Detailing Details

• Clear Coat in a Bottle is a Scam
• Biohazard Fees
• “We Can Make Your Car Look Brand New”
• The Cost is Not Too Much

Hello, my name is Jackie, and for about three years, I was a car detailer. I did this alongside technical school, studying automotive customization for three years. I also had the opportunity to take an Adams Ceramics Class, which was so much fun.

I loved detailing so much that I did not want to branch out of it, so I stuck with it. It was one of the best jobs I have ever had, even though I had to eventually leave. It is still one of my passions, and I made this blog as a way to help people understand this industry. 

Clear Coat in a Bottle is a Scam

This has a certain brand name I will not get into, but it promises more than it offers. This item has been promoted as a one-step fix, which it is not. While it may put a glossy coat over your paint, the imperfections will be there permanently, and to fix it, you would have to buff through that entire layer to get to where it matters.

Reviewers also complain of it hazing and streaking. This product would be good if you had peeling or no clear coat, which will help protect the remaining layers that exist. While it does have some redeeming qualities, if you want to fix the swirls or fading, please get a paint correction. It is worth getting it done the right way.

Biohazard Fees

One thing that shocked me the most as a detailer was how many people were willing to drive around with puke in their cars, rather than pay the $50 biohazard fee. This fee deals with any biohazard, as it is a health risk and needs specialized care.

To expect more work of getting blood, urine, and much worse out of a car for free is insanity. I also learned how often people lie to get out of paying for it. Please expect to pay a biohazard fee, and please don’t try to get out of it; you will have to pay it to get whatever it is out. 

“We Can Make Your Car Look Brand New”

If any detailer says this to you, don’t walk, RUN away. This is often a promise that cannot be kept. We can make your vehicle look immensely better, but if it has cracked leather seats, bleach stains, or corrosion, the list goes on, but we can’t just wipe it away.

Some things can only be fixed by getting them repainted or replaced, and that’s ok. It doesn’t make what detailers do any less valuable; it just proves that some damages are above repair. It definitely depends on the condition of your car, but if you have 10-year-old stains, they aren’t coming out. 

The Cost is Not Too Much

Detailing is strenuous, specialized labor for long periods of time. You are paying for the labor, products, and time for someone to intensely detail your car. It needs an understanding of equipment, paint knowledge, chemical knowledge, and much more.

It is not an easy job to be doing all day, and depending on the shop side, they cannot accommodate as much demand as they are commissioned. It is worth the price to pay them for their efforts, and if you don’t want to pay it, you can always do it yourself.