There are many definitions as to what car detailing really is. To some, it is just wash and wax jobs, while to others, it involves not only the exterior but also the interior and engine as well. Evaluate Before Starting Before you begin detailing your car, try to evaluate first every aspect of it. Here are some guidelines as to what to inspect. Paint job: A car's paint is like a man's skin. A smooth feel will tell you that the paint is free of contaminants, while a rough feel may indicate a need for a good wash. Also check for minor scratches as these are to needed to be dealt with before applying wax.

Running the car through a service station car wash can add a lot more money to your gasoline bill every week - and it's a cost that seems totally unnecessary in summer. In fact, many car buffs have far more fun doing it themselves, insisting on a clean-and shine-regimen of their own.

We've all been told that a good wax job on your vehicle will protect the finish. Regular waxing will protect your automotive investment over time. Many car owners equate this regular waxing process to spending hours in the garage sweating over the car applying every ounce of elbow grease available. Not pleasant.

You've probably never paid that much attention to the bugs that splat on your windshield and front bumper every time you take a road trip. But, maybe you should. Dr. Mark Hostetler, a professor of wildlife and conservation and author of "That Gunk on Your Car: A Unique Guide to Insects of North America," calls himself a "splatologist" who has made a mission out of detecting bug guts.

At more and more shows we are approached by the average cruiser and car buff and asked about using a clay bar on your car to help clean and enhance the finish. It seems as though people think that using a clay bar is some sort of guarded detailer secret or trick and it is not supposed to be. Even though we at Jax Wax talk about it at shows and our many demonstrations at our shop many people still don't understand how it works or realize the time, effort and patience it will take to use a Clay Bar correctly.

The last time you purchased a vehicle, why did you buy a truck instead of a car? The draw was likely its functionality. Trucks handle better on long hauls, can tow pretty much anything, and offer enough space to transport lumber, garden supplies, furniture -- pretty much anything you may need to carry.

As many of you may already know the National Car Care Council some time ago named the month of April as "Car Care Awareness Month". As many of you also know I am one of the owners of Jax Wax and car care and vehicle maintenance is something, just as all car buff's, something that is near and dear to my heart.

Today many people take their cars to professional detailers for a good cleaning inside and out. But some people do not want to spend the money for a relatively easy job like cleaning and waxing a car. Or maybe your car just needs a little exterior TLC, not an entire detail. It will take some time, but is not a difficult or expensive chore to take upon yourself. So if you have the time, and the desire, wax your car yourself.

One of two things just happened here. Either you found an amazing deal on a used car that happens to be covered in a combination of bumper stickers, pinstripes, and/or window tinting or you're trying to cover up your former glory days that involved lots of concerts and rebelling against authority. Whatever the case, it's time to remove all the bumper stickers and see your vehicle in all its beauty as the manufacturer intended.

"It looks like new! I can't believe that car's seven years old!" Would you like to hear that from your friends? I'm sure all of us do, but keeping our car looking like the latest models is tough, even with today's longer-lasting finishes.