The full detail in Burlington.

Think of it as a reset. Inside and out, the car gets the full treatment, then a sealant goes on the paint so the clean lasts longer than a wash would.

It fits most situations: a car you have owned for a few years and never properly cleaned, a vehicle you are about to sell, a lease coming up for return, or the first spring day when the salt finally comes off. If you cannot decide between interior and exterior, this is the answer. Our comparison of interior, exterior and full detail lays out the differences.

It sits in the middle of the range. Below it are interior and exterior packages on their own. Above it is ceramic coating.

It is also the package we suggest when someone says the car is just generally tired. Rather than guessing which half needs work, we do both and finish with a protective layer, so the whole vehicle feels consistent instead of one clean half and one neglected half.

Sequence matters on a full car, so we do the dirty work first and the visible finishing last.

1. Interior first: remove mats, vacuum, steam the vents and crevices, and shampoo and extract carpets and seats.
2. Clean and condition leather, wipe all trim, and set the interior aside to air.
3. Move outside: rinse, clean wheels and tires, foam and hand wash.
4. Decontaminate the paint with iron remover, tar remover and clay.
5. Dry the car and apply a sealant to the paint.
6. Dress tires and trim, clean all glass, and put the mats back.
7. Do the final walk-around with you, panel by panel, fixing anything that is not right before we leave.

Doing the interior before the exterior is deliberate. It stops dust and moisture from the cabin settling on fresh sealant.

The walk-around at the end is part of the process, not a courtesy. We go panel by panel inside and out. If you spot a missed crumb, a smear on the glass or a patch of tar, we fix it right there.

Three to five hours is normal. A sedan in decent shape sits near the low end. A minivan after a family road trip, or an SUV with a winter of salt in the carpet, uses the full window.

Because we are mobile, the time is not spent on a shop floor while you wait in a lounge. You can work from home, run errands, or stay out of the way. If you want to see the process, you can watch. See our overview of how long car detailing takes for more.

Weather affects the exterior half more than the interior. If the day turns wet, we can do the interior in the rain-free comfort of a garage and return for the outside, or reschedule the whole job at no cost.

The Full Detail starts from $176 $220. That figure is the base for a sedan or coupe. Size and add-ons are the only things that change it.

• SUV +$30, truck +$40, van or minivan +$50, exotic +$60.
• Pet hair +$40, smoke or odour +$50, heavy stains +$50, winter salt mess +$40.
• Each additional vehicle booked at the same time is 20% off.

Booking both an interior and an exterior package separately would not give you the sealant step and would mean two visits. A single full detail keeps the work coordinated. Request your number on the free quote page and we reply with a tailored price, usually same day.

For comparison, our guide on detailing costs in Burlington and Oakville sets out how mobile pricing usually works, and why add-ons make more sense than hourly rates.

The sealant helps the paint shed water and dirt, and the interior is easier to maintain once it has been properly cleaned.

• Wash by hand or with a touchless method between details.
• Use all-weather mats in winter and shake out salt before it dries into the carpet.
• Re-apply a spray sealant every few months if you like, and book a full detail once or twice a year.

If you want protection that lasts beyond a sealant, read our comparison of ceramic coating, wax and sealant.

If the car will sit outside for the winter, consider the winter protection package in the fall instead, which is built around salt and slush.

A full detail is the service where dropping off your car costs you the most time. At your driveway, we do it while you carry on with the day. We serve Burlington and Oakville every week, plus Milton, Hamilton, Waterdown and Halton Hills, and we travel further for full details.

The local pages for full detailing in Burlington and full detailing in Oakville cover each city.

You also get to be present for the walk-around, which matters. Nothing leaves the driveway until you are satisfied.