The most common question in our studio has the least satisfying honest answer: it depends. But “it depends” is not a schedule, so here is the framework we give every customer — based on twelve years of watching what actually preserves cars.
The daily driver: every 4–6 months
If your car sleeps outside, commutes daily and meets sprinklers, sap and sun, a full detail twice a year is the minimum that holds the line. Between details, a safe wash every 2–4 weeks prevents bonded contamination from building to the point of needing clay every time.
The garage-kept car: twice a year
Garaged, covered, weekend-driven cars age slowly — but seals dry, leather still loses moisture and dust still micro-scratches. A spring decon detail and an autumn protection detail keep these cars in suspended animation.
The family hauler: quarterly interiors
Exteriors follow the daily-driver rule, but cabins with kids, dogs or job sites need extraction and leather care every 3–4 months. Stains bond permanently after about six months — that is the real deadline.
Signs you're overdue
- Water no longer beads — it sheets flat and dirty
- Paint feels rough after washing (bonded contamination)
- Glass hazes at night in oncoming headlights
- The cabin smells “like car” — that is bacteria, not character
- Leather looks pale on bolsters and shiny on the wheel
The cheapest schedule is a regular one
Maintenance details cost half of rescue details. Our Essential package exists precisely for the in-between visits — book the rhythm once, and your paint never needs saving again.
