The process
Step by step. Done by hand.
Every car gets the same careful sequence. Tier just decides how far we go. Here's exactly what happens when I show up.
1. Setup
I park in your driveway and lay out the two-bucket kit (wash + rinse, both with grit guards), foam cannon, microfiber towels (sorted by job, color-coded), pH-balanced soap, and any tier-specific gear. I need an outdoor spigot, an outdoor outlet (or garage outlet), and a spot in the shade.
2. Pre-rinse + foam soak
Foam cannon soak loosens dirt before any contact. Sits about 5 minutes. Rinse off with a strong but not harsh pressure.
3. Two-bucket hand wash
Mitt goes into the soap bucket, washes one panel, then gets rinsed in the second bucket against the grit guard before going back in for soap. This is the difference between a real hand wash and a tunnel wash that scratches your paint.
4. Dry
Fresh microfiber, no water spots. Wheels and tires dried separately so nothing crosses over.
5. Iron decontamination Essential + Premium
Spray-on iron remover dissolves brake-dust and rail-dust particles embedded in the paint. Rinse. Without this step, sealant or polish would just lock those particles in.
6. Clay bar pass Premium
Clay lubricant + clay bar on each panel to lift bonded contaminants the iron remover can't get. Paint should feel like glass after this.
7. Single-stage cut and polish Premium
Hand-applied compound and polish, one panel at a time, with inspection lighting to check the swirl pattern. This is the step that brings back oxidized paint and removes light scratches. I work by hand. If anything needs a machine, I quote it before I touch it.
8. Ceramic spray sealant Essential + Premium
Real spray sealant (not the supermarket detailer-spray version). Beads water, typically lasts 3 to 4 months depending on weather and washes, protects against UV, road salt, and bird-drop etching.
9. Tires, jambs, plastic trim
Tire dressing applied with a clean foam applicator (not sprayed, which slings everywhere). Door jambs wiped. Plastic trim refreshed where it needs it.
10. Interior (if you picked it)
Vacuum: seats, floor, trunk, mats out. Wipe-down: dashboard, console, door panels with a microfiber and pH-balanced interior cleaner. Glass cleaned with a low-streak formula on both sides. Air vents and crevices detailed with brushes and swabs.
11. Before-and-after photos
I text them to you when I'm done. If anything isn't right, I come back. No charge.
What I bring
- Two-bucket wash kit with grit guards in both
- Foam cannon and pH-balanced soap
- Microfiber sorted by job, color-coded
- Cordless vacuum, brushes, detailing swabs
- Iron remover, clay bar, polish, ceramic spray sealant
What you provide
- An outdoor water spigot
- An outdoor outlet (or garage outlet)
- A driveway spot, ideally in shade