We’ve gathered a list of our most frequently asked questions about Elite Detailing’s services and other vehicle appearance related questions. Have a question about car detailing, washing, or general appearance upkeep? You’ll probably find it here. Click a question to go directly to the answer or browse the list to learn more about our services and how to keep your car clean and shining.
Q. What is detailing?
Q. Do I need my vehicle detailed?
Q. Do I need my vehicle detailed?
Q. How often should I have my vehicle detailed?
Q. What is the best way to have my vehicle washed?
Q. How do you offer your mobile detailing service at my home or place of work?
Q. What are your hours?
Q. How long does your service take?
Q. What do I need to do before my scheduled appointment?
Q. How far in advance do I need to schedule a service?
Q. What if it is cold or raining out?
Q. What method of payment do you accept?
Q. Do you offer corporate or group discounts?
Q. Why are prices so different when shopping from company to company?
Q. Do you charge for an onsite estimate?
Q. How much experience do your detailers have?
Q. Are there any former clients I can contact about your services?
Q. Are you a franchise?
Q. What is the difference between your Restorative Detailing Packages, Complete Detailing Packages & Express Detailing Packages?
Q. Do you offer gift certificates?
Q. I just purchased a new car what can I do to keep it looking new?
Q. Is buffing safe for my car?
Q. What is a clay bar and when do I need my car treated with one?
Q. Can you remove paint over-spray from my car?
Q. Can you remove stains from my carpet?
Q. What products do you recommend if I do it myself?
Q. Do you offer any products for sale?href=
A. Detailing is a systematic approach of cleaning, reconditioning & preserving the various surfaces of a vehicle including the exterior, interior, engine & under-chassis.
Q. Do I need my vehicle detailed?
A. In many ways choosing to have your vehicle detailed is a personal preference. It is becoming more & more a necessity simply because people are keeping their vehicles longer. Also when selling a vehicle detailing is often a smart decision since you will almost always make back much more than you paid to have your vehicle detailed & will often sell at a higher price & faster.
Q. How often should I have my vehicle detailed?
A. Depending on your preferences this will vary. Some people have their vehicles completely detailed once per year while others have it done once a month. Generally the ideal frequency for vehicles that are driven daily is once every three months. For vehicles that are driven less often every six months may be enough. Other factors to consider is the exterior color of the vehicle (dark colors will require protection & possibly polishing more often than light colors), the interior color of the vehicle (lighter colors may require more frequent cleaning than dark colors) & personal habits (bringing the kids to & from soccer practice, eating on the go, or bringing your favorite pet on a road trip may require more frequent service).
Q. What is the best way to have my vehicle washed?
A. There are many ways that you can have your vehicle washed. One is the traditional hand wash method using a bucket of soapy water, wash mitts, chamois, a hose & some towels. The most important thing to remember is to not use excessive pressure when washing or drying your vehicle & always start from the top & work your way down. Another method is the new waterless wash option. With this option you will use a special waterless car wash product which encapsulates dirt into a special micro fiber cloth while also leaving a great shine & protective coating. We now offer a Waterless Car Wash Detail in our Express Detailing Packages.
Q. How do you offer your mobile detailing service at my home or place of work?
A. We are a professional service that provides a very unique service. We are fully self-contained. We bring our own water, our own electricity & all of the supplies we need to do the job right. We are capable of doing multiple vehicles at virtually any location. We can even provide our detailing services in tight locations such as underground parking garages. Watch the second half of this 190 North video to see how we do it.
A. Our hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM & Saturday – Sunday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. We can make special arrangements if these times don’t work call us at 800-537-5536.
Q. How long does your service take?
A. It depends. Every service is different & every vehicle is different. Visit our Services page and browse the descriptions of our services for info on approximate time required to service your vehicles or call us at 800-537-5536 and we can give you an approximation of the time required to service your vehicle.
