One of the most common questions we hear before an initial booking is something like: how long will this take? This is definitely an entirely valid question. You have a schedule. You have things you need to do. You deserve to be informed about the extent of your commitment. 

A simple answer would be that a professional car detailing service can take anything between two hours for a focused exterior or interior detailing and up to a day and beyond for an extensive paint correction and ceramic coating service. However, there is much more to it than the amount of time alone. What really matters in addition is what is being done in those hours because a four-hour car detailing appointment will definitely not provide the same results as a two-hour mobile wash. 

This is why at ALPHSHINE, we strive to inform every customer of their expectations before coming in. Here is a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how long it takes to detail a car. 

Why Detailing Time Varies So Much

Before discussing the actual time needed for detailing, let us look at the reasons for the vast difference between time estimates across various types of detailing services offered by different companies and professionals. 

The most important variable is the overall condition of the car being detailed. A well-maintained vehicle will take significantly less time to get into great shape than a car that has not had a detailing for a couple of years. Heavily contaminated paint, oxidization, swirl marks, pet hair inside the vehicle or layers of accumulated dirt all contribute to the amount of work, which consequently increase the time spent on the entire process. 

The second major variable is the extent of the service itself. In some cases, only the exterior of a car needs to be detailed, meaning that only the paint, wheels, and glass will be detailed. A full interior and exterior detailing service involves both sections, while paint correction, and ceramic coating applications cannot be rushed. 

From our previous blogs, the size of your car matters too. A small sedan and an SUV have totally different surfaces to be worked on.

How Long An Exterior Only Detail Take

ALPHASHINE’s comprehensive exterior car detailing service usually lasts one hour for any-sized car in decent condition. The following describes how time is spent during the course of the process.

1. The Application of a presoak prior to physical interactions with the paintwork, taking around 10-20 minutes, which is a critical part of the process since one of the primary causes of swirl marks is fast contact washing on a dirty, dry surface. 
2. pH-neutral car wash shampoo sprayed on your car and hand-washing all the windows, ensuring a thorough clean while removing any bugs. Tires and wheel wells are cleansed with wheel brushes. This takes around 10-20 minutes.
3. Next comes hand drying using premium microfiber towels, followed by trimming and plastic restoration, window cleaning, and wax application, The drying process to the final coating requires 30 minutes. 

Block quote: There is not even a single moment wasted at ALPHASHINE on any other exterior car detailing service; every second is used on tasks that protect your car’s paint. 

How Long An Interior Detail Take

The time required for an interior detailing largely depends upon the existing conditions of your car’s interior. The interior that is relatively new and well-maintained needs to go through the process of detailing in 2 hours. Interior that requires removal of pet hair, deep stains or accumulated dirt in crevices could take even three hours. 

ALPHASHINE’s interior detailing process is intended to clean the entire interior from top to bottom without contaminating any area already cleaned during the detailing process. 

1. We begin with complete vacuuming of the entire interior including seats, carpets, floor mats, trunk, and all crevices between the seat and center console. This process takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Hard surfaces are cleaned using suitable products for their materials. Plastic, vinyl, and rubber are first washed using a mild cleaning product. Leader seats are washed using a pH-neutral leather cleaner before conditioning them to restore suppleness and prevent cracking. This phase takes 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on how soiled the surface is. 
3. Glass is cleaned on the inside to remove the haze that forms due to plastic and products off-gassing, and the car goes through another walk-through to ensure all areas have been attended to. 

Full Detail Duration : Interior and Exterior Together

When combining both interior and exterior service into a full detail, the estimated time to finish a full detailing at ALPHASHINE is 4 hours. We do not compromise a full car detailing service into a timeframe that requires cutting corners. ALPHASHINE’s professional car detailing is far better than your car getting a quick 90 minutes car wash and dry service.

Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating: When More Time Means Better Results

In the case of those looking at having paint correction or ceramic coating done to their vehicles, it will take quite some time in the detailing process, but again there is a good reason for it. 

The removal of light swirls and minor scratches and restoring its glass through single-stage paint correction takes 1 day. On the other hand, the more extensive two stage paint correction that entails eliminating deeper imperfections before the finish process could require one and a half days to complete. 

Application of ceramic coating involves perfecting the look of the surface prior to coating due to the fact that coating is designed to deal with any existing flaws in the paint at the time of application. Moreover, the application and curing of the coating take up a day while exposure to water must be avoided for 24 hours after application.

Time is indeed the essence when it comes to these types of services. 

What to Do While Your Car Is Being Detailed

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Most clients bring in their car in the morning and retrieve them once work is done. Conveniently located in Toronto, we are easily accessible via public transportation, rideshare, and proximity to other facilities for those who wish to stay close during their car detailing appointment. Our ALPHASHINE members with busy schedules make use of our valet service, so they can go on with their day while having their car cleaned. 

We will provide a time estimate based on your service and car condition upon dropping off your vehicle, and we keep you updated if there are any changes in the process. Never have you to worry about where things stand. 

Ready to make an appointment? Book with any method below:

• Call: 647-249-2960
• Email: info@alphashine.ca
• Online
• Using the ALPHASHINE App

Should you want to have a detailed breakdown of each service before booking, our service page has got you covered. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does a car detailing take in Toronto?
   
   A car detailing generally takes between 2 and 6 hours in most cases. For more complex processes like paint correction and ceramic coating, the whole procedure can take one day or even more than that.
   
   
2. How long does an exterior detailing take in Toronto?
   
   The duration of an exterior detailing in Toronto is between 2 and 3 hours. This timeframe covers all processes starting from washing up to putting on the protection layer. 
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3. How long does an interior detailing take in Toronto?
   
   An interior car detailing may take 1.5 to 4 hours in most cases. The time needed depends heavily on the current condition of the interior of your car and how dirty it is. 
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4. Why does professional car detailing take longer in Toronto?
   
   Car detailing consists of several steps, starting with safe washing up to putting the protective layer. Every process needs to be performed carefully and thoroughly to avoid any problems. 
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5. How long does ceramic coating take in Toronto?
   
   A ceramic coating service generally takes 2 days to complete in Toronto.