What Happens During a Mobile Car Detail, Step by Step?

A mobile car detail starts with a quick call for your exact price, then we come to your home or office and clean the car on-site with our own water and power. Most inside-and-out details take 3.5 to 4 hours, and all you need to give us is a place to park next to your car.

If you've never had one done, it helps to know what you're paying for. Here's how a job usually goes with us, from the first call to the last payment. The exact work depends on the package you choose, so we've laid that out in a table further down.

Step 1: You get an exact price

Send the quote form or call us. The form asks four things: what the car needs, what you drive, when it was last detailed, and how the paint looks. We call back within minutes between 8am and 8pm with an exact price based on your vehicle's size and condition.

We confirm the price by phone because two cars of the same model can take very different amounts of work. Pet hair, stains and paint condition all change the time. Mention any of those on the call, along with musty smells, so the price fits the car.

Step 2: You pick a day and hold it with a deposit

Once you've got your price, you choose a day, and a 10% deposit holds your spot. The rest is due when the job is done.

Step 3: Get the car ready

You don't need to do much, but a few minutes the night before helps:

• Take out valuables, paperwork and anything you don't want moved.
• Empty the door pockets, cup holders and trunk if you want those areas cleaned.
• Pull out car seats if you can, so we can reach the fabric underneath.
• Make sure there's a place to park next to your car.

If you live in an apartment or a neighborhood with parking rules, check those ahead of time and tell us about it on the call.

Step 4: We arrive and set up

Our van is built for this work. It has onboard water, a generator, and hose reels for pressure, water and air. That means no hose hookups, no outlets, and no driving your car anywhere. We park next to the car and work from the van.

Step 5: The outside gets washed

For packages that include the exterior, the wash starts with a pre-wash to loosen dirt before anything touches the paint. Around here that first step matters, because winter leaves a film of road grime and grit that can scratch the finish if you rub it around.

Next comes the hand wash. We use the two-bucket method, which keeps one bucket for clean soap and one for rinsing the mitt, so grit goes into the rinse water instead of back onto your paint.

The wheels and tires get cleaned, the windows are done, and the car is rinsed and towel dried. Depending on the package, that may be where the outside ends, or it may go on to a coat of protection. The Premium Combo adds sealant, and our Premium and Recovery Wash & Seal services add a 3 to 6 month coating.

Step 6: The inside gets cleaned

An interior clean starts with vacuuming and a wipe-down. On our Plus and Premium packages it goes further:

• Steam on the plastics. Steam helps loosen grime on the dash, door panels and console.
• Extraction on fabric. A machine sprays cleaning solution into the seats or carpet and pulls it back out with suction, which takes out dirt a vacuum can't reach.
• Leather conditioning. Our Premium Interior includes this, along with extraction of the carpets, seats and mats.

Windows get cleaned as part of the job too.

Step 7: You check the car and pay the balance

When the job is done, take a look over the car and pay the balance. If your seats or carpets were extracted, they may feel a little damp at first. In a Washington winter, it's worth running the heat with the A/C on for a few minutes before you park it, so moisture doesn't stay trapped in the cabin.

What each package includes

These are starting prices, plus tax. We confirm your exact price on the call.

Ceramic coatings are a longer job and take most of a day, starting at $889 + tax for a 2 to 3 year coating on a sedan or mid SUV.

Where we work

We're based in Renton and come to homes and offices within 20 miles, including Kent, Bellevue, Newcastle, Issaquah, Sammamish, Maple Valley and Covington. Beyond 20 miles, travel is $1.25 per extra mile. Every detailer is a trained W-2 employee, not a contractor, and we carry general liability insurance.

To get the exact price for your car, send the quote form or call (425) 442-6132.