What Does a Full
Car Detail Include?
Every step explained — interior, exterior, and what separates a basic wash from a full professional detail. Know exactly what you're getting before you book.
A full car detail includes a complete interior clean — vacuuming, surface wipe-down, window cleaning, and conditioning — and a complete exterior clean — hand wash, wheel cleaning, tire dressing, and paint protectant. Higher-tier packages add steam cleaning, odor removal, UV protection, clay bar decontamination, and paint sealant. Unlike a car wash, a detail reaches inside every crevice, seam, and vent and applies protection that lasts months, not hours.
Interior Detail — Every Step
The interior is where most people feel the difference. A professional interior detail systematically works through every surface, every crevice, and every material type — not just the visible areas.
- Full VacuumSeats, carpet, floor mats, cargo area, trunk liner, and seat tracks — every area including under and between seats
- DashboardComplete wipe-down of dashboard surface, gauge cluster surround, instrument panel, and all controls
- Center ConsoleCup holders, storage compartments, gear selector surround, armrest, and all console surfaces cleaned and wiped
- Door PanelsAll four door panels — armrests, storage pockets, window controls, and door jambs cleaned and wiped
- Interior WindowsAll glass surfaces cleaned streak-free from inside — windshield, rear window, all side windows
- Air VentsDust and debris removed from all vents — standard detail uses brush; Platinum and above uses compressed air
- Seats & FabricFabric seats vacuumed and spot-treated; leather seats wiped and dried; higher packages add conditioning
- HeadlinerSpot-cleaned on standard packages; full steam clean on Platinum and above
Exterior Detail — Every Step
The exterior detail is not a car wash — it is a systematic decontamination and protection process that leaves your paint protected, not just clean.
- Foam Pre-WashHigh-foam pre-treatment applied to loosen surface contaminants before contact washing begins
- Hand WashTwo-bucket hand wash method using pH-balanced soap — panel by panel to prevent cross-contamination
- Wheel CleaningWheels and wheel wells cleaned with dedicated wheel cleaner — brake dust, road grime, and tar removed
- Microfiber DryHand-dried with clean microfiber towels to prevent water spots from tap water mineral deposits
- Tire DressingDressing applied to tires for a clean, professional appearance — protects rubber from UV drying and cracking
- Exterior WindowsAll exterior glass cleaned streak-free including mirrors and sunroof glass
- Door JambsDoor jamb edges, sills, and rubber seals wiped clean — often missed by basic washes
- Paint ProtectantWet coat or wax applied to all painted surfaces — creates a hydrophobic barrier against water, salt, and UV
What Higher Packages Add
Standard details cover everything above. Here is what each additional package tier adds on top of the baseline.
- Platinum adds:Deep interior scrub, steam cleaning of all fabric and seams, odor elimination treatment, UV protective coating on dash and plastics
- Clay Shield adds:Iron decontamination spray, clay bar treatment to remove bonded paint contaminants, full paint decontamination, wet coat paint protectant application
- Add-ons available:Pet hair removal ($75), leather conditioning ($75), engine bay cleaning ($65), odor & stain removal ($110), ceramic sealant ($125), ceramic coating (from $250)
Package Comparison
Here is everything side by side across all four packages at XD Mission Detailing.
| What's Included | Express | Standard | Platinum | Clay Shield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand wash & dry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior vacuum | Light | Full | Full | Full |
| Dashboard & console wipe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior windows | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tire dressing | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Foam bath | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deep interior scrub | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steam cleaning | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Odor removal | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| UV protection | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Iron removal | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Clay bar decontamination | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wet coat protectant | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sedan price | $130 | $195 | $240 | $320 |