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The detailing terms, in plain English.

Detailers throw a lot of jargon at you, and it makes it hard to tell what you are actually paying for. Here is what each term means, with no upsell attached.

Ceramic coating
A liquid glass-like layer that bonds to the clear coat for years of gloss and water resistance. It guards against fading and chemical stains.
Clay bar
A detailing clay glided over the paint to lift bonded contaminants, like industrial fallout and overspray, that washing alone leaves behind. It leaves the surface glass-smooth.
Clear coat
The transparent top layer of your paint. It carries the gloss and shields the color beneath it from the elements.
Decontamination
A deep-cleaning step that pulls bonded grime and embedded metal particles out of the paint before it is polished or protected, so protection bonds to truly clean paint.
Extraction
Deep-cleaning carpets and upholstery by injecting cleaning solution and immediately vacuuming it back out, pulling embedded dirt and stains with it.
Foam cannon
A thick blanket of soap foam sprayed onto the car to soak and lift dirt before any contact, greatly reducing wash-induced scratching.
Hydrophobic
Water-repelling: the surface makes water bead up and sheet off, carrying dirt away with it so the car stays cleaner longer.
Iron remover
A spray that dissolves tiny embedded metal flecks, mostly brake dust, that would otherwise rust and pit your paint.
Oxidation
A dull, hazy, or yellowed look caused by sun and air slowly breaking down a clear coat or plastic lens over time.
Ozone treatment
An odor-removal process that uses ozone gas to chemically destroy odor molecules at their source instead of masking them with scent.
Paint correction
Machine polishing that removes swirl marks and light scratches to restore clarity, depth, and gloss to the paint.
Paint sealant
A liquid paint protectant that bonds to the clear coat to add gloss and a water-repelling layer, typically lasting several months.
Swirl marks
Fine circular scratches in the clear coat, usually from improper washing, that dull the paint and show up as spider-webbing under direct light.
UV protection
A treatment that shields surfaces from the sun, slowing the fading, cracking, and yellowing that UV rays cause over time.
Wet sanding
Sanding a surface with very fine, water-lubricated abrasives to remove heavy oxidation or defects before polishing it back to clarity.

Still not sure which service you need? Every price on our list is a starting price, and we confirm the final number with you before we start.

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