Professional Exterior Detailing in Minneapolis | Hand Wash & Paint Protection

Safe hand washing with the two-bucket method, clay bar decontamination, wheel cleaning, and wax protection. No swirls, no scratches — mobile service throughout the Twin Cities.

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Exterior detailing is a thorough hand wash and decontamination service that safely removes dirt, brake dust, road tar, and bonded contaminants without damaging your paint.

Unlike automatic car washes that cause swirl marks and strip wax, we use the two-bucket method, pH-neutral soap, soft microfiber mitts, and professional techniques.

Mobile service is available throughout Minneapolis–St. Paul starting at $100 for a basic exterior wash, $175 for a premium detail with clay bar, and $250 for an ultimate exterior restoration with full decontamination and wax.

Why Exterior Detailing Matters in Minnesota

Automatic car washes feel convenient, but they slowly destroy your paint. Recycled brushes and harsh chemicals create swirl marks, strip away protective wax, dry out trim, and leave your clear coat vulnerable.

Minnesota makes that worse:

  • Road salt from long winters

  • Construction dust and industrial fallout

  • Tree sap, tar, and heavy summer contamination

Professional exterior detailing is built to protect your paint, not just make it look clean for a day.

We hand wash every panel using:

  • The two-bucket method (one soap, one rinse with grit guard)

  • pH-neutral automotive shampoo

  • Soft microfiber wash mitts that never touch the ground

  • Dedicated wheel & tire brushes so brake dust never reaches your paint

  • Clay bar decontamination to remove bonded contaminants

After we fully wash and decontaminate the paint, we apply wax or sealant that shields your vehicle from:

  • Road salt

  • UV rays

  • Bird droppings

  • Tree sap

  • Industrial fallout

Your paint stays cleaner longer, water beads and sheets instead of spotting, and that glossy, showroom shine returns.

Our mobile service brings this care directly to your home, apartment, or workplace anywhere in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

Benefits of Professional Exterior Detailing

  • Prevents damage from harsh chemicals, brushes, salt, and environmental fallout.

  • Two-bucket method, pH-neutral soap, clean mitts, and proper technique protect your clear coat.

  • Clay bar removes tar, sap, rail dust, industrial fallout, overspray, and bonded mineral deposits.

  • Hand-applied wax or sealant enhances depth, color, and reflection.

  • Creates the ideal base for wax, sealants, or ceramic coatings to bond properly.

  • Salt removal, undercarriage rinsing (Ultimate package), and seasonal exterior care help prevent corrosion and rust.

Our Exterior Detailing Process

We follow a methodical 8-step process to get your vehicle perfectly clean and protected without adding any new damage.

1. Initial Inspection & Photography

We inspect the vehicle, note existing damage (chips, scratches, dents), and document condition. This protects both you and us.

4. Two-Bucket Hand Wash

Using premium microfiber mitts and the two-bucket method:

  • Top-to-bottom approach (roof to lower panels)

  • Separate mitt for lower, dirtier areas

  • Straight-line motions, not circles

  • Doorjambs, gas cap, trunk jambs all cleaned

2. Wheel & Tire Cleaning

We always start with the dirtiest area:

  • Acid-free wheel cleaner

  • Dedicated wheel brushes (faces, barrels, wells)

  • Separate tire scrubs

Cleaning wheels first allows any splash to be removed during the main wash.

5. Clay Bar Decontamination (Premium/Ultimate)

We apply clay bar to remove bonded contaminants like tar, sap, rail dust, overspray, and industrial fallout. The result: paint that feels glass-smooth.

7. Wax or Sealant Application (Premium/Ultimate)

We apply protective wax or sealant by hand:

  • Panel by panel

  • Allowed to haze and bond

  • Buffed to a high-gloss finish

This provides 6–9 months of protection against UV, salt, and environmental damage.

3. Pre-Rinse & Foam Application

We pressure rinse the entire vehicle to remove loose dirt and grime, then apply thick pH-neutral foam to break down road film and loosen dirt safely.

6. Drying

We hand dry all surfaces with plush microfiber towels and use blowers to remove water from crevices so water spots don’t form later.

