Dangers of Detailing a Car with a Cracked Car Window

It can be dangerous to do a detail job on a cracked car window. Obviously, if at all possible you should get your cracked car window fixed before attempting to detail the car. The possibility of broken glass is a danger to the person detailing the car. Also, if the glass breaks and shatters into the car, you will have another problem. It is very difficult to find all of the pieces of broken glass that have fallen into all the cracks and crevices of a car interior; if glass falls into the vents, it could cause functional damage to the car.

What Is Involved in Car Detailing

Detailing typically refers to a very thorough cleaning of both the exterior and interior of a car. Professional detailers really get into all the tiny spaces inside your car that are often missed during quick car washes. After a good car detailing, your car may look, feel and smell like it is brand new. It can take four to eight hours to clean a car this thoroughly. There is a lot of work involved, and also a lot of tools, such as a vacuum cleaner, brushes, canned air, upholstery cleaner and rags. With all of this equipment and movement, there are plenty of opportunities for a cracked car window to shatter.

Detailing the Interior of Your Car

It is wise to begin your detail on the interior. Scrub down the windows and the inside of the doors. Be sure you don't skip the door jambs. Remove any stains from the upholstery and then vacuum in thoroughly. Wipe down the steering wheel column, the center console, and the dashboard. If you must do all of this with a cracked car window, it would be wise to tape the windows first to avoid the chance of the window shattering.

Detailing the Exterior of Your Car

Use a soapy solution and water to wash the body of your car. Start with the roof and work your way down. Rise thoroughly with a hose. Use brushes for smaller, harder to reach areas that may need a bit more attention, like the headlights and side mirrors. Then move on to the wheels. Buy a tire washing solution from a car wash; clean and wipe the tires thoroughly. Once your whole car has been washed, dry it with a cotton cloth. Then carefully wax your car. Your last step is to clean the exterior windows with window cleaner. You will of course need to take special care with the cracked window. Do not apply much pressure.

Detailing a car is a lot of hard work, but it should be done every few months. This will keep your car healthy and may actually lengthen the life of your car, making it easier to sell when the time comes. Again, it would be wise to get a cracked window fixed before detailing your car. If you can't, though, take every precaution to prevent injury.