Minivan detailing in Burlington.

Minivans and three-row family cars are used differently from commuter cars. Seats are folded, stowed and strapped in. Every seat has a cupholder, and every cupholder has a story. Floors collect cereal, wipes and wrappers, and sliding door tracks fill with sand and hair.

This page is for parents, carpool drivers and anyone who runs a car that doubles as a snack cart and sports bag locker. If you drive a smaller SUV, see SUV detailing.

Most people here choose Interior Restoration, since the inside takes the beating. Our guide on detailing a family car covers car seats and spills in more depth.

A typical minivan visit starts with a conversation. Which row is worst? Is there a smell? Has anything been spilled and left? We use what you tell us to plan where to spend the most time, and the answers are usually the second row and the cargo well.

Sports gear is another factor. Cleats, hockey bags and wet towels bring mud, grass and smell. We pay attention to the rear cargo area and under-seat storage, where gear leaves its mark.

Child restraints need respect. We never take apart a car seat, since reinstalling one correctly is on you, and its manufacturer's guidance applies. We clean around and under them.

1. Remove mats, loose toys and items, and ask you to remove car seats beforehand if you can.
2. Vacuum every row, including seat tracks, folds, stow-and-go wells and the cargo area.
3. Steam cupholders, door pockets and the sliding door tracks.
4. Pre-treat milk, juice and food stains and shampoo and extract the carpet and cloth seats.
5. Clean seat belts lightly with a damp cloth, not with strong chemicals.
6. Wipe all hard surfaces and glass, and put the mats back.
7. Walk around with you and fix anything missed.

Spills that smell sour get the same treatment. See odour removal for stubborn cases.

Stow-and-go seats and fold-flat benches have deep wells that collect crumbs for years. We lift where the seat design allows and vacuum into the gaps, and we work the vacuum and brush along each seat track so that crumbs are removed rather than pushed deeper.

Plan for 45 to 90 minutes more than a sedan. Minivans have a lot of floor and a lot of seats, and a few seasons of snacks take time to extract.

If you leave the car seats installed, we clean around them, which takes a little longer. Our detailing time guide has base times for each package.

Because family cars are in near-constant use, we aim to leave the cabin dry enough to use the same day. We start with the heaviest extraction early, and we suggest keeping the windows cracked in the first hours. If you need to pick up kids right after, tell us and we plan around it.

A van or minivan adds a flat +$50 to any package.

• Interior Restoration starts from $119 $149, plus $50.
• The Full Detail starts from $176 $220, plus $50.
• Heavy stains +$50 for deep-set milk or juice.
• Pet hair +$40, smoke or odour +$50.
• A second vehicle in the same booking is 20% off, handy for two-car families.

Use the quote form to get a tailored total. A photo of the worst spot helps.

As an example, a minivan with a sticky second row and a spilled-juice carpet is Interior Restoration plus the +$50 van add, and heavy stains at +$50 if the spill is old. If you want the outside done too, The Full Detail with the same van add covers the whole vehicle.

You cannot stop kids, but you can lower the mess.

• Use a seat protector mat under car seats.
• Keep a small bin or bag in each row for wrappers.
• Wipe up spills quickly with water and a cloth.
• Use water-only bottles in the back where possible.

A deep clean once in spring and once in fall suits most families. See how often to detail.

If your car has leather seats, kids bring particular challenges, such as markers, crayons and jeans dye. Wipe leather quickly, keep dark denim away from light seats, and read our leather seat care guide. Fabric seats are better for hiding spills but need extraction more often.

Dropping off a minivan means finding another way to get kids to school. We come to your driveway in Burlington or Oakville, so the van stays home and you stay on schedule. We bring our own water, power and lighting.

Everything is wrapped up with a walk-around, so you can see each seat row yourself.

Sliding doors are a fair argument for doing this in a driveway. We have room to open them fully, and we clean the tracks and jambs, where sand and grit gather and eventually grind into the door.