Mobile car wash services seem to be a hot topic on this site recently. I have had many readers ask my opinion about them, and what you should expect to pay for this type of service. While it is easier to find a regular car detailer in your area, it really isn’t that difficult to find mobile car washes.

A simple glance in the paper or your local Yellow Pages should generally turn up a half dozen or more of these services. If you find a reputable mobile detailer, you can expect them to clean both the exterior and interior of your vehicle, right in your driveway.

The prices on these services can really vary, especially based on region and the type of services being offered. If you just want a simple car wash, it is going to be less expensive than if you wanted to have your car detailed. Many regular detailers can charge $100 on up for a basic detailing package. I have seen some places that offer it for around $60-70 as well.

Now these are physical locations. Mobile car washes can charge about $50 for a basic wash, which includes mini detailing such as cleaning the tires and vacuuming out your car. This doesn’t include a wax job or anything of that nature however.

The size of the vehicle also can raise the price as well. A compact car obviously isn’t going to be as hard to detail as say, a Hummer. SUVs and vehicle of that nature generally cost about twice as much to detail than small cars.

If you don’t want to be charged extra, I also suggest cleaning any loose trash out of your car first, as many services will charge extra for this service (depending on how much trash there is).

Truck detailing is important if you want to not only keep your truck looking good, but performing well also. If you are like me and haul a lot of stuff, your truck can take a serious beating and get really dingy quickly. Obviously the longer you wait, the more grime and dirt can build up. This is why I try to detail my truck at least once or twice a month.

If you don’t care about how it looks, keep in mind that the resale value will be much higher if your truck is maintained, than if it is rusty and has a nasty interior. So with that in mind, here are a few tips for quick and easy truck detailing.

Buy a phosphate free soap to use on your truck and a microfiber washing rag that will really help to shine it up and that won’t leave lint behind. You will also want to look for a high quality wax that won’t tarnish the paint or leave behind any residue.

After washing your truck with the soap, use the microfiber clothe to fully dry it. Never let it air dry as that can leave behind unsightly spots. After it is completely dry, you can then apply the wax. Be sure to give it adequate time to dry.

Move to the interior and hit it with a god vacuum. Be sure to get inside the console and other hard to reach areas. I always like to hang up the mats and squirt them down with plain old water. Then I use a good shampoo on floor to get up any spots and loosen up the dirt.

If you have leather upholstery, be sure to buy the proper conditioning lotion or spray to clean it and protect it from the sun. For the windows, I like to use a separate microfiber cloth, because it won’t leave any residue behind.

Finally, to clean the tires, be sure to get a good tire brush to clean the brakes and around the rims. Don’t mess around with rags or towels, etc. It will take forever to get all of that grime off without a proper brake brush, so just spend $6 and get one.

Car detailing products can make a tedious job much more enjoyable and effective. There are thousands of car detail products available both online and offline, and many of them are pretty wild. However, just because a product isn’t fancy, doesn’t mean it doesn’t do a great job. I have used more of these products than I am probably willing to admit, and it seems like the simplest products are usually the best.

If you aren’t into gimmick and false promises then I have a car detailing product or two that may just appeal to you. If you want a simple product that does its job, then these products are for you.

Meguiar’s Microfiber Wash Mitt – if you are tired of using a regular, boring rag to wash your car, then this is your answer. Do you hate when you are washing your car with a rag or cloth and lint and other crap come off, then you have to wipe it a few more times? Well this mitt not only keeps your hands dry, but it is lint free and doesn’t leave a big mess behind like rags.

Bon-Aire Soap Dispensing Wash Gun – I really love this idea and it makes washing my car much easier than the whole bucket and rags routine. The gun holds the washing soap inside of it, so every time you spray the nozzle, it is dispensed onto your car. It has a really cool feature that lets you see how much soap is left, so you aren’t standing there like a moron spraying only water!

Mothers Brake Dust Brush – this is as simple, cheap and effective as it gets. I lost count how many times I have seen people clean their brakes with rags and towels, etc. They get disgusting and turn completely black, and half the time it doesn’t even clean the brakes. This little brush does a bang up job and it only costs around $5. It is a no brainer.

All of the items above are dirt cheap and they work great. You can get all three items for under $50 and when combined, it will make washing your car fun again!

An auto detailing business can be a great way to make a living, with the potential to earn 100k or more per year. Of course this is only if you run a legit business and establish a good customer base. However, this is obviously easier said than done. As with any business there is a right way and wrong way to do things!

The first thing you must do is get your finances in order and set a budget. You will most likely need to secure a loan to purchase the supplies and lease/rent a building. I suggest talking with someone at SCORE or the SBA to help you craft your business plan and develop a suitable advertising strategy.

You will have to decide if you want to have a physical location or offer a mobile detailing service, where you go to the customer. Each business plan has its pros and cons, but only you can decide which is right for you. If you want to have a physical location, I suggest renting property specifically for your business, and not running your business out of your home unless you must. If you lease or rent, be sure to find property that is in a busy location.

Next, you will need to purchase the necessary equipment. I suggest doing research on the costs of the equipment and supplies, and making contact with wholesaler sin your area to see what they can offer you. In many cases, if you buy in bulk you can save a good deal of money from these suppliers.

Finally you will have to decide on hiring staff and obtaining insurance. Many customers are wary of any reputable detailer who does not have insurance. Consider it a necessary evil.

While all of the issues above require much greater depth of detail, this should give you a basic premise of what is involved in starting a car detailing business.

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Car detailers are growing more and more popular each year. In fact, there are close to 45,000+ detailers in just the US alone. While this seems like it would make it easier to find a good car detailer, it in fact is the exact opposite. Many of these businesses are run on the side by individuals without insurance – which means your car can be put at risk.

This is why it is important to do your due diligence and make sure that the detailer you choose does in fact have insurance. While this is the most important issue you must be aware of, there are several other issues you will need to ask any detailer before they begin working on your car.

Car detailers use a variety of products on your car, and if you cherish your vehicle as much as I do my own, then never be afraid to ask questions. Always be sure to ask the detailer for an in depth overview of what will be done to your car. You will want to know what kind of soap is being used, if it is phosphate free or not, if it can damage the paint job or wax finish, etc.

Some detailers use only environmentally friendly products, but you may have to pay more for this service. You have to determine if that is worth the extra money or not – which is why it is a personal choice. There are car cleaners that aren’t envormnetally friendly, but they don’t harm your car. So there is a a difference between the two types of cleaners.

Also be sure to consult with the detailer about the type of wax, clay bars, etc that they will be using. You want to make sure that none of these products will damage your car.

Whenever your car is finished, always be sure to look over it with a fine tooth comb to make sure it was cleaned properly and that there isn’t any damage, scratches, etc. It is better to find such things right away, then weeks down the line.

In the end, talk to people who are as passionate about their car as you are about yours. Ask them for detailer recommendations, or if you are more comfortable, perhaps you could do it yourself.