Q. What do I need to do before my scheduled appointment?
A. We bring all our own water & supplies so you don’t have to worry about this. One way that you can help us best serve you when scheduling a detailing service is to empty out your compartments and cargo area. Also let us know if there are any compartments you would rather we not clean. Any other items we find we will place in a bag for your convenience. We bring our own generator for electricity however we like to plug into an outlet if possible to keep the noise level down. Also if you have a shady area such as a garage or other shade available we would appreciate using this area when detailing your vehicle. Other than that you can simply focus on what you do best and enjoy doing most and leave the detailing to us.
Q. How far in advance do I need to schedule a service?
A. We schedule on a first come first serve basis. At some points in the year we are scheduled one to two weeks in advance. In some cases we can schedule a service on the same day. The sooner you let us know when you’d like us to come by the better chance that we will have that time open for you.
Q. What if it is cold or raining out?
A. We offer our services in any weather year round. When it below 40° Fahrenheit outside we utilize our exclusive low moisture or waterless wash system. All we need is an enclosed area such as a two car garage. We can even bring our own portable garage. We also bring our own lighting & heating. When raining we will still provide our service either using your garage or we can put up our canopy to complete the service. We also offer a rain guarantee. If it rains or snows on the same day as our service we will offer you a free exterior wash to be used within one month from the date of the service. That way you will still have the benefit of the detail & be able to enjoy it after the rain ends.
Q. What method of payment do you accept?
A. We accept cash, check, American Express, Discover, Master Card and Visa.
Q. Do you offer corporate or group discounts?
A. Yes. We offer corporate discounts for fleets, dealerships & offices. We also offer neighborhood discounts when you & at least one neighbor schedule services on the same day. As long as we can service two or more vehicles in the same area we can offer a discount. Please contact us for more info.
Q. Why are prices so different when shopping from company to company?
A. Just as with any service each service provider does things differently. In general you do get what you pay for. We feel that we offer a fair price with outstanding results and since we offer a 100% guarantee as well as no obligation estimates & demonstration you have absolutely no risk.
Q. Do you charge for an onsite estimate?
A. We do not charge for an on-site estimate. In many cases we can offer a price range over the phone at 800-537-5536 or email us.
Q. How much experience do your detailers have?
A. Our Certified Detailing Technicians each have at least five years of experience in detailing & are certified in each area of vehicle cleaning, reconditioning & preservation. All of our detailing technicians have been trained & are enrolled in continual training programs. Our Certified Master Detailing Technicians have at least 10 years of experience in detailing. Our areas of expertise include vehicle show preparation, paint overspray removal, industrial fallout removal, odor removal, vehicle sale preparation, custom car care, vehicle appearance maintenance & preservation & product selection consulting & training. We have provided detailing services for residential, commercial & industrial clients.
Q. Are there any former clients I can contact about your services?
A. Yes if you’d like a reference list please call us at 800-537-5536.
A. We are not currently a franchise. However we do have lisencing opportunities for independent detailers who want to be their own boss yet have the opportunity to aquire training, support & marketing opportunities with our company. We believe that the best way to grow our business & maintain high consistent quality is through lisencing to individuals with a good attitude & work ethic. If you know of someone who is entrepreneurial & would like to learn more feel free to visit our Independent Detailer Network page or call 815-609-3382.
A. Our Restorative Detailing Packages are designed for vehicles that have not been detailed for a longer period of time & are very dirty or “Trashed”. We use our specialty restorative cleaning process to bring your vehicle back to like new condition. Our Complete Detailing Packages are designed for older vehicles that have not been detailed in the past year or so. These services include a thorough multi-step process to clean & protect the various surfaces of your vehicles. Our Express Detailing Packages are designed for newer/cleaner cars that are in good condition. These services clean, shine & protect the various surfaces of your vehicles.
Q. Do you offer gift certificates?
A. Yes we offer gift certificates in any denomination which are good toward any of our services. We also offer surprise detailing packages. We have had many clients who have us come to their home & detail their spouse’s, parent’s or chilren’s vehicle while they are out of town or at work. Our gift certificates are a unique gift for any occasion & are popular as gifts for employees, customer appreciation, spouses, parents, children, teachers, or any one who may be hard to buy for. We custom print our certificates with a special message from you. We can even mail or email the certificate to you or directly to the recipient! Call today 800-537-5536.
