Read some "details about detailing" below

Check out our Express Details as well here

Southland Auto Wash, recipient of the 2008 and again 2009 "Detailer of the Year" award in Wyoming, has the expertise to renew and protect your car.  There is no detailing job too big, too small, or too important.  Let us help you keep that car (or SUV, or motor home, or boat) clean, shiny, and new.

Stop in at our Wyoming location, and ask for the manager on duty.  Our team of managers are expert detailers, and can help you decide what's the best value for you.

> Clay Bar Prep - Very deep and safe cleaning to remove surface contaminants including tar, overspray, brake dust and metal stains - makes the paint look and feel new.  Lubricated clay will mold to every shape and remove contaminants from deep in the pores of the paint.

> Road Stripe Paint Removal - We can remove most yellow and white road paint from your car's paint safely and with no further damage.

> Spray Paint Removal - Did you park near a painting job and have paint overspray?  We have the tools and knowledge to remove it safely and completely.

> Odor Removal - with the use of an Ozonator, we are able to completely and permanently remove lingering odors such as smoke, pet odor, fire damage, and gasoline.  Thorough cleaning is required first to remove the source, then several hours of ozone treatment will neutralize the odor.  Pricing requires quote.

> Hand Washing - we offer a complete hand wash service for those exotic vehicles, wrong size to go through the wash vehicles, collector's cars, etc.

The Details about Detailing

Every car’s paint is exposed to contaminants each day while driving, parked, under trees, in construction areas, exposed to outdoor painting, or acid rain.

Every car has some accumulation of contaminants that are stuck to the clear coat.

Not all of these harmful contaminants are visible to the naked eye, but you can feel them, and when left untreated they will eat further into the paint.  A Michigan car which has been well cared for, including regular washing which includes under the car, along with periodic waxing and polishing, will maintain its value. 

When you look at used cars for sale, which ones catch your eye?  Which ones appeal, and which ones command the highest price?  Those that are clean, shiny, and have been well maintained.  Your car can be one of those that sells for retail or even  higher, if you keep it clean its whole life.

Removing the surface contaminants (road tar, hard water spots, paint overspray, brake pad/rotor dust, bug residue, iron dust) will greatly improve both the look and the health of your car’s paint.

Summer and fall are both excellent times to polish and protect the paint on your car in our climate.  Auto finishes soften in the hot sun and are more susceptible to airborne contaminants attaching themselves to the surface.

If you have a light colored vehicle, you will more easily see brake pad/rotor dust and iron dust particles, on the sides and rear of the car.

A professionally applied sealant will also protect your car through the harsh winter months, from salt, sand and the dirt trapped in snow and ice which attaches itself. 

Clay Bar Prep

We use detailing Clay for removing surface contaminants from paint finishes, glass, wheels, and trim.  Detailing Clay can be used on all surfaces without risk of damage to the paint.

Clay is used by hand on the surface of a freshly washed vehicle while using a special lubricating spray.  Since the clay molds to the surface of the car, it leaves an exceptionally smooth surface in even the hard to reach areas.

After claying and washing, the paint finish is ready for waxing, unless the painted surface also requires polishing to remove oxidation or light scratches and marks before waxing.

We suggest clay treatment once a year to keep your vehicle’s paint finish in excellent condition.

Polishing

The finish of your car needs to have certain oils present to keep a clean glossy look.  UV rays and smog can dry up these essential oils, and the result is a dull and flat finish (known as oxidation).

If you look at oxidized paint under a high powered microscope, you will see a surface that looks dry and cracked, and usually is first noticed on the hood or roof because of the excessive UV these flat areas are exposed to. The horizontal nature of these surfaces allows contaminants to lay on the surface.

Polishing refers to the restoration of gloss by removing contaminants, restoring valuable oils and smoothing the paint surface.  The professional polishing products that we use will remove very mild scratches and restore the paint by removing oxidation.

We apply cleaners and polishes with a safe and gentle orbital polisher, or a variable speed polisher.  Polishing should be done on an as needed basis.  This will vary depending upon the care and shelter your car receives.

