Category: Auto Detailing Tips

Expecting Mothers…Beware!

9 months ago, my wife and I found out that we would be expecting our second child. As all parents know, there is a lot of preparation that takes place within those nine months. Car seats, nursery decor, doctor visits, the list goes on and on. One thing that is often overlooked is the cleanliness of your vehicle. Did you know that your car is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria? Check out this video! We get several requests per year from pregnant women interested in getting their cars cleaned prior to delivery but I believe that number would rise if people really knew how many germs are lurking inside of their cars. We pride ourselves in our commitment to only using eco friendly, plant-based products on all of our interior detail services. Not only are they great products but they don’t compromise the health of car owners just to get a nicely detailed car. But is simply spraying and wiping on plant based cleaners or any chemical for that matter going to ensure a germ free car? Probably not. We utilize a European steam cleaning machine. The steam reaches temperatures upwards of 300 degrees Fahrenheit which is know to kill germs and bacteria. With the combination of our safe eco friendly cleaning products and our steam cleaning system we can guarantee that your vehicle will be properly prepared for your new little bundle of joy. I know ours was… Here is my son, Ellis who was born at 6:10am Monday, January 27th

3 Easy Steps to Protecting your Car During the Winter

If you’re in Oklahoma you know the weather can be very unpredictable. Lately we’ve experienced freezing temperatures, in addition to snow and ice. To prevent us from these hazardous road conditions, companies apply salt and other chemicals to safeguard us from these unwelcome conditions. Unfortunately the chemicals used to protect us create a hazard to our vehicles finish.

Salt is a major cause and accelerate for rust, especially on the undercarriage of the vehicle. The vital, unseen components underneath your vehicle such as the braking system, steering components, suspension parts, metal frames including the wheels are essential for the safe operation of your vehicle. It can also cause premature damage to the painted surfaces if left on the vehicle for too long. Left unattended you may incur costly, unnecessary repairs. Let us show you how we can avoid these problems in 3 easy steps.

Have your car professionally detailed and protected prior to the winter season: Part of our winterization detail includes the application of a durable wax, sealant or ceramic coating that is applied to paint and wheels. We also perform a window treatment that increases vision and cuts down on wiper wear. The overall process provides a protective barrier between your vehicle and the elements.
Winter maintenance: Wash immediately, after the snow and ice melt. Preferably at a “touch less” car wash facility, equipped with an undercarriage rinse option. Timing is crucial because the mix of chemicals applied to streets, promote rust on your vehicle as noted above. As a result, you prevent build up that could damage essential mechanical parts underneath the vehicle. NOTE: With my years of experience in the automatic car wash industry, I’ve seen a lot of damage occur from drive through car washes. If you plan to go to an automatic carwash, only use the touch less wash! If brushes or foam strips come into contact with your vehicle, they will be carrying all of the salt and grime that they picked up from everyone else’s vehicles. I’ve seen this happen way too many times to count.
Protect your carpets on the interior of your vehicle: The easiest way to do this is to flip all of your mats upside down so that you aren’t tracking any moisture onto your carpets. This is crucial in the rainy seasons as well. It’s amazing how clean you can keep your carpets by simply turning them over. Consider buying mats or something to cover the heavy traffic areas in your carpets not covered by any mats, especially those who transport children with SUV’s. Also, fabric guard can be applied to prevent stains from occurring.

I hope this information helps to maintain your vehicle through the winter season. If you have any questions or need further advice, please leave your comments below or contact me directly at 918-955-7174 or DJ@EcoGreenTulsa.com. Happy New Years!

Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net

Is Your Auto Detailer Being Honest About the Products They’re Using?

In 2010 I decided to bring an eco friendly alternative to traditional auto detailing here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve used many different car care products in the past that have claimed to be eco friendly but being the detail oriented person (OCD is a better way to put it J) that I am, I had to know what ingredients were in the products. Biodegradable or eco friendly just didn’t cut it for me. I did not want to claim to use eco friendly products and not be able to disclose the ingredients if asked either.

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After some extensive research, we found Eco Touch. Unlike the overwhelming majority of auto detailing product manufacturers, Eco Touch reveals both the functional and scientific ingredients on their packaging and website. I’ve worked with many products and I can honestly say this is the first company that I’ve seen do this. Eco Touch was founded by two environmental entrepreneurs from Portsmouth, NH. Eco Touch products are now distributed in 20+ countries as well as online. They have also been featured in many prominent media outlets such as The National Geographic and The New York Times. Can you see why I am a proud partner and believer in Eco Touch? They are also a Green America certified business. I became such a believer in Eco Touch that I HAD to bring it to Oklahoma.

Now we have the confidence of saying we are a completely green company not just because we save 60+ gallons of water per cleaning and use companies that claim to be green, but because we know Eco Touch is the real deal! People may get the notion that just because these products are eco friendly and safe that they don’t work as good as the “strong toxic” cleaners. Well…Eco Touch says it best, “car care without compromise”. Take a look at the photos below and draw your own conclusion.

To take advantage of this great line give us a call and lets get these products in to your hands. One of my goals with Eco Green, is to change the auto detailing industry here in Oklahoma and get EVERY detail company, detail shop, and car enthusiast using green products or at least let them know that there are greener options. If you are car enthusiast or a professional detailer, give me a call.

Eco Touch…Car care without compromise.

DJ Patterson

Founder, Chief Certified Detailer

Tulsa, Oklahoma

www.EcoGreenTulsa.com

6 Things to Look for When Choosing a Detailing Company

Choosing a detailing company can be hard, almost like choosing a place to eat in a foreign area. In most cities the market is saturated with tons of detailers, but which one should you go to? In this article, I will give you 6 things to look for when choosing a detailing company.

1) Accreditations: Are they accredited by their local Better Business Bureau? To be accredited by the BBB, a business affirms that it meets and will abide by the following six standards: Build Trust, Advertise Honestly, Tell the Truth, Be Transparent, Honor Promises, Be Responsive, Safeguard Privacy, and our favorite Embody Integrity. You can find this on their website.

2) Reviews: This is a no brainer. What are others saying about them? Platforms like Angie’s List, Yelp, Google, Facebook and LinkedIn are great places to see how reputable detailing companies are.

Check out an email testimony that a client wrote us HERE!

3) Certifications: Ask the company if they have any certifications. I like to think that I’m the leader in my local industry, one of those reasons is because I’m certified by several organizations. Here at EcoGreen, I claim to be a green business because I use products that are green and use less than 500 gallons of water per year. It isn’t enough for me to just say that. I actually went through an extensive certification process through Green America to become a National Green Certified Company. I’ve also traveled the country and obtained several certifications in auto detailing and reconditioning. This billion dollar industry is changing rapidly and I’m all about investing in continuing education and passing my knowledge onto my team members.

4) Years in Business: There are lots of “fly by night” detailing companies that pop up every summer to try and get a piece of the pie. You may notice these companies putting out lots of “deals” on Living Social or Groupon during the summer seasons. Why choose a company that only wants to cash in during the busy season when you can go with a company or individual with lots of experience with running successful operations year after year.

5) Insurance: Any honest detailing company will tell you that accidents do to happen from time to time. So make sure that the detailing company you’re hiring is fully insured to protect themselves and you against any unfortunate events.

6) Appearance: Have you ever driven by a full service car wash and saw workers wearing whatever they pleased? A true professional company has a strict dress code. This dress code should say a lot about the way they do business. Dress code isn’t everything. A clean detailing truck or van says a lot about the company you’re working with. Would you hire a personal trainer that was overweight?

What do you look for when choosing a detailing company or ANY company for that matter? Leave your comments or feedback below.