How to prepare your car for a detail.
You do not need to clean your car before a detail. Take out your personal things, tell us about anything we should know, and for a mobile visit make sure our van can park within about 20 feet of the car. That is it. Here is the short checklist.
Before any appointment
- Take out your things. Glovebox, center console, door pockets, sun visors, trunk. Anything valuable, and anything you would not want moved.
- Remove child seats if you want the seat and the floor underneath cleaned.
- Tell us what matters most. A spill, a smell, pet hair, a stain you want looked at, a scratch on the paint. Text it when you book, with a photo if you can.
- Mention anything fragile or aftermarket: a wrap, ceramic coating, PPF, a matte finish, a loose trim piece. It changes the products we use.
For a mobile detail
- A space for the van within about 20 feet of the car: a driveway, the street out front, a parking spot nearby.
- Permission from the property if the car is in an apartment complex, condo lot or shared garage.
- No water or power needed. The van carries both.
- Access to the car. You do not have to stay once we have the keys or the car is unlocked and we know where it is.
For a shop appointment
- The shop is at 3425 Ettie St, Oakland. Short jobs can be waited out in the waiting room; longer ones are a drop-off.
- Paint protection film, window tint and film accents are shop-only, because dust ruins film. Plan on dropping the car off.
- For window tint, plan on leaving the windows up for 3 days afterward.
After we are done
- Look the car over, in daylight if you can, and text us if anything is off.
- Keep it nice longer with a hand wash every two to three weeks. The how often to detail guide has the schedule.
Not booked yet? Pick your service and car, or see what is included in each detail. Questions: text (628) 212-2001.
FAQ
Should I clean my car before a detail?
No need to clean it, that is our job. Do take out your personal things: anything in the glovebox, console, door pockets and trunk you want to keep track of, plus car seats if you want them cleaned underneath.
Do I need to be home for a mobile detail?
No, as long as we have access to the car: the keys or the car unlocked, and we know where it is parked.
Do you need my water or power?
No. Our vans carry their own water and power, so you do not need a hose or an outlet.
Can you detail my car in an apartment or condo lot?
Usually, yes, if the van can park within about 20 feet of the car and the property allows it. If it is a shared garage or a managed lot, check with the building first. If space is tight, the Oakland shop is the easy option.
Should I remove the car seats?
If you want the seat and the floor under it cleaned, yes, please take child seats out before we arrive.