Waxing & Paint Sealant

It was European coach builders that first applied coatings of animal fats and wax to protect the custom paint on their horse-drawn carriages.  This tradition has endured for over 100 years (although the products have improved) and is still a great way to protect the paint on modern-day "coaches".

The finish on your car, from the primer through the top clear coat, is only about .005 (five thousanths) of an inch thick.  Regardless of how fine the finish starts out, it will deteriorate and dull over time, and as a result of the conditions it endures.

Radiant and ultraviolet energy, acid rain, salt, atmospheric pollution, insect fluids and bird droppings wage a constant war on your car’s finish.

Waxing provides an easily renewable, transparent barrier between the finish and a hostile environment.  Waxing also makes your car, new or old, look better.

High quality car waxes combine enriching oils that "wet" the surface with protective formulas of Brazilian carnauba or modern acrylics and polymers for a high-gloss shine.

This brings us to the subject of selecting a wax. Waxes can be made from a natural wax, primarily Brazilian carnauba, or synthetically made of polymers and acrylic resins.

Carnauba Wax

Carnauba wax is a resin produced by the wax palm tree Copernicia Cerifera.

This tree grows in various parts of South America (mostly Brazil). It is nature’s hardest, purest and most transparent wax. 

Carnauba car waxes produce a deep, dark, rich shine that is often described as "three-dimensional."

Most car enthusiasts prefer the shine of carnauba wax, especially on black, red and other dark colors. 

Carnauba wax beads water nicely, absorbs the acid content in rain, and hides minor swirls in the paint.

Carnauba waxes are not nearly as durable as synthetic sealants, but will realistically provide a good looking finish for around 60 days.

Synthetic Sealants

Made from polymers or acrylic resins, synthetic sealants offer excellent durability. Synthetic sealants have been known to last 6 to 9 months or longer.

Southland Auto Wash features the premier Klasse line, All in One Polish and Glaze and High Gloss Sealant Glaze. 

We recommend Klasse High Gloss, because it produces an incredible end result.  When used with Klasse All in One Polish, the results are stunning!

And for the real car enthusiast, we offer the 3 step process after surface prep with Klasse All in One, then Klasse High Gloss Sealant, topped with a hand rubbed Black (for dark colors) or White Carnauba Wax.  This system produces the deepest and logest lasting shine, with true showroom "wet look" quality.

Shampooing, Steaming & Detailing Interiors

Carpets and mats take the brunt of the dirt that’s tracked in from the outside.

We offer individual mat shampooing, to periodically deep clean your carpeted mats, just as needed.  We also offer a complete carpet shampoo. 

Seats may be made of fabric, vinyl or leather. We can properly and safely clean any material.  In addition, the leather products we use will replenish the natural oils necessary to keep the leather new.

A Southland Auto Wash Super Clean is geared for the busy person who can spare 20 minutes for a thorough freshening up of the passenger areas, with emphasis on the driver compartment including tough to clean cup holders.

A full interior detail will include all the above plus thorough detailing of the dash, door panels, jambs and hinge areas.

At Southland we recommend that you wash your car often. Michigan’s climate and road conditions would suggest a weekly carwash.  We recommend our triple foam wax along with Hydro-Pel each time you wash at Southland.  This double online wax treatment provides extra cleaning and paint polishing to improve the shine, then seals a high quality paint protection to the exterior of the vehicle.

We also suggest that you have your car waxed at least twice a year, by hand or with an orbital buffer.

There are two primary options: One is to apply a carnauba wax (liquid or paste) which provides the best shine and appearance, and wears off gradually over a couple of months.  The other option is to apply a synthetic paint sealant, which may produce a little less shine than wax, but will last at least 3 times as long.

To help you decide if it’s time for a new coat of wax, watch the water "beading" on your hood in the rain.  If the water tends to form "sheets", or the water beads are an inch or larger in diameter, then a new wax job is a good idea.