Q. I just purchased a new car what can I do to keep it looking new?
A. The most important preventive measures you can take are proper wash methods or use an appropriate waterless wash method. Apply a coat of paint sealant to your vehicle & reapply at least once a year. Apply a fabric protection to all carpet & fabric surfaces & reapply every six month to one year. Keep your leather & vinyl conditioned. Clean wheels & tires weekly to prevent extreme break dust contamination & oxidation of tires. We also recommend thick rubber mats that cover the entire floor areas. Also on darker color paint surfaces we recommend more frequent waxing (once per month or every other month). Visit ourEnvironmental Protection Package to learn how we can help preserve the appearance of your vehicles. For additional tips call us at 800-537-5536.
Q. Is buffing safe for my car?
A. High speed buffing can be great for removing moderate to severe micro scratching, oxidation & paint blemishes. Buffing performed by an inexperienced technician can cause damage to your vehicle. Unfortunately buffing cannot remove all imperfections in the paint. Deep scratches, clear coat failure & severe chemical burns cannot be repaired by buffing. These require repainting. Visit Elite Auto Appearancefor info on repainting. If you use proper preventive maintenance you can eliminate or at least delay the need for machine buffing. We recommend a hand polish before attempting to buff. Many times this is all a vehicle really needs. In some extreme instances high speed buffing may be required. We only allow technicians who are certified & experienced in high speed buffing to provide this service to our clients. We use the newest technology in self centering foam pads combined with the right polishes & compounds to produce superior results.
Q. What is a clay bar and when do I need my car treated with one?
A. Clay cleaning bars are a great innovation in the car care industry. Clay bars allow our technicians to thoroughly remove virtually any type of contamination that may be on top of your vehicle’s painted, glass, metal & plastic surfaces. This process is much safer than using harsh chemicals or high speed buffing. Claying also allows wax & sealant to bond & adhere much better & longer to your vehicle. The best way to find out if you need to have you vehicle clayed is by first washing your vehicle with soap & water & drying it, or by using a waterless wash. Then take a piece of cellophane or a plastic sandwich bag & guide your fingertips on the paint. If you feel any sort of grit or bumps your vehicle will benefit from a claying service. Regardless of how smooth your paint feels we recommend a clay at least once a year.
Q. Can you remove paint over-spray from my car?
A. In most cases we can remove paint over-spray from your vehicle surfaces. The most important factor is the type of paint sprayed & how long it has been there. We have had experience with over one hundred over-spray removal services & use proper techniques & methods to remove the overspray & reapply a protective coating to all exterior surfaces. Check out our Exterior Contamination Removal on the Restorative Detailing Packages page for more info.
Q. Can you remove stains from my carpet?
A. It depends. Some stains in the carpet caused from fruit juice, soda, or coffee can set over time or if treated with the wrong type of product. While we have removed these types of stains in many cases, they can be quite challenging in some situations. In some cases carpeting can become abraded over time. This is common in the driver’s area of the car due to constant wear and tear. This cannot be cleaned. The only way to bring the carpet back is to replace it or repair it. The best
way to prevent this is with premium floor mats that cover the entire carpeted area. We recommend high quality rubber mats. We would be happy to come by & give you a no obligation evaluation & estimate. If the stain cannot be removed then visit Elite Auto Appearance to see if it can be repaired.
Q. What products do you recommend if I do it myself?
A. There are many products available for doing it yourself. What ever you decide we recommend sticking with one line of products to ensure compatibility & to simplify the process. If you’d like to receive free no obligation detailing consultation call us at 800-537-5536 & we will setup a time to come by & help you. Also if you have a specific problem (i.e. stains, tree sap, etc.) we can give you advice over the phone.
Q. Do you offer any products for sale?
A. Yes we currently offer many products for maintenance & detailing your vehicle yourself. We also offer special detailing tools, equipment & supplies to help you do the job right. Call us at 800-537-5536 for more info.