Top 4 Car Detailing Services You Didn’t Know You Needed

car detailing in portage indiana

Car detailing services may be a topic you have questions about. What are essential car detailing services? Are there any auto detailing services near me? Where can I get professional car detailing?

Car detailing is not just a luxury service, it’s an important part of regular car care and helps your vehicle run better and last longer.

At Portage Car Wash, we offer four car detailing services:

TECH SHIELD EXPRESS HAND WAX

A specialized car detailing service designed to protect and maintain your vehicle’s finish. Wax is applied to your car using a low-speed orbital buffer, which creates even coverage and a smooth finish.

This process cleans, polishes, and maintains your vehicle’s finish, protecting your car from damaging pollutants, UV rays, and road salt, and preventing the erosion of your vehicle’s paint.

The wax is long-lasting, maintaining a glossy look and layer of protection for your car. This detailing service is useful for:

  • Proactive winter preparation
  • Landscapers, farmers, and construction workers (vehicles in these occupations are frequently exposed to the weather, harmful elements, and chemicals)
  • Preparing a vehicle to sell

 

INTERIOR SUPER CLEAN EXPRESS

A lot of life gets lived in your car, from fast food after school or work to road trips, your car has seen it all. This car cleaning service can give you a refresh in your car’s interior.

We will clean dust and dirt out of vents, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas. This service includes cleaning and conditioning all interior door panels, dash, and cup holders. We also give special attention to vacuuming all the tightest areas (the ones you can never reach but every crumb seems to hide out in). Your interior glass, mats, and air fresheners are also included.

This essential car detailing service is helpful for:

  • Road trip preparation
  • Maintaining your seat covers, storage spaces, and floorboards
  • Rodent prevention (removing the buffet of smells and crumbs from your vehicle discourages rodents from getting into your car)
  • Preparing a vehicle to sell

 

SHAMPOO CARPETS EXPRESS

Your vehicle’s carpets take a beating, which is why this professional car detailing service is an important part of car maintenance. From stains to smells, your carpets remember everything that has happened in your vehicle whether you want them to or not.

Our process involves cleaning out between and under all seats and vacuuming carpets with special attention to hard-to-reach areas. We will pre-treat all soiled areas and shampoo all carpets and mats with a hot water extraction machine.

This detailing service is helpful for:

  • Seasonal cleaning (resetting your vehicle for different weather and seasons)
  • Road trip preparation
  • Preparing for special events/occasions

 

SHAMPOO SEATS EXPRESS

Finally, your car seats. Everyone wants to maintain the cleanliness and comfort of their seats as long as possible, but that can be challenging. That’s why we offer this car cleaning solution. We will pre-treat your seats for stains and shampoo your seats with a hot water extraction machine.

This shampoo service is helpful for:

  • Stain removal from incidents and spills
  • Preparing a car to sell
  • Cleaning before transporting guests in your vehicle
  • Preparing a vehicle for a life event such as a wedding, birth, or funeral

Car detailing is not just an extra, it’s an essential part of caring for your vehicle and maintaining your vehicle’s longevity. At Portage Car Wash, we clean until it looks brand new, helping you maintain your car for years to come.

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for over 39 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!

What Kind of Car Wash is the Best?

hand wash car wash, automatic car wash, and car detailing in portage indiana

People have been washing their cars since they were called “horseless carriages”, from a bucket of soapy water and a sponge in the driveway back in the 20th century, to the fancy automatic carwashes of today, cars have always needed to be washed.

You know you need to wash your car, but you might wonder what kind of car wash is best for you. What kinds of car washes are there? Is one better than the others? Does your car get cleaner in an automatic wash or a self-serve manual wash? What are hand wash services? Is there even a car wash near you that provides the services you need?

Car washing is our specialty, so we’ve learned a few ins and outs over the years. Here are a few things that will help you determine what kind of car wash is best for you.

 

Automated Car Wash

This is what comes to mind for many people when they think of a car wash. You can drive up and select your preferred washing option, and then drive into the car wash without ever leaving your vehicle. At Portage Car Wash, an automated car wash ranges from $8-$26 depending on the level of service you prefer.

Customers typically choose automatic car washes if they:

    • Want to stay inside their car
    • Have limited time
    • Only need a quick exterior wash


Types of automated car washes:

    • In-Bay Car Wash: You drive into the car wash and remain stationary while the machinery moves around your car until the wash is complete.
    • Tunnel Car Wash: The machinery remains stationary while your car is pulled through the wash via an external mechanism like a conveyor or belt. This is the automated car wash we have.


Washing types include:

    • Touchless car washes clean your car without any external elements touching your vehicle. High-pressure water and chemicals are sprayed onto the car to clean it. Other terms for this type of wash include brushless, no friction, frictionless, soft-touch, and no-touch.

    • Friction car washes use cloth, brushes, and other implements that have contact with your car and clean using friction. Most car washes are friction washes.

 

If you have heavily caked mud, road salt, or bird poop, a friction car wash may be the right choice to attack that grit and grime. For a simple clean-off for pollen, dust, or post-rainstorm, a touchless car wash can do the trick. A touchless car wash is also a good option for vehicle owners concerned about external implements touching or scratching their vehicle.

 

Hand Washing Car Wash

Hand wash services are more specialized. At Portage Car Wash, our hand wash services range from $20-$40 depending on your selection:

Outside Only: exterior hand wash and drying of your vehicle

    • Washed by hand.
    • Tires are scrubbed.
    • Door jams are cleaned.
    • Hand towel dried.

       

In & Out: interior and exterior manual cleaning and drying of your vehicle

    • Washed by hand.
    • Tires are scrubbed.
    • Door jams are cleaned.
    • Hand towel dried.
    • Interior is vacuumed.
    • The dash is cleaned.
    • The ashtrays emptied.
    • Air fresheners are applied under the vehicle seat

       

Customers may choose our hand wash services if they:

    • Don’t have the time to clean the inside of their car 
    • Are going on a long trip
    • Are preparing to sell or gift their car
    • Plan to transport guests in their vehicle
    • Would like a fresh start for their car

 

Our hand wash services give your car a detailed, intentional clean that can make it feel like new. However, it differs from our car detailing services. If you're seeking a comprehensive interior deep clean that includes thorough interior cleaning, waxing, and surface treatments for long-lasting protection, our car detailing service is the better choice.

The truth is, there is no “best car wash”, but instead, you should pick the right car wash for your specific needs and vehicle. How much time do you have, what level of cleanliness you need, and do you want to wash your car yourself are all questions you can answer to determine the best car wash for you. 

At Portage Car Wash, we offer automated and hand-washing services for your vehicle, with interior and exterior cleaning and detailing options. We can clean your vehicle inside and out until it looks brand new, helping you maintain your car for years to come. 

Portage Car Wash has been servicing Portage, Hobart, Chesterton, and the surrounding areas for over 39 years. We offer interior and exterior services, detailing, waxing, polishing, and more for an affordable price. Friendly faces plus professional cleaning services equals your car looking like new. Drive on over to see us today!