Carriage shine
Coach owners in Germany coat carriages in animal fat to protect the paint. It worked, and it drew flies.
SoCal auto detailing
Grime in.Gloss out.
Full details, interiors, ceramic coating and paint correction. Detailers near you quote the job, at your place or theirs.
Dirty 0%
Drag to wipe or tap a step
Try your paint Black
- CAR
- Not picked yet
- JOB
- Full detail
- WHERE
- Mobile
- PAINT
- Black
Why people book
Nine reasons
to book a detail
Nobody books a detail because it's Tuesday. Something set it off. Pick yours and we'll match the job to it.
07
SoCal sun
Sun and heat are hard on paint, trim and dashboards. Protection keeps the gloss.
Ceramic coating08
Swirls in the sun
Spiderweb scratches that show up in daylight. Polishing takes them out.
Paint correctionThe menu
Pick your
level of clean
From a deep clean to a finish that lasts years. Pick one and we'll send you to detailers who do it near you.
#01The reset
Full detail
The reset. Hand wash, decon and protection outside, a deep clean inside.
- Hand wash
- Clay and decon
- Vacuum and wipe down
#02Kids, pets, commutes
Interior
Seats, carpets, mats and every crumb in the cracks. Ask about stains and pet hair.
- Shampoo
- Steam
- Odor
#03Protection
Ceramic coating
A hard, glossy layer bonded to the paint. Water beads off and washes get easier.
- Gloss
- Beading
- Easier washes
#04Swirls out
Paint correction
Machine polishing that takes out swirl marks and light scratches so the paint looks new.
- Compound
- Polish
- Depth and clarity
Under the lights
Swirls to gloss
BEFOREAFTER
Illustration, not a photo of a detailer's work.
01
Why the shop lights are hexagons
Detail bays use bright, cool white hex lights because they show every swirl and scratch. If the paint looks good under those, it looks good anywhere.
02
Swirls come from washing
Dirty mitts, automatic washes and dry towels leave fine circular scratches. Sunlight catches them and the paint looks dull.
03
Correct first, then coat
A coating locks in whatever is under it. Most detailers correct the paint before a ceramic coating so you're sealing in gloss, not swirls.
The ritual
It's a process,
not a car wash
A wash cleans. A detail restores. Pros work in an order that keeps grit from scratching the paint they're trying to save.
- FoamThick snow foam soaks and loosens grime so it slides off instead of being scrubbed in.
- RinseGrit goes off with the water, before a mitt ever touches the paint.
- DeconClay and iron removers pull out what washing leaves behind.
- PolishMachine pads, from heavy cut to fine finish, level swirls and bring back depth.
- ProtectWax, sealant or ceramic coating locks in the gloss so water beads off.
The history
From carriage wax
to ceramic
People have been obsessing over a shine for more than two hundred years. Swipe through it.
Polishing compounds
Menzerna develops polishing compounds that end up on vehicles. The name is still in the trade.
Furniture polish on cars
Frank Meguiar Jr. starts putting his furniture polish on car paint. The family name becomes a car care brand.
The paid wax job
Garages in San Diego start charging to apply carnauba wax. Simons paste wax becomes Simoniz.
Synthetic protection
The first polymer sealant goes on sale, a synthetic wax that outlasts the natural kind.
Machines and microfiber
Orbital polishers borrowed from aircraft work, better clay and microfiber towels change how paint gets corrected.
Ceramic coating
The first ceramic coating arrives, a hard layer that bonds to the paint for years, not weeks.
The detailer comes to you
Pros roll up to your driveway with water, power and hex lights. You book from your phone.
Dates from an auto detailing school's history of the trade.
How it works
Keys to clean
- Tell us the carYear, make, model, ZIP and the job. That's what a detailer needs to quote you.
- Pick a detailer and timeCompare quotes from detailers near you and request a slot on Lokuli.
- Hand over the keysMobile detailers come to your driveway or office. Or drop it off at the shop.
Clean car, clean water
Only rain
down the drain
Storm drains in LA County carry runoff to rivers and the ocean untreated. That's why SoCal cities expect mobile detailers to keep wash water out of the gutter. Ask yours how they capture it.
LA County Public WorksStorm drains flow to rivers and the ocean untreatedStormwater management →
U.S. EPADetailers should contain and capture wash water before it leaves the siteCar washing guidance →
City of Rancho Santa MargaritaMobile detailer wash water can't enter storm drainsMobile detailer rules →
U.S. EPA Safer ChoiceLook up car care products made with safer ingredientsSafer Choice →
Near you
Detailers
around town
Good to know
Detail questions
How long does a full detail take?
Usually a few hours, depending on the size of the car and how dirty it is. Paint correction and ceramic coating can take a full day or more. Your detailer confirms timing when they quote.
Mobile or drop off, which is better?
Mobile is easiest for washes, interiors and full details because they come to you. Ask whether they bring their own water and power. For paint correction and coatings, a shop gives controlled lighting and a covered space while the coating cures.
What is paint correction?
Machine polishing that levels the clear coat to remove swirl marks and light scratches. Deep scratches through the clear coat may need paint work instead.
What does a ceramic coating actually do?
It bonds to the paint and adds a hard, glossy layer. Water beads off, dirt sticks less and washing gets easier. With proper care, many coatings last years. It doesn't make the car scratch-proof.
Why does my car look swirled in the sun?
Fine scratches from washing catch direct light and spread it into circles. A correction removes them, and a coating with gentle washing helps keep them away.
How much does a detail cost?
Each detailer sets its own price based on your car, its condition and the job. Detailers quote you through Lokuli, so you can compare before you book.
Is mobile detailing bad for the environment?
It doesn't have to be. Storm drains in LA County run to rivers and the ocean untreated, so SoCal cities expect mobile detailers to keep wash water out of them, usually with containment mats and a wet vac or low-water methods. Ask how they handle it when you book.
How should I prep my car?
Take out personal items and mention stains, pet hair or odors when you book, so the quote covers the real job.
Own a detail business?
Get these bookings
Detail Done sends drivers to detailers on Lokuli. Claim a booking page free, take requests online, and pay no commission on any plan.