Short answer
A proper interior detail includes a deep vacuum, steam cleaning, shampoo extraction of carpets and seats, leather cleaning and conditioning, glass cleaning and detailed work on the dash, trim and console. Heavy stains, pet hair and smoke odour are usually extras, so ask what is covered before you book.
Why the answer varies so much
There is no standard definition of an interior detail. A quick vacuum and wipe at a car wash can be sold under the same name as a three-hour deep clean. The price difference is the work behind it.
The test is simple. A detail should clean the parts you can see and the parts you cannot: seat seams, carpet fibres, vents, door jambs and the dash. It should leave the interior clean enough that you could eat off the seat. If a quote does not list steps, ask for them.
The package you pick should state what it includes. Ours does, and this is how it works.
What a thorough interior detail covers
1. Prep and deep vacuum
Mats come out, loose items are removed and the whole interior is vacuumed with brushes and crevice tools: carpets, seats, seams, rails, door pockets and the trunk. Compressed air or brushes loosen debris from vents and tight gaps first. Skipping this means you are cleaning over crumbs.
2. Steam
Steam loosens grime from crevices, cup holders, buttons and fabric, and works without soaking surfaces. It is useful for sticky residue and for touch points. See interior steam sanitization.
3. Shampoo and extraction
Carpets and fabric seats are treated with a cleaner, agitated, then extracted with a machine that pulls dirty water out. That is the difference between cleaning and just wetting. Details of the process are on our stain removal and shampoo extraction page.
4. Leather clean and condition
Leather is cleaned gently with a pH-appropriate cleaner and a soft brush, then conditioned. See leather cleaning and conditioning, or our leather seat care guide for home care.
5. Dash, trim and console
All hard surfaces are cleaned: dashboard, door cards, centre console, vents, switches and screens. Detail brushes reach into seams. A matte, non-greasy protectant finishes the plastics, so they do not look shiny or feel slick.
6. Glass
Windows and mirrors inside are cleaned without streaks. The method is in our streak-free windows guide.
7. Final check
A walk-through under good light to catch missed spots, and the mats go back in.
What usually costs extra
Some jobs sit outside a standard interior package at most detailers. Ask about them, so the quote is honest.
- Pet hair. Embedded hair takes a lot of extra time. Ours is +$40. See pet hair removal.
- Smoke or odour treatment. +$50 with us. See smoke and odour removal.
- Heavy stains. +$50 with us.
- Winter salt mess. +$40 with us. See cleaning salt stains from carpet.
- Larger vehicles. More space means more time. SUVs add $30, trucks $40, vans and minivans $50 and exotics $60.
One more tip for comparing quotes: ask whether the price includes the steam and the extraction, or only a vacuum and wipe. Two quotes with the same name and a very different price usually differ in exactly that. A cheap interior detail is often a quick vacuum, a spray of dressing and a glass wipe.
Not everything can be fixed by cleaning, either. Torn upholstery, cracked leather, deep burns and sagging headliners are repair jobs. We tell you what will and will not come out before we start.
How long it takes and what to expect
Interior details at Jay's take roughly 2 to 4 hours, depending on the vehicle's size and condition. A tidy sedan is at the shorter end, and a family SUV with food ground into the carpet is at the longer end. For a fuller breakdown see how long does car detailing take.
Since we are mobile, you do not need to be present the whole time, but we do a walk-around with you at the end. Fabric seats can feel slightly damp after extraction and are usually dry in a few hours, quicker with the windows open. Leave the car ventilated if you can.
To get ready, clear out personal items and trash, and make sure there is space beside the car. Our guide to preparing for mobile detailing has a quick checklist.
Getting it done with Jay's
Interior Restoration starts from $119 $149 and includes a deep vacuum and steam, carpet and seat shampoo extraction, leather clean and condition, glass, trim and console. Everything above, in one visit. See interior detailing for the full page, or compare with interior vs exterior vs full detail if you are unsure which service you need.
Every job ends with a panel-by-panel walk-around, and if something is not right, we fix it on the spot. We come to Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Hamilton, Waterdown and Halton Hills. Send a quick request through the 60-second quote form, photos optional.