Should I Take Everything Out of My Car Before Detailing?

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Before detailing your car, take a moment to visualize a clean, pristine vehicle. 

Now imagine that exact vehicle cluttered with personal belongings, making the task more challenging and time-consuming for car detailing professionals. By removing everything from your car before detailing, you create a blank canvas for a thorough cleaning and minimize the risks of damaging or losing items. 

In this article, we will explore the benefits and potential risks of clearing out your car before detailing and provide tips for an efficient process.

The Benefits of Removing Items From Your Car Before Detailing

You'll notice a significant improvement in the cleanliness and appearance of your car by taking out all personal belongings before detailing it.

Proper car organization is crucial for a pleasant driving experience. When your car is cluttered, it not only looks messy but also affects your mood. 

Clutter can be distracting, making it harder to focus on the road. It can also obstruct your view or impede your access to essential items like your phone or navigation system. 

By removing all items before detailing, you can thoroughly clean every nook and cranny of your car, ensuring a fresh and inviting interior

This will not only enhance the aesthetics of your vehicle but also improve your overall driving experience by reducing distractions and promoting a more organized space.

Potential Risks of Leaving Belongings in Your Car During Detailing

Remove all valuable items and personal belongings from your car before detailing, as there is a risk of damage or theft if left inside. When you leave items in your car during the detailing process, you expose yourself to several security concerns and potential damage to your personal belongings. 

Consider the following:

Security Concerns

  • Leaving valuable items such as electronics, wallets, or jewelry in your car can make it an attractive target for thieves.
  • Even if your car is in a secure location, there is always a risk of unauthorized access or break-ins.

Damage to Personal Belongings

  • Cleaning agents or equipment used during the detailing process can accidentally damage or stain your belongings.
  • Sharp objects like brushes or trim tools can scratch or tear upholstery, permanently damaging your items.

To ensure the safety of your belongings and avoid any potential damage, removing them from your car before detailing is crucial.

Tips for Efficiently Clearing Out Your Car Before Detailing

First, gather all loose items and then use a trash bag to collect any garbage, ensuring an efficient clearing out of your car before detailing. You can maximize the space and organize your belongings effectively by taking everything out. 

Start by removing any personal items such as water bottles, receipts, and loose change. Place them in a designated bag or container to keep them organized. 

Next, remove any larger items, such as car seats or bulky accessories, that may obstruct your cleaning process. Once the car is empty, you can easily access all areas for thorough detailing. This includes vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and cleaning the upholstery. 

By clearing out your car before detailing, you'll have a clean and organized space, making the process much easier and more efficient.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether or not to remove everything from your car before detailing ultimately boils down to the level of thoroughness and the results you desire. 

While it may seem convenient to leave personal items in your vehicle during the detailing process, taking the extra step to clear out the interior can yield a more comprehensive and satisfactory outcome.

Removing items allows the detailer to access all nooks and crannies and reduces the risk of any damage or loss to your belongings. It ensures that the interior receives the attention it deserves, including thorough cleaning, vacuuming, and conditioning. 

Moreover, it's a practical step to declutter and organize your car, making it a more pleasant and functional space.

Revamp your ride! Call (612) 889-5604 for a complete car detailing experience.

Verified Google Reviews

Will was AMAZING! My car needed full interior detailing from rain getting inside this winter, and it hadn’t been fully cleaned in years. He scheduled me ASAP and was super thorough when going over the process. He picked up the car from me and brought it back quicker than expected so I didn’t have to go anywhere, and it looked new on the inside. It had a new car scent and all the seats and floors that were damaged from rain/dirt were totally clean. I’m so happy with the services and feel like it’s a different car now - I would recommend him to anyone in SD :) !! Thank you so much!!

Adriana Minicozzi

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Had an amazing experience with San Diego Select Detailing. They did a fantastic and thorough job of detailing my new car after it was transported from a dealership in another state, and also detailed two other vehicles at our household (one of which had laundry detergent spilled in the trunk). Each car came out looking fantastic. They come fully equipped to do a professional level detail job at the location of your choosing, which was very convenient. Can't wait to use their services again.

