# How to Prepare Your Car for a Detail Appointment You don''t have to do anything to prep for a mobile detail — that''s literally why you booked mobile. But if you want the job to be as thorough as possible in the time slot you booked, five minutes of prep the night before or morning of makes a real difference. Here''s the short list. ## The night before (5 minutes) ### 1. Clear personal items out of the interior The detailer can''t clean under, behind, or around your stuff — they have to work around it. Everything you can pull out ahead of time is more surface area we can actually get to. Especially: - Loose cash, receipts, mail from the console and cupholders - Chargers, cables, sunglasses from the door pockets - Car seat (if you can — otherwise flag it so we know to work around it carefully) - Baby / kid gear from the back seats and floor - Gym bags, work bags, tool bags from the trunk If you have items that need to stay in the car for security reasons, put them in one bag and place it in the trunk — that''s enough to give us clear access to the seats and floor. ### 2. Clear the cargo area If you booked a full detail, we vacuum and wipe the trunk / cargo area. If it''s full of groceries, boxes, tools, or dog gear, that time comes out of the appointment. Empty it — even a quick "shove into the garage" pile. ### 3. Grab any specific-attention items you want us to hit Coffee stain on the driver''s seat? Sticker residue on a window? Splatter on the front bumper that''s been there since last month''s road trip? Note them mentally so you can point them out when we arrive — we''ll spend extra time on those spots. ## The morning of (2 minutes) ### 4. Confirm the water and power access - **Outdoor water spigot:** Working? Frozen (in winter)? Not turned off from inside? - **Standard 120V outlet:** Accessible on an exterior wall, in the garage, or via a covered porch? If either is a problem, text us at 703-826-4074 the morning of and we''ll plan around it — we do have workarounds, but knowing ahead lets us bring the right gear. ### 5. Move the car into position (if possible) The ideal spot for us to work: - Flat, level ground (uneven driveways make wash water pool) - Away from direct sun for exterior details (soap dries on hot paint = spotting) - Clear space of ~15 feet all around the car so we can walk the perimeter freely - Away from freshly laid mulch, cars parked directly beside, or gardens that might get overspray If your driveway isn''t ideal, moving the car 20 feet to the side of the house or into shade helps a lot. ### 6. Put the pet inside Not a joke. Loud vacuums and pressure washers stress dogs and cats. If your pet is comfortable being crated or inside for 2 hours, that''s the safest and easiest arrangement for everyone — including us, if the pet is not fond of strangers. ## What NOT to do - **Don''t pre-wash the car.** We do a full wash as part of the appointment. Pre-washing removes the loose dirt that helps us assess where the tough spots are. - **Don''t apply any products or "detailer sprays" the day of.** They can react with our chemistry and leave residue. - **Don''t leave the car in a garage full of tools.** We need space to work — a tight garage full of boxes doesn''t give us the room for a proper exterior job. - **Don''t remove the license plate or badges.** We work around them fine. ## What to expect on the day - **We arrive within your booked window.** For most Loudoun appointments, that''s a 60-minute arrival window; we''ll text 20-30 minutes before pulling up. - **Walkaround.** We''ll do a quick 2-minute walkaround with you, note anything specific you want handled, and confirm the package. - **Setup.** 5-10 minutes to run the hose, extension cord, and stage equipment. We''re self-contained — no need to help. - **Work.** 90 minutes to 3 hours depending on package. You don''t need to be present. Most customers hand over the keys and go about their day. - **Handoff.** Final walkaround, before/after photos if you want them, payment (all cards, Apple Pay, cash). That''s it. Five minutes of prep, no need to hover during the appointment, and you get back a car that looks and feels genuinely reset. [Book your appointment](/booking) or text 703-826-4074 with any questions.

How to Prepare Your Car for a Detail Appointment

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