How Do We Do A Complete Rad Detail?
First, we show up! This might seem too simple when talking about how we do a complete rad detail, but this is an important first step that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Rad Wash is primarily mobile and so a massive part of our initial opportunity is to arrive professionally, on-time, and ready to have a great time refreshing your vehicle. We know… squandering this huge opportunity seems silly. Unfortunately, it happens all too often when we hear from clients who tell us this company or that can be flaky. We recognize this as an opportunity to serve our Benington and larger Omaha communities better.
So, step 1, we show up.
From there, we complete the following:
Exterior Clean and Protect
Potential clients too often mistake this portion of the rad detail as a simple car wash. Typically, a detailer is washing a vehicle to prep it for the next step which is polishing, if required. The polishing step is also a prep-step toward applying whatever version of protection they choose or the client requests. Polishing accomplishes its own short list of results, but we discuss those HERE since this step is not included with the rad detail. Suffice it to say that we not only wash, but thoroughly clean the exterior of your vehicle, including all nooks, crannies, and spots typically left untouched (think inside the fuel/charging door). Then, we add a quick wax to protect the work you’ve just had done.
This included and free, short-term protective layer is intended to last up to 14 days with regular and adequate maintenance. We offer upgraded protection options that clients can choose if they want something significantly better than what the service comes with. These options range from carnauba wax, offering up to 30 days of protection to nanocoatings which offer up to 2 years of protection!
Oh, nanocoatings…
Just like the polishing step after cleaning the exterior of your vehicle, nanocoatings have their own list of pre and post-application steps along with desired outcomes. Since this is an upgrade option and not included with the rad detail, we recommend you check out the article HERE if interested in learning more or seriously considering upgrading a previously scheduled appointment.
Wheel/Wheel Well Clean & Protect
Similar to how the exterior portion of the rad detail is more thorough than what you might expect from a drive-through or self-serve car wash, we really make sure your wheels pop. The tools and chemicals we choose to accomplish this step allow us to be extremely thorough. This is actually where we start when cleaning the exterior. We do the wheel area first since it’s typically the dirtiest portion of the vehicle. So that we don’t spray all of that debris over freshly washed paint, we complete the wheel areas first then move on to the rest of the vehicle.
We offer a “wheels off” upgrade as well. This is a popular option for clients who just went off-road for a hunt, to purposely get muddy, or want an added layer of protection from road debris. How we do this upgrade is outlined HERE.
Glass & Mirror Clean
This step is fairly straightforward with a couple of not-so-obvious rad standards of cleaning. This is really more about how we get rid of cleaning streaks on the glass.
The glass will have been washed during the exterior cleaning process but the final wipe-down isn’t done until we clean the interior. This is where everyone’s frustration occurs …
Streaks!!
Everyone agrees that streaks are the worst thing to plague glass - next to any version of cracking or breakage -those are worse … unless the cleaning streaks are the only thing in view.
How do we get rid of streaks on glass?
We actually love sharing this bit of info because it really does contribute to safer and more enjoyable driving experiences. That and streaky glass can make an otherwise great detail, lackluster. This is also an exhaustively discussed topic all across the detailing industry. As a mobile detailing company that also offers mobile automotive and architectural tint services, we can assure you that our methods work. This isn’t to say we are perfect or have the single best method. We just have a method we like and that works well with our current set of procedures. We’re constantly learning and applying new skills, so it’s likely that we’ll pivot to an evolved method when the time comes.
For us, it’s as simple as completing 3 steps - cleaning, removing excess liquid, then a final pass with a dry and clean microfiber cloth to remove any residue, a.k.a. streaking. For many people, the final pass is often overlooked or completed with compromised towels. A dirty or old cloth can leave behind residue which can be the same or worse as stopping at the previous step. Bright lights or just working out in the sunlight helps us to see any remaining residue so that we can remove it, leaving our clients with a safer and more satisfying ride.
It should go without saying, but one quick way to evaluate the performance of the glass cleaning steps is to observe the top inch or so of your side windows. It’s not always the case, but it’s likely that if the cleaner left that area untouched, they probably didn’t check for residue or streaks. You can tell if that top edge was cleaned or not by checking to see if there is a line of dirt where the top edge of the glass rolls up into the doorframe. Every detailer should roll down the side windows to reveal this area and clean it.
This is one of those rad expectations that we have for our team and we ask our clients to call us out on it if we miss it.
Sometimes the glass is excessively dirty or filled with water spots. In some of these cases, it may require additional steps to remove this excessive contamination. Performing these extra steps is an upgrade to the rad detail and comes with a free Rain-X protective coating. There’s also an option to upgrade to a nano coating specifically formulated to protect glass and not interfere with wiper performance.
Interior Clean and Protect
The interior only detail is actually one of our most popular stand-alone mobile services.
Expectations, Expectations, Expectations!
Managing expectations from us to clients and clients to us is the biggest opportunity for success when discussing interior cleaning. Procedurally, this part of the rad detail service is set to the 2 1/2 - 3 hour timeframe. Quite frankly, interiors are a little more difficult to transform as there are more parts, pieces, and crevices to navigate. On top of that, detailers can encounter stains, tears, or discoloration on any of the fabric or hard surfaces, not to mention excessive pet hair.
The rad detail does not include the removal of staining, bodily fluid, or excessive pet hair. Things like this require additional fees. Fabric repair or color matching are available as upgrade options to an interior only detail.
So, great - an opportunity for hidden fees …
We promise this is not the case! Every client has the opportunity to let us know at the time they book an appointment whether there is anything excessive. If there is, our system will automatically update their appointment to reflect accurate pricing. If a client accidentally misses this opportunity to let us know, we will update them upon arrival and wait for approval prior to beginning our work.
Subjectivity is a thing when discussing interior detailing. We like to help clear it up a little by defining excessive scenarios as things like; having pets in the vehicle more than a few times a week, food debris under the safety belt buckles or in the seat tracks, any version of bodily fluid, and any staining that requires machine steaming/extraction. The steps necessary to remove these things just take more time, effort, and skill.
We like to encourage people to think in terms of a spectrum from what condition your vehicle is in currently to the condition of a brand new version of your vehicle. The further apart those two points are on that spectrum the more time, effort, and skill it will take to bring your vehicle closer to new again. Don’t worry though! We are super fair. If a client feels one way or the other about anything excessive, we are more than happy to work it out and come to an agreement that works for everyone.
After all applicable excessive scenarios are addressed, we perform the following:
Vacuum
Fabric Seat Clean
Leather Seat Clean & Protect
Hard Surface Clean & Protect
Floor Mat Clean & Condition
… AND THEN WE’RE DONE! YOU’LL GET A TEXT AND A LINK TO PAY FOR YOUR SERVICE.
The complete rad detail is an amazing automotive spa experience that you can, and should, pamper your vehicle with at least once per quarter. This, of course, comes with our recommendation to properly maintain your vehicle between appointments. You can check out the post HERE to learn more about how to maintain your vehicle.