Audrey Hoel

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I had Hyundai Elantra detailed before gifting it to my sister. Will and Ed were able to accommodate me same day which was really nice of them. The fact that they come to you is also very convenient.The car looked as good as the day I bought it from the dealership. My sister was so stoked. She was beaming the whole three hours we were handling insurance and DMV stuff

Andrew Dyson

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We had an amazing experience getting our car detailed. They come directly to your home and bring all of the necessary supplies! Will was incredibly professional and responsive when arranging the time and figuring out details. Pedro came right on time and did a beautiful and meticulous job detailing the inside and outside of our car. It looks brand new and smells amazing. We will definitely be using their services again. Highly recommend!

Micaela Mariner

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San Diego Select did a full interior/exterior detail on my Lexus and I couldn't be happier with the result. My car looks and smells brand new. Incredible customer service - even received a follow up text the next day making sure I was satisfied with how everything looked. It's convenient - they come to you so you don't have to wait anywhere and pricing is extremely fair for the service. Would highly recommend.

Anna C

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great auto detailer in San Diego. If you’re looking to get your car detailed in San Diego, these guys are the best

Nate S

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I would 100% use them again! After I got sick in the car and we couldn’t get the smell out, they worked wonders and got us in same day!

Meghan Mazer

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First time getting my car detailed ever and I am so unbelievably happy with the outcome that I wish I would have started with them a long time ago!!! Will was so sweet and friendly over the phone, he quickly gained my trust:) My car looks and smells brand new! I will be back in 6 months to upkeep. Seriously these guys are so good:)

Justine Meadows

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Really kind! Did an amazing job with interior and exterior.

Siena Gross

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I've worked with Will and his team to fully detail my Tesla and Harley Davidson  and have monthly washes set up.  Will and his team are wonderful and always do a great job!

Charlie Redden

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Detail My Car?

Perfection & Protection.

Frustrated with everything that the car wash leaves behind?
Does your paint not shine like it used to?
In love with your car and want to preserve your investment for the long term?

That is why we are here. Not only do we leave you with flawless results, but we make sure that your paint, leather, and other materials are protected for years to come. We will treat your car (and you) like one of our own.

Do I need a "Shampoo Treatment"?

The shampoo and hot water extraction is the best possible care for your FABRIC seats.

We will bathe your seats in thick foam shampoo, agitate it with a fabric brush attachment on a drill, and then extract all the grime, dirt, stains and contaminant from the seats with hot water at 210ºF. If your seats need a refresh, this is as good as it gets. Because the service takes 45 minutes on average, and only a small percent of vehicles need it we charge extra for it. Don't worry - its only $50 extra. Totally worth it.

Will My Scratch "Buff Out"?

Do you have any little scrapes and scratches that bother you?

We can handle it.. to an extent. We are polishing experts - so if the scratch isn't too deep, we can get it out. Ever heard of "The Fingernail Test", this is a great way to know if your scratches are fixable. If you feel the scratch will your fingernail and you can feel a groove in the paint, it it probably a little bit too deep ~in the sections where the groove is~

What is a "Clay Bar"?

A clay bar is exactly what it sounds like, a little ball of malleable puddy.

This is used in the decontamination phase of the detail to prepare your paint for protection. Clay Bar Detailing is essential for preparing your vehicle's paint for protection by ensuring it is free of contaminants.

Every exterior detail has 3 phases: 1. Wash 2. Decontaminate 3. Protect. The decontamination stage is responsible for removing from the paint everything that doesn't come off from the wash.

Remember when you bought your car and the paint was smooth to the touch? That is the goal of this stage. Remove all the crusty junk that is stuck to you paint. This way, when we apply sealant (protection) to your paint it will adhere to the paint itself, rather than the junk sitting on the surface. This will give the sealant its longest possible useful life.

Why "Wax" My Car?

For the same reason that you get an oil change. Engines are expensive to replace (8-15K) so we take good care of them. So is your paint - the average paint job costing around $5,000. If you don't protect your paint with some type of ceramic, wax, or sealant, your paint WILL fail.

In San Diego, our biggest enemy is the sun, or the salt if you live near the beach. Next time you are in a big parking lot, look around at the hoods of the vehicles. You will notice around 1/6 vehicles have completely delaminated clear coat.

That means the paint looks like dead skin on the surface and you could peel it off with you fingers. Not pretty. There is a simple solution to ensure your vehicle never ends up like this. Exterior Detailing. Bonus points for a ceramic coating with is the best protection possible.