Posh Wash
What Does a Full Car Detail Actually Include? (Step-by-Step Breakdown)
A full detail includes: pre-wash and snow foam, hand wash, clay bar decontamination, polish (if needed), sealant/wax, wheel and tyre detail, full interior vacuum, dashboard and console clean, leather/fabric treatment, glass clean inside and out, door jambs, and final inspection. Takes 3–5 hours. Here's every step explained.
"Full detail" gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? Honestly, it depends on who you ask. Some places call a basic wash and vacuum a "full detail." That's not what we mean.
Here's exactly what goes into a proper, professional full detail — the kind we do every day on driveways across Cairns.
The Exterior Process (Step by Step)
The exterior takes roughly 2–3 hours on its own. Here's every stage:
Step 1: Pre-Wash and Snow Foam
Before we touch the paint with anything, we rinse the entire car with a pressure washer to remove loose dirt. Then we apply a thick snow foam that clings to the surface and dissolves grime. This sits for 5–10 minutes. The goal is to remove as much contamination as possible without touching the paint — because rubbing a dirty car with a mitt is how you get scratches.
Time: 15–20 minutes
Step 2: Wheels and Tyres First
We always do wheels before the body. Wheels are the dirtiest part of the car — brake dust, road grime, tar. We use dedicated wheel brushes (never the same mitt that touches paintwork) and a specific wheel cleaner that's safe for your wheel type. Each wheel gets cleaned inside and out, and we clean behind the spokes where brake dust builds up.
Time: 20–30 minutes
Step 3: Two-Bucket Hand Wash
After the pre-wash and foam have done their job, we do a full hand wash using the two-bucket method — one bucket with soapy water, one with clean rinse water. We use a quality microfibre wash mitt (not a sponge, not a brush) and work top-down, panel by panel. This is where the "hand wash" part of professional detailing matters. Every panel gets individual attention.
Time: 20–30 minutes
Step 4: Decontamination (Clay Bar)
Even after washing, your paint has bonded contaminants that water and soap can't remove — tree sap, industrial fallout, mineral deposits, tar spots. We use a clay bar or clay mitt across every panel. You can actually feel the difference — run your hand over the paint before and after claying and it goes from rough to glass-smooth. In Cairns, clay bar is especially important because of the constant salt air and tropical sap.
Time: 30–45 minutes
Step 5: Polish (If Needed)
Not every car needs a machine polish, but many do — especially in Cairns where UV damage is constant. A single-stage polish removes light swirl marks, minor scratches, and restores clarity to the clear coat. For more damaged paint, we do a multi-stage correction (this is a separate service — paint correction). We assess the paint condition and let you know if polishing would make a meaningful difference.
Time: 30–60 minutes (if included)
Step 6: Protection (Sealant or Wax)
Once the paint is clean and corrected, we seal it. Our standard full detail includes a synthetic paint sealant that lasts 3–6 months. This creates a protective barrier against UV, salt air, and contaminants. For longer-lasting protection, we offer ceramic coating as an upgrade. We also apply a tyre dressing that gives a clean, satin finish — not the oily, sling-everywhere look.
Time: 20–30 minutes
Step 7: Glass, Trim, and Door Jambs
Every window gets cleaned inside and out. Exterior trim gets dressed and protected. Door jambs — the bits you see when you open the doors — get cleaned and wiped. These are the details that separate a professional job from a quick wash.
Time: 15–20 minutes
The Interior Process (Step by Step)
The interior takes roughly 1.5–2.5 hours. Some cars take longer — especially if there's mould, heavy staining, or pet hair (we see a lot of that in Cairns).
Step 1: Full Vacuum
Every surface gets vacuumed — seats, carpet, floor mats, boot, under seats, between console and seats (where chips, coins, and crumbs hide), and all crevices. We use a commercial-grade vacuum with various attachments to get into every gap.
Time: 20–30 minutes
Step 2: Dashboard, Console, and Hard Surfaces
Every hard surface gets wiped down with an interior-safe all-purpose cleaner — dashboard, centre console, steering wheel, gear shifter, cup holders, door cards, vents, and buttons. We use small brushes to get into air vents and around buttons where dust builds up. In Cairns' humidity, these surfaces can get surprisingly grimy.
Time: 20–30 minutes
Step 3: Leather or Fabric Treatment
Leather seats get cleaned with a pH-balanced leather cleaner, then conditioned to restore suppleness and protect against cracking. This is critical in Cairns — the combination of UV and humidity dries out leather fast. Fabric seats get a stain treatment and, if needed, hot water extraction (essentially a deep shampoo). We can also treat for mould and odour if that's an issue.
