How Long Does It Take To Get Your Car Detailed

I question I become asked a lot by family and friends is "how long does detailing a car take?". Once they realize how often I clean my car ( sometimes twice a week ), they think I am insane….which may be true I'm not sure, but that is a whole different give-and-take.

I go comments such every bit "You must spend your whole life cleaning your machine ", or "how muddied tin your car get in a few days!" etc.

The general public typically has a gross misunderstanding of how long it takes to detail a auto. It is either underestimated or completely overestimated.

So how long does information technology have to item a motorcar?

I'm certain that most regular readers of this blog will know that there is no cut and dry answer to this question and it can depend on many unlike factors. In my own experience the time information technology takes to detail a car tin vary wildly and tin can exist influenced by several different things. These include

• What Steps Demand to be completed on the car?

• Electric current Condition Of the Cars Interior / Outside

• How Efficient/Knowledgeable the person carrying out the detail is

• Materials Used (Eg is Ceramic Coating being applied )

With the rise in popularity of detailing and the "glamification" of the practice over contempo years, the lines have been blurred so to speak betwixt a simple car wash and an actual item. So what does detailing mean in 2020? In my opinion, this term is now used to encompass all aspects of car cleaning and paint protection, no matter how small a job at manus.

It turns out the globe and its female parent is now a "detailer" these days.

For me, to truly respond the question of how long it takes to item a auto to someone, I usually end upwardly breaking information technology downwardly into various categories.

In my personal experience these are as follows :

1. A "Quick Detail" or Waterless Launder

2. A Standard Maintenence Wash

3. A Maintenence Wash with Interior Clean

4. A Decontamination Wash / Shine Preparation

5. Compounding / Polishing & Ceramic Coating Applied

These are the classifications of "detail" that I am familiar with. There are other scenarios, just I take tried to grouping them as best I tin to respond the question at hand.

How Long Does a Quick Detail Take?

Quick Detailing is a process that I would consider taking less than xxx minutes.

Quick Detailing is a simple solution that cuts down your regular washing routine by maintaining your motorcar'due south pigment when it is just lightly dusty or has some light water spotting. If you have non read my article on "how to keep your car clean betwixt washes", yous should consider checking that out HERE. This will comprehend a lot of things that fall under the "quick detailing" category.

For me, quick detailing is a step I would perform betwixt my weekly washes if I did not have time to do a "normal" wash with two buckets and water.

To properly Quick Detail your auto you'll demand a few high quality, plush microfiber buffing towels, and quick detailing spray. A car duster also works well at removing the summit layer of dust before quick detailing merely is not necessary.

During a quick detail, I besides like to give the exterior glass a clean using a good quality defended glass cleaner.

Quick Detailing is not just for the outside of your motorcar. There are detailing sprays for your car'due south interior as well. A personal favourite of mine is AutoFinesse Interior cleaner, used with some microfiber dress to keep on meridian of interior dust and dirt.

I can usually consummate a quick detail in 15-thirty minutes max.

How Long Does A Maintenance Launder Take?

A standard maintenance wash takes approximately 45-90 minutes.

Apparently, there are dissimilar types of maintenance wash, for instance, are you lot using just buckets and water? Or Are you using a pressure washer with a pre-wash snow foam step earlier any contact washing is done?

For simplicity, I am going to base of operations this on my Maintenance wash routine, which I deport out weekly.

• Vehicle pre-washed using skillful quality snow foam
• Wheels cleaned using non-acidic cleaner
• The vehicle is done using a PH neutral shampoo
• Spray Sealant Or Drying Aid Applied to the paint
• The vehicle is hand dried using deep pile microfibre towels to safely dry the vehicle
• Tyres are dressed using a good quality dressing
• Outside windows cleaned using a specific drinking glass cleaner

How Long Does A Maintenance Wash &  Interior Detail Take?

A standard maintenance wash takes approximately 60-120 minutesouth.

