Exterior Car Detailing in Pittsburgh
A proper hand wash and a coat of wax, done where the car is parked — for when the paint is fine and just needs the road taken off it.
| Price | Quoted per job |
|---|---|
| Where | Your driveway, garage or office lot |
| Payment | On site, after the job |
| Deposit | None |
| Hours | Every day, 9 AM – 6 PM |
Not every car needs a polish or a coating. A car with paint in good shape that has simply been through a Pittsburgh winter needs the salt film, tar and brake dust taken off properly, and a layer of wax put back on so the next few months of road do less harm. That is what this is: the exterior only, done by hand.
It is a different thing from a drive-through wash. Brushes and recycled water put fine scratches into the clear coat every time they touch it; a hand wash with clean mitts and two buckets does not. Wheels, tires, wheel arches and door jambs are cleaned as part of the job, bonded contamination is pulled off the paint where it needs it, and the car is dried and waxed rather than left to spot.
If the paint turns out to need more than a wash — swirl marks, dull patches, a coating that has given up — you hear that honestly on the day, and a polish or a ceramic coating is a separate decision. Exterior work also comes with the interior and exterior package and with every paint polish, so if the inside needs doing too, one of those is usually the better way to book it.
How it works
5 steps- 1
Wheels and arches first
Brake dust and road grime come off the wheels, tires and arches before the paint is touched, so none of it ends up on the panels.
- 2
Two-bucket hand wash
Pre-rinse, then a hand wash from the top down with clean mitts and a pH-neutral soap. Door jambs and sills included.
- 3
Decontaminate where needed
Tar spots and bonded iron are removed from the paint when the wash alone does not leave it smooth.
- 4
Dry and wax
The car is dried by hand, then a coat of wax goes over the clean paint for gloss and a few months of protection.
- 5
Glass and tires
Exterior glass cleaned, tires dressed, and a last look around the car with you.
Exterior detailing
Offered on its own or together with an interior. Send the make, model and a photo of the car and you get an exact quote before anything is booked.
Quoted per job
Send the make and model — or the length, for an RV — with a couple of photos. You get an exact number back before anything is booked.
Questions about Exterior Wash & Wax
Is this the same as a car wash?
No. A car wash runs the car through brushes and recycled water in a few minutes; this is a hand wash with clean mitts, wheels and jambs done separately, contamination removed from the paint and wax applied afterwards. It takes a couple of hours, and it does not put scratches into the clear coat.
Does a wash and wax remove scratches or swirl marks?
No. Wax fills and hides very light marks for a while, but it does not remove anything. Scratches and swirl marks come out with paint polishing, which is a separate service with its own page and price.
Can you do the exterior at my office parking lot?
Usually, yes — the mobile setup brings its own water and power. Tell us where the car is parked when you ask, and whether the lot allows washing on site.
How do I book an exterior detail?
Call, text or WhatsApp with the make, model and where the car is parked, with a photo or two of the paint. You get a quote and a time back before anything is booked.
Other services
Full price list- Interior Car Detailing in PittsburghDeep clean of the whole cabin — seats, carpets, trim and glass.from $200
- Car Polishing & Paint Correction in PittsburghMachine polish that removes light scratches. Wash and wax included.from $300
- Ceramic Coating in PittsburghLong-term paint protection — hybrid or full ceramic.from $200
- Graphene Coating in PittsburghGraphene-infused ceramic coating over properly prepared paint. Quoted per car.Quoted per job
- Car Odor Removal in PittsburghSmoke, pet and spill odors taken out at the source, not masked.from $200
- Truck Detailing in PittsburghPickups, three-row SUVs and vans — interior, exterior, polish and coating.Quoted per job
- Mobile RV Detailing in PittsburghMotorhomes, travel trailers and campers washed, waxed and cleaned where they are parked.Quoted per job
- Engine Bay Cleaning in PittsburghExtras you can add to any package — engine bay from $50.from $50
Text a photo. Get the exact price.
Tell us the vehicle and what it needs. You get a real number back before anything is booked — no deposit, and you pay after the job.