8. Finishing Details

We complete the look with:

  • Trim restoration and dressing

  • Chrome and metal polishing

  • Tire dressing

  • Exterior glass cleaning

  • Final inspection to ensure every panel is perfect

Exterior Detailing Packages

Basic Exterior Detail

$100 (Sedans) | $125 (SUVs) | $150 (Large SUVs/Trucks)

What’s Included:

  • Pre-rinse to remove loose dirt

  • Foam pre-soak

  • Two-bucket hand wash on all exterior panels

  • Wheel and tire cleaning

  • Wheel well cleaning

  • Door jamb cleaning

  • Hand drying with premium microfiber towels

  • Exterior glass cleaning

  • Quick spray wax application

  • Tire dressing

Best For:

  • Regular maintenance (every 2–4 weeks)

  • Well-maintained vehicles

  • Quick refresh between full details

Timeline: ~1.5–2 hours

Full Interior Restoration

$175 (Sedans) | $200 (SUVs) | $225 (Large SUVs/Trucks)

What’s Included:

  • Everything in Basic Exterior Detail, plus:

  • Clay bar decontamination (removes bonded contaminants)

  • Hand wax application (approx. 6-month protection)

  • Trim restoration and protection

  • Chrome and metal polishing

  • Bug and tar removal

  • Wheel face polishing

  • Enhanced tire dressing

Best For:

  • Seasonal or quarterly maintenance

  • Vehicles with moderate contamination

  • Preparing for events, photos, or sale

Timeline: ~2–2.5 hours

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Complete Interior + Exterior Package

$250 (Sedans) | $300 (SUVs) | $350 (Large SUVs/Trucks)

What’s Included:

  • Everything in Premium Exterior Detail, plus:

  • Intensive multi-pass clay bar treatment

  • Paint prep for maximum wax bonding

  • Premium carnauba wax (6–9 month protection)

  • Headlight restoration (if needed)

  • Engine bay wipe-down

  • Undercarriage rinse (salt removal for Minnesota winters)

  • Exhaust tip polishing

  • Water spot removal

  • Enhanced glass treatment

Best For:

  • Spring deep clean after Minnesota winter

  • Heavily contaminated paint

  • Pre-sale prep or special occasions

  • Maximum protection and appearance

Timeline: ~3–3.5 hours

Add-On Services

  • Clay Bar Treatment – $50 (add to Basic)

  • Headlight Restoration – $75–$100

  • Engine Bay Detail – $75–$100

  • Undercarriage Deep Wash – $50

  • Water Spot Removal – $75–$150

  • Heavy Bug & Tar Removal – $50

Who This Service Is For

Our exterior detailing service is ideal for:

  • - Daily commuters in Minneapolis–St. Paul

  • - Owners who currently use automatic car washes but want to stopdamaging their paint

  • - Drivers who park outdoors year-round

  • - Vehicles exposed to construction, industrial areas, or tree cover

  • - Owners prepping their car for sale or trade-in

  • - Anyone who wants their vehicle to look clean, glossy, and professionally maintained without visiting a shop

Schedule Professional Exterior Detailing in Minneapolis–St. Paul

Stop damaging your paint with automatic car washes. Get safe, professional hand washing that protects your vehicle and preserves its value.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Exterior detailing ranges from $100–$350 depending on vehicle size and service level. Basic hand wash starts at $100 for sedans, $125 for SUVs. Premium exterior detail with clay bar is $175–$225. Ultimate exterior detail with full decontamination and premium wax runs $250–$350. All prices include mobile service at your Minneapolis–St. Paul location.

  • Plan for 1.5–3.5 hours, depending on the package and vehicle size. Basic exterior takes 1.5–2 hours, Premium takes 2–2.5 hours, and Ultimate (with undercarriage wash, clay, wax, and extras) takes 3–3.5 hours.

  • Yes. Automatic washes use dirty brushes and harsh chemicals that create swirl marks and strip wax. We use clean tools, the two-bucket method, pH-neutral soap, and proper technique to clean thoroughly without scratching your paint. Over time, the small extra cost per wash saves you hundreds in paint correction.

  • Clay bar removes bonded contaminants that washing alone cannot — tar, sap, rail dust, fallout, overspray, and mineral deposits. If your paint feels rough instead of smooth, you need clay bar. Most vehicles in Minneapolis benefit from clay bar 2–4 times per year. It’s included in Premium and Ultimate packages or can be added to Basic for $50.

  • For non-winter months, aim for a detail every 2–4 weeks if you want your car consistently clean. During Minnesota salt season (October–April), wash every 2–3 weeks to remove salt and prevent damage. At a minimum, schedule spring and fall details, with maintenance washing in between.

  • Yes. All services are mobile. We bring water, power, pressure washers, and all products — you just provide parking space. We can work at homes, apartments (where allowed), and office parking lots across the metro.

  • Yes. Winter is when your vehicle needs care the most. We can safely wash and remove salt in cold temperatures and perform undercarriage rinses. Full wax and some services may require above-freezing conditions or a heated garage.