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).

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.

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!

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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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.

Before you can get your car more organized, you will need to get in there and do the dirty work first. This means taking everything out of the car; remove all of the items from the glove box, console, under the seats (yes even that old candy bar from 6 mo ago) and the trunk. Then be sure to give your car a well needed vacuuming and wipe it down with car cleaning products such as Armour All.

Now go back to your items and sort through them. Discard the obvious trash and only put the items back in the car that are necessary. You will want to keep such necessary items as the car manual, a flashlight, and maps in the glove compartment. Other essential items such as a jack, jumper cables and a first aid kit should be stored in the trunk.

We all love our change and music, so I suggest buying something to organize both in your car. Also, you don’t need to have 25 CDs in your car at any one time. Stick with a half dozen or so and switch up when you get bored.

Be sure that there are never any loose items lying around in your car. When all items are put back in, you will want to ensure they are secured as well as possible. Loose items in your car can become dangerous projectiles in the even of a crash and can be very lethal.

The key to keeping your car clean is diligence. Always remove garbage from the car when you exit it and be sure your passengers do as well. Make it a rule for both you and family members. Be sure to emphasize how a clean car is a safe car, and make it a habit forming exercise for everyone.

A mobile car detail service brings along a trailer or some other form of water pump, and almost everything else needed to detail your car. As with any other detailer, you want to make sure that the service has insurance to cover any damages to your car, and if they use high quality materials to both wash and scrub your car.

Since this kind of service is also so new, there aren’t as many regulations on these services as of yet. Some cities are starting to adopt ordinances that prevent the use of products that will run off into storm drains and pollute rivers, streams, creeks etc.

These cities require all mobile detailers to have a permit. So be sure to check and make sure if this is a required ordinance in your city or not, and if the service provider has a permit.

The best way to find a mobile car detailing service is though an online local search. You will want to find one that has been established for awhile and to look for customer testimonials.

A good service will wash and wax your car, clean the interior and exterior, including tires and rims, and some offer extended services such as engine detailing. You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 on up for these services, depending on the work you want done and the size of your vehicle.

When considering auto detailing prices, you need to take into account several factors which include:

Insurance

The first thing you will want to ask, is if the detailer has insurance. If you are going to someone who is running a detailing shop in their garage, you may save money, but if your car is damaged, then you will have a devil of a time collecting damages in small claims court. This is why I always recommend going with an established detailer who has a commercial business with insurance. It is worth the extra money you may have to pay for peace of mind, believe me.

Size of the vehicle

Most regular detailing packages include a wash and wax, interior vacuuming, cleaning and polishing the tires and rims and interior cleaning such as the seats and dashboard. Most detailers will charge between $50-65 for this package. If you own a truck, van, SUV or a bigger vehicle, you may be looking in the ballpark of $90 or more.

Coupons and special offers

It isn’t hard to find coupons from detailers trying to drum up business. Check in your local Pennysaver, Thrifty Nickel, or Yellow Book. Be sure to ask to get on the detailer’s mailing list so you can stay up to date with their special offers. This is how I save a bundle over the course of a year.

As I mentioned earlier, you may be able to find a car detailing price cheap, but be sure to find out why it is much cheaper than competitors prices. You may find there is a reason why you want to avoid this detailer at all costs!

To help save you the money and embarrassment of getting another product that doesn’t do what it promises, we have a few suggestions that not only get the job done, but make cleaning your car fun again. Here are a few good car wash products:

California Car Duster – this little number has earned its reputation the hard way – by doing what it promises! You simply use the lightweight duster to clean off dirt and grime from your car. The duster head won’t scratch your paint job and it seems like the more you use it, the better it works. It does a great job of trapping dirt and not just pushing it.

Mothers Wheel Brush – this is a great brush for cleaning your wheels. If they are really dirty, then this isn’t the tool for the job, but it is great for maintenance cleanings. It has a nice ergonomic handle that protects your hands from the dirt that kicks up as you are cleaning. It also has protective rubber so you won’t scratch your rims. Great little tool!

HomeRight Auto Wash Stick – here is a great tool for washing the hard to reach places on your car, such as the roof and the door panels (if you are lazy like me and hate bending over). The wash stick can be extended to 4 feet and it holds the soap inside so you don’t have to keep dipping in the dirty buckets.

Washing your car can be a pain in the rear end, especially if you wash your car once a week like I do in the warmer months. Which is why any tool you can find that makes the job a little bit easier and it actually works, is worth it’s weight in gold.

We have come across several brands that we always seem to keep going back to because they are both reliable and the price is always reasonable as well. If you want the best bang for your buck that will keep your car looking sharp, here are our top picks:

Mothers California Gold Car Wash – this is a staple in our family. Mothers soap cleans your car extremely well and never dulls the paint or harms any prior wax jobs. The more you use this on your car, the better it seems to work, from our experience. A definite thumbs up!

3M Car Wash Soap – this has been a staple in detailer shops for years and with good reason – it does a fantastic job on almost any finish. It easily removes most dirt without much elbow grease, and like all good car soap, it doesn’t harm the paint. Easily one of our all time favorites.

Poorboys Car Wash Soap – if you are concerned about using natural products on your car, then Poorboys is for you. Their products are non-toxic and also biodegradable so they are safe for your car, you and the environment. This soap offers up a great shine and is only marginally more expensive than most brands.

You really can’t go wrong, no matter which of the three soaps you choose from above. All will give your car a sleek shine that will make your neighbors glare with envy at your hot ride!