This is all the steps I have outlined to a higher place, but including a full clean of the interior of the car. The time information technology takes to do this will depend on the condition of the interior, but if yous are like me and tend to continue on pinnacle of the dirt in the interior, it should not add together too much time to your maintenance wash.

In my case, this usually consists of

• Vacuuming – The first step to cleaning the interior of a motorcar includes vacuuming seats, headliners, rear cargo area, trunk and shelf.
• A expert brush to apply on the car mats to remove any trapped dirt. ( i also vacuum these )
• Interior trim and surfaces are removed of any grime, clay and bacteria using interior specific cleaners that are condom on all surfaces
• Glass Cleaning – A drinking glass cleaner is used to clean the glass.

I am not a huge fan of interior dressing so I don't ordinarily use that. However, ane of import gene that is often overlooked is the scent. I usually alter my air freshener about in one case a calendar month.

In my routine, a maintenance wash and interior make clean takes about 2 hours.

How Long Does A Decontamination Wash& Polishing Prep Take?

This procedure will usually take between 2-iv hours.

Now we are getting into the serious steps of detailing, whereby a large amount of time volition need to exist put in, which will lead to exceptional results. I would advise that a good decontamination wash be performed on a car at to the lowest degree in one case a quarter, or almost 4 times a yr.

This is also necessary earlier undertaking a machine polish of a car, or the application of a ceramic coating.

Decontamination/Polish prep includes all the steps I have outlined higher up in the maintenance wash steps with the addition of the following.

• Use a wax and polish stripping product (Eg Chemic Guys Clean Slate)
• Iron Remover to remove whatever iron deposits/fallout
• Bug Remover ( if necessary )
• Clay Bar Step

This is usually something you tin can build into a maintenance wash, simply as I said information technology is only necessary a few times a twelvemonth if y'all are keeping on acme of your vehicle.

How Long Does Polishing a Car & Ceramic Coating Have?

This is normally measured in Days Rather than Hours . The time to complete can vary depending on several factors such as

• How many polishing steps? ( one step? iii Step? )
• Type of Coating Practical? ( Some coatings are more difficult to utilise and need a longer curing time )

I would estimate that the average pigment correction and protection can take from 1-3 Days On average. This can accept longer if heavy paint correction is required.

This may seem excessive to some people but Don't forget that before any of this tin can accept place, the full decontamination wash should exist carried out.

Paint correction on a car tin have many hours, and some badly damaged paint will take days to restore to a perfect stop. Ideally, the paint should be defect-free before applying any sort of ceramic coating. This is why people are often shocked when they go a quote for a professional application of a ceramic coating, which can toll $$$$.

Also as the polishing, the application of ceramic coating can exist quite intricate, with some blanket curing times quoted at up to 24-48 hours.

In Summary -How Long Does Car Detailing Have?

As I mentioned earlier, "Detailing" is now a catch-all term that is used to describe a number or a combination of different steps. Nonetheless, I will do my all-time to summarize with the following

– A "Quick Detail" or Waterless Launder = Less than 30 Minutes

– A Maintenance Wash = 45-ninety Minutes

– A Maintenence Wash with Interior Make clean = 60-120 minutes

-A Decontamination Launder / Smooth Preparation = 2-4 Hours

-Compounding / Polishing & Ceramic Coating Applied = 1-iii Days On Average

And so how long does information technology take yous to do the to a higher place detailing? I would beloved to hear your stance, so delight leave a comment or bring together the word on the DriveDetailed Forum

Until Next time,

Happy Detailing!

Go Home

Darren is the founder of the DriveDetailed blog and is a neat detailing enthusiast living in the rainy south of Ireland. When he is non cleaning his car he is ever researching means he can amend his techniques and enjoys testing out new products.

Darren currently drives an Audi TTRS and is a big fan of operation cars.

Yous can follow Darren on Instagram @darrenoharacork

Source: https://drivedetailed.com/how-long-does-car-detailing-take/

Share this post