedure used to make the paint seem its best, i.e. free of swirl marks, scratches, and other defects that detract from the overall aesthetic.
These are removed with a machine polisher, commonly a fixed rotary polisher, but on fragile paint or during the refining stage, a Dual Action polisher may be used.
This is paired with a variety of abrasive polishes and pads designed to remove imperfections, polish the surface, and provide a hologram- and swirl-free look.
I also feel that automotive detailing entails cleaning every surface of the vehicle, including the wheel’s inner rim. This necessitates the removal of certain components, such as wheels, to gain access to regions that would otherwise be inaccessible, such as suspension, arch liners, brake components, certain metalwork, and access to clean the wheel inner rim.
Personally, I believe that car detailing is more than just washing, claying, polishing, and waxing; it also includes cleaning regions that aren’t typically cleaned and mending damaged parts, such as paint repair or wheel refurbishment.
Cleaning the inner rim of the wheel is classified as detailing by some, but I personally clean the inner rim of the wheel on all of my valeting services since I believe it is an important aspect of properly cleaning a car.
I would change the detailing phase to include the removal of the wheel, for example, because it is vital to reach spots that are inaccessible while it is still on the car.
So, what’s the big deal?
The most common source of misunderstanding is when individuals mistake valeting for detailing. In truth, there will always be cheaper and lower-quality options in many aspects of life, and because auto valeting is such a popular service these days, some people will be eager to provide a low-quality, lower-cost alternative.
This is not to argue that all automobile valeting services are created equal. For example, the automobile valeting services I provide use the same processes, tools, and techniques as my and other car detailing services. The term is simply being utilised in a variety of ways.
Last Thoughts
Many people have come to equate car valeting and car detailing as two separate services, while in truth, they are still the same thing with various terms used by different countries due to the poor reputation of low-quality car valeting services accessible these days.
I believe some people classify detailing as certain processes, such as using snow foam, cleaning intricate parts, cleaning the inner rim of a wheel, using a clay bar, and so on, but I consider this to be part of cleaning/valeting rather than something that can be defined or refined by a simple term or name change. Adding to the confusion!
This isn’t to say that some car detailers are “just” car valeters, or that car valeters aren’t “car detailers,” but rather that I believe it’s the attention to detail that distinguishes the two services that have become separated in recent years and are offered, rather than a simple name change, and that simply changing the name between the two isn’t and shouldn’t be enough.
