Why detailing matters in Perth
Perth's extreme UV, summer heat above 40°C, coastal salt air and fine red dust make car detailing more important here than almost anywhere in Australia. Without regular protection, paint oxidises, plastics crack, leather dries out and interiors age rapidly.
This checklist covers both Interior and Exterior tasks — the full detail process from start to finish.
Interior — preparation
- Remove all personal items — check under seats, door pockets, centre console, glovebox, boot
- Remove floor mats — shake out, set aside for separate cleaning
- Remove loose rubbish — cup holders, door bins, seat pockets
Interior — deep vacuuming
- Seats — vacuum all surfaces, between seat cushions and in stitching lines
- Carpets — slide seats forward and back to access all carpet areas
- Seat rails and tracks — use a narrow nozzle to get into rail channels
- Under pedals — dirt accumulates heavily here from shoes
- Boot/trunk — lift the boot liner, vacuum underneath and in the spare tyre well
- Floor mats — vacuum both sides, scrub with brush if needed
Interior — surfaces & detail work
- Dashboard — wipe with all-purpose cleaner, apply non-greasy UV protectant
- Centre console — clean buttons, knobs, cup holders and storage compartments
- Door cards — wipe panels, handles, speaker grilles and window switches
- Air vents — use detail brushes to remove dust from every slat
- Steering wheel — clean thoroughly with appropriate cleaner (leather or plastic)
- Gear shifter and handbrake — clean and wipe down
- Seat belt buckles and stalks — wipe with damp cloth
- Sun visors and vanity mirrors — wipe clean
- Roof liner — spot-clean any marks (be gentle — headliners are delicate)
Interior — seats & upholstery
- Fabric seats — hot water extraction (shampoo, agitate, extract) to remove deep-set dirt and stains
- Leather seats — clean with pH-neutral leather cleaner, condition with quality leather conditioner to prevent cracking from Perth heat
- Seat bolsters — pay extra attention to high-wear entry/exit areas
- Headrests — clean thoroughly — hair oil builds up here over time
Interior — glass & finishing
- All interior glass — clean with ammonia-free glass cleaner for streak-free finish
- Windscreen inside — critical for reducing glare from off-gassing haze
- Rear window and side glass — clean fully, including edges and corners
- Final inspection — check all surfaces, replace mats, do a final once-over
Exterior — wash & decontamination
- Pre-rinse — rinse entire vehicle to remove loose dirt and prevent scratching during wash
- Wheels and tyres first — clean with wheel cleaner, brush spokes, clean tyre sidewalls
- Wheel arches — spray and scrub to remove built-up road grime
- Two-bucket wash — one bucket with car shampoo, one with clean rinse water. Use a microfibre wash mitt
- Wash top to bottom — roof first, working down panels. Rinse mitt frequently
- Door jambs and sills — open doors and clean the edges and hinges
- Clay bar — remove bonded contaminants (tree sap, industrial fallout, overspray) for a smooth finish
- Rinse and dry — use a drying towel or forced-air blower. Never air-dry in Perth sun (water spots)
Exterior — protection & finishing
- Polish — machine or hand polish to remove light swirl marks and restore gloss
- Wax or sealant — apply paint protection to shield against UV, water and contaminants
- Trim dressing — restore faded black plastic trim with UV-resistant dressing
- Tyre dressing — apply a satin or gloss finish to clean tyres
- Exterior glass — clean all windows and apply rain-repellent treatment to windscreen
- Chrome and badges — polish any chrome and clean manufacturer badges
- Final inspection — walk around, check for missed spots, ensure streak-free glass and even protection
Want a professional detail?
We come to you anywhere in Perth — home, office or wherever your car is. Full interior and exterior detail with professional-grade equipment.