Time: 20–40 minutes
Step 4: Carpet and Floor Mat Clean
Floor mats get removed and cleaned separately. Carpet gets vacuumed, spot-treated for stains, and can be shampooed with hot water extraction if needed. We pay special attention to the driver's side where wear is heaviest.
Time: 15–20 minutes
Step 5: Glass (Interior)
Interior glass gets a streak-free clean. You'd be amazed how much film builds up on the inside of your windscreen — especially from the off-gassing of dashboard plastics in Cairns' heat. Clean interior glass dramatically improves visibility, especially at night and when driving into the sun.
Time: 10–15 minutes
Step 6: Final Inspection
We do a full walk-around and sit in every seat to check for anything we missed. We also take before-and-after photos and send them to you when the job is done.
Time: 10 minutes
How Long Does a Full Detail Take?
| Vehicle Type | Full Detail Time |
|---|---|
| Small sedan / hatchback | 3 – 3.5 hours |
| Mid-size SUV | 3.5 – 4 hours |
| Large SUV / 4WD | 4 – 5 hours |
| Dual-cab ute with canopy | 4.5 – 5.5 hours |
| Heavily neglected vehicle | 5 – 7 hours |
These are real working times, not estimates padded for marketing. If someone quotes you 1–2 hours for a "full detail," they're either cutting corners or they have a very different definition of "full."
Full Detail vs Express Wash vs Drive-Through
Let's be honest about what each option actually gives you:
| Service | What You Get | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-through car wash | Automated brush wash, basic rinse, air dry. Uses recycled water. Often scratches paint. | 5–10 min | $15–$25 |
| Express / basic hand wash | Hand wash exterior, quick interior vacuum, window clean. No clay bar, no polish, no protection. | 30–60 min | $40–$80 |
| Full professional detail | Everything described above — decontamination, correction, protection, deep interior clean, conditioning. | 3–5 hours | $200–$400 |
There's a time and place for each. An express wash every couple of weeks to keep on top of surface dirt is fine. But every 3–4 months (more often in Cairns), your car needs a proper full detail to address the stuff that a quick wash can't touch — bonded contaminants, UV damage, mould spores, leather drying out, and protection degrading.
Think of it like dental care. You brush every day (quick wash), but you still need the dentist every 6 months (full detail). Skip the dentist and problems build up.
When You Need a Full Detail vs Individual Services
You don't always need the full package. Here's a quick guide:
- Get a full detail when: it's been 3+ months since the last one, you're about to sell the car, you've just bought a used car, the interior smells musty, or the paint feels rough to the touch.
- Get an exterior detail only when: the inside is fine but the paint needs attention — dull finish, bird droppings damage, or you just want a fresh sealant.
- Get an interior detail only when: you've got stains, mould, pet hair, or that wet season mustiness that won't go away.
- Get a ceramic coating when: you want long-term protection and are willing to invest in it. Best done after a full paint correction.
What to Expect on the Day (Mobile Detailing)
Since we're 100% mobile, here's what happens when you book with us:
- We confirm the night before — you'll get a text with our arrival window (usually a 30-minute window, not "sometime between 8 and 5")
- We arrive with everything — our van carries all the water, power, chemicals, tools, and equipment we need. All we ask from you is access to a power point and a water tap.
- Quick walk-around together — we'll look at the car with you, point out any existing damage (so there's no confusion later), and confirm what we're doing today.
- We get to work — you go about your day. Watch TV, work from home, go to the shops. You don't need to be involved at all.
- Final walk-through — when we're done, we'll walk you through the car if you're home. If not, we'll send before-and-after photos via text.
- Payment — we take card, cash, or bank transfer. No surprises — the price we quoted is the price you pay.
How to Prepare Your Car for a Detail
We don't ask for much. Just do these things before we arrive:
- Remove personal belongings — phones, wallets, sunglasses, gym bags, kids' stuff. Anything you don't want us moving.
- Clear out rubbish — we're detailers, not cleaners. If there's 6 months of McDonald's bags on the floor, clear those out first. (No judgement — we've seen it all.)
- Empty the boot — especially if you want us to clean it. Prams, tools, shopping bags — just pull them out.
- Mention any specific concerns — got a coffee stain on the seat? Mould in the boot? A scratch you're worried about? Tell us when you book so we can allow the right amount of time and bring the right products.
That's it. We handle everything else.
Ready to book a full detail? Call us on 0400 000 000 or check out our pricing page. We'll come to you anywhere in the Cairns region.