What the QEW and 403 leave on your paint
If you commute on the QEW or the 403, your car is sprayed with traffic film all year: road salt in winter, brake dust and tar in summer, and a fine layer of exhaust soot throughout. Park near the lake and you add a bit of damp air that keeps the salt active on metal.
Much of this bonds to the clear coat. Run a clean hand over freshly washed paint, and if it feels gritty, something is stuck on it. Washing alone cannot lift that. Decontamination can.
What we do, in order
Exterior details start from $103 $129 and take 1.5 to 3 hours.
- Rinse and hand wash with clean mitts, then dry with soft towels so nothing scratches.
- Iron decontamination, which dissolves embedded brake dust and the orange specks of iron fallout.
- Tar removal along the sills and rear quarters.
- Clay bar treatment to shave off what is left, so the paint feels glassy.
- Wheels, wheel wells and tires cleaned.
- Trim and tire dressing for an even finish.
Want to know what clay actually does? See our clay bar explained guide.
A simple test for bonded contamination
Wash the car, dry it, then put your hand in a thin plastic sandwich bag and glide it over the bonnet. The bag amplifies texture. Any rough, grainy feel is contamination sitting in or on the clear coat. Most Burlington commuter cars fail this test, particularly on the bonnet, roof and the back of the car, where road spray lands.
That test is also how we check our own work. After claying, the same bag should slide over the paint without catching. It takes about 20 seconds and you can do it yourself during the walk-around, which we do panel by panel on every job.
Bright, glassy paint also sheds dirt more easily on the next wash, so the car stays cleaner for longer between visits.
Why not just use the automatic car wash
Brush washes can drag grit across paint, which is how many light swirls start. Touchless washes use strong chemicals and still leave the film behind. A hand wash with decontamination takes more time, but the results last longer and it is gentler on paint. The mobile detailing vs car wash guide has a side-by-side comparison.
Winter is the main reason. The road salt removal guide explains how salt eats into brake parts and paint chips, and why a thorough wash after the last snow matters.
Booking in Burlington
We bring water, power and lighting, so a driveway in Roseland or Shoreacres works well, as does an office lot. If your car is a lease or heading for sale, mention it on the form. See the exterior detailing service page and the Burlington car detailing overview, then request a quote at our booking page. A tailored quote usually arrives the same day.
Sedans are the base price, SUVs add $30, trucks $40 and vans $50. Winter salt mess is +$40. Rain means a free reschedule or a move to your garage.