How to Prepare Your Car for a Mobile Detail

Mobile detailing means we come to you — your driveway, your office parking spot, wherever your car lives. That convenience is the whole point. But a few simple things you do before we arrive can make a real difference in the quality of the result you get. Here's exactly what to do.

1. Remove Your Personal Belongings

This is the most important step. Take out anything that doesn't belong in the car — gym bags, kids' sports equipment, reusable grocery bags, chargers, sunglasses, mail, anything in the cup holders. You don't need to deep clean anything. Just clear the space so we can access every surface.

We'll work around car seats if they're installed and secured. You don't need to remove them unless you want us to detail underneath.

2. Make a Note of Any Problem Areas

If there's a stain that's been there for months, a weird smell you can't figure out, or a scuff on the dash — tell us when we arrive. We'll pay extra attention to those spots. The more specific you are, the better we can target our work.

Common things to flag: coffee spills on seats, dog smell in the trunk, sticky residue on door panels, bird dropping stains on the hood.

3. Confirm We Have Access to Water and Power

We bring all our own equipment and products. The only two things we need from your property are a standard outdoor water spigot and a power outlet — the kind you'd find on the outside of any house or garage. Most driveways have both.

If you're at an apartment complex or office building, check with your building management in advance. Some have outdoor access, some don't. If yours doesn't, just let us know when you book — we'll figure it out together.

4. Park in a Good Spot

Ideally, park your car in a shaded area or indoors if possible — especially in summer. Detailing products work better when the car surface isn't scorching hot from direct sun. We can absolutely work in the sun, but shade helps us deliver a better result on the exterior.

Make sure we have enough room to walk around all four sides of the vehicle. A tight parking spot between two other cars makes exterior work harder.

5. That's It

Seriously — that's all you need to do. You don't need to pre-wash the car, vacuum it, or do any prep cleaning. That's our job. Once we arrive, you can go inside, go to work, or go about your day. Most customers barely see us — they just come back to a clean car.

For a Gold Full Detail, we'll typically need 3–5 hours. For an exterior-only detail, plan for 1.5–2.5 hours.

Common Questions

Do I need to be home the whole time?

No. Once we have access to the car and the water/power hookup, you're free to go. Most of our customers leave us to it and come back to a clean car. Just make sure we can reach you by phone if something comes up.

What if it rains?

We monitor weather closely. If there's a chance of rain on the day of your appointment, we'll reach out proactively to reschedule at no charge. A light drizzle after an exterior detail doesn't ruin the work — the sealant we apply is water-resistant — but heavy rain during the process would affect results.

Do I need to do anything after the detail?

Avoid washing the exterior for at least 48 hours after the detail so the sealant can fully cure. Other than that — just enjoy the clean car.