Select Detail Newsletter

Car detailing is a professional service that goes beyond a basic wash, wax, and polish. A full detail cleans a vehicle both inside and out, including beneath the seats, wheel wells, and other areas that often get overlooked. It can also remove scratches, stains, and odors as well as protect the car from future wear and tear.

A car that looks its best will be more attractive to a dealer than a dirty one. If your car is covered in filth, has stained seats, or smells bad on the inside, consider getting it detailed before you trade it in. Your detailed car will make a good first impression, which can raise the chances of getting a better trade offer.

While many people think an occasional car wash is all they need, that's actually not the case. Detailing not only makes your vehicle look beautiful, but it also protects its paint and other surfaces from scratches and stains. This damage can reduce the life of your car and add up to costly repairs.

This depends on several factors, including how often you drive the vehicle, road conditions, and the climate in which it's driven. A detail will last much longer for cars parked inside a garage than on the street exposed to the elements. Generally, you should expect a detail to last at least a few months.

We do. Car detailing is typically done by a specialty shop, which can be independently run or part of a more significant business. Car detail shops are not the same as car washes, which often use a mechanical washing process that only cleans the outside of the vehicle. Detailers use professional products and equipment, and all their work is done by hand.

Many dealerships have a detailing department, but automotive experts generally don't recommend using their services. Dealerships tend to charge more for detailing than an independent shop. They can also have dirty or outdated equipment that may do your car more harm than good.

Yes, Select Detail offers mobile detailing services within a certain radius. Please contact us to see if we can come to your location.

Select Detail uses only high-quality, eco-friendly products that are safe for your vehicle and the environment.

The weekly or bi-weekly washing of your vehicle.  There are several ways that you can wash your vehicle. We provide traditional two bucket wash method, Rinse less wash methods and/or Waterless wash methods.

The cost of detailing services at Select Detail varies depending on the type and level of service required. Please contact us for a quote.

Almost anyone can detail their car with the right equipment; many think it is a challenging but rewarding experience. You'll need a variety of cloths, sponges, and brushes, as well as several types of cleaners for the car's interior and exterior. Other necessities include a vacuum cleaner, compressed air, wax, and UV protectant spray.

A full car detail cleans and restores the appearance of your entire vehicle. It includes:

• Paint cleaning, damage repair, and protection
• Cleaning and polishing of exterior trim, headlights, and taillights
• Cleaning and protection of tires and wheel wells
• Cleaning and protecting all glass surfaces and mirrors
• Washing and degreasing the engine bay (upon request for extra fee)
• Interior vacuuming, upholstery shampooing, and leather conditioning

A professional detailing shop can usually detail a car in three to six hours. The actual time it takes depends on your vehicle's size and how dirty it is. If you're detailing a car yourself, it can take a few days to do a full detail. A partial detail can be completed in about an hour or two. A full detail with ceramic protection will need up to 24 to 48 hours to cure. *Update: some ceramic protections can cure in as little as 4 hours! 

Tipping car detailers is not required, but it's customary to tip them as appreciation for a job well done. Consider tipping at a minimum of 10% to15%, or up to 20% for difficult jobs or a detailer who went above and beyond. However, some people choose not to tip independent detailers who are in business for themselves

Detailers can remove most smoke odors by deep cleaning the car's interior. This involves thorough vacuuming, wiping all surfaces, and brushing and shampooing carpets. Professional detailers also use ozone machines and powerful products designed to absorb and eliminate the smell of smoke.

Detailing is a reliable way to get rid of mold in a car. To do this, detailers will wash all of the car's surfaces and dry them thoroughly. Because mold needs moisture to survive, drying the car's seats, mats, carpets, and other surfaces is essential to remove it. Once the mold has dried, it can easily be scraped off.

Car detailers can fix most small scratches. Some detailers use a wet sanding technique to smooth out the area around the scratch, although this removes the car's UV-protective coating, so it's not the ideal method. Detailers prefer to use small amounts of touch-up paint to cover tiny scratches. Large scratches and deep gouges usually require a body shop to remove. 

Parking your car in a garage or under a carport is the best way to keep it clean after a detail, or you may consider getting a decent car cover on Amazon. Even if you can't do this, regular cleaning and maintenance goes a long way. Keep the car free of debris by hand washing. DO NOT run your car through an automatic car wash as they use harsh chemicals and will add micro-scratches to your car's paint. Seats and carpets can be kept clean with a brush or vacuum. Use a quality wax or polish to lock in the paint's shine.

Whether a detailing includes shampooing seats depends on the company and detailing package you choose. Some include shampooing as part of a basic package, but many companies will charge extra. If shampooing doesn't come with your chosen package, it can cost an additional $50 or more.

If you can keep the car maintained and it doesn't get dirty often, detailing it once or twice per year is usually enough. Many car enthusiasts get a detail done every two to three months so their vehicle can look new all year long.

There's no degree required to get a job detailing cars, but ideally, you should have a high school diploma and some essential experience with automotive maintenance. Taking auto shop classes, either in high school or community college, may also help you land a job. Starting your car detailing business is more complex. You'll need to buy equipment, have liability insurance, and pay for tool maintenance, among other expenses.

On average, car detailers make about $14 per hour or $29,400 per year. This figure can be higher or lower for detailers who work for themselves. Earnings vary by company, location, and employee experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top-paying states for this profession are the District of Columbia, North Dakota, and New York.