Interior detailing in Burlington.

Most of the dirt in a car is not on the seats you can see. It sits in the carpet pile, under the mats and in the seat seams. In Burlington the biggest offender is winter: salt and sand ride in on boots, dry out and turn the carpet stiff and grey.

The rest of the year it is dust, sunscreen on the console and whatever the kids left behind. A regular vacuum lifts the top layer. Steam and shampoo extraction pull out what is bonded to the fibres.

Salt is the problem Burlington drivers know best. Between the QEW, the 403 and the lakeside roads, the city salts heavily, and a car that is driven daily carries it inside on every pair of boots. It dries into white crystals in the carpet, and when the cabin warms up it can turn damp again and leave that stale smell.

The fix is not more vacuuming. Salt dissolves in water, so steam loosens it and extraction rinses it out of the pile. Mid-winter is a perfectly good time for this if you have a garage or a mild day. Many people book in late March once the salt trucks stop, and the spring detailing guide explains the timing.

If salt is your main complaint, ask about the winter salt mess add-on at +$40 when you request your quote.

Interior details start from $119 $149. Here is the order we work in:

1. Deep vacuum of carpets, seats, vents and boot, with compressed air in the tight spots.
2. Steam on seams, cupholders, door pockets and switchgear to loosen grime and sanitize.
3. Carpet and seat shampoo extraction, so the dirty water comes out instead of sinking in.
4. Leather clean and condition, or fabric treatment if you have cloth.
5. Streak-free interior glass.
6. Trim, dash and console wipe-down.

Allow 2 to 4 hours. Sedans are the base price; an SUV adds $30, and pet hair (+$40) or heavy stains (+$50) are added only if your car needs them.

We bring our own water, power and lighting, so you do not need to hook anything up. We just need space beside the car: a driveway in Millcroft, a condo garage near downtown Burlington or an office lot while you work.

When we are done we walk the car with you panel by panel, and anything that is not right gets fixed on the spot. Not sure how often to book? The how often should you detail your car guide breaks it down. You can also read the full interior detailing service page or see our Burlington car detailing overview.

Fill in the 60-second form at our quote page, add photos if you like, and you will usually get a tailored quote the same day. We work Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Pay by card, e-transfer or cash. If it rains we reschedule free or move to a covered spot.