The Trunk: How Much is Expected

vanev

vanev

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When you are paid to professionally detail a vehicle, how far do you choose to go with the trunk?

- Do you stop after the upper trunk compartment is finished?
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- Do you go so far as to take everything out?
Spare tire, tools, even car battery when that applies?
Do you clean the underside of the trunk carpet?
Do you clean the spare tire, jack, and attachments?
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A really dirty trunk can get you trapped timwise.
It can take an hour or two depending on the condition.
Just wanted to hear your thoughts on this?
 
It all depends how much I'm getting paid. If it's a basic one step job with interior then no. If they're paying for the works like full correction and a coating then yes I will.
 
If it's a basic detail (1 step) I just vacuum it and wipe down the painted edges. If it's a complete detail with coating or similar I will clean it to look like new. Edges, struts, rubber, trunk floor, under trunk floor, etc.
 
I try to gauge the customers expectations. If it's a special interest (like an older bmw I did recently). I took out every tool and thoroughly cleaned them and hit them with werkstatt prime.

If there is junk in the trunk, I just give it vacuumed and jambs
 
Audios S6 said:
I try to gauge the customers expectations. If it's a special interest (like an older bmw I did recently). I took out every tool and thoroughly cleaned them and hit them with werkstatt prime.

If there is junk in the trunk, I just give it vacuumed and jambs
Click to expand...


Agreed. I normally talk about it with the customers and see if they care.
 
vanev said:
- Do you go so far as to take everything out...
even car battery?
Click to expand...
Careful!...Some "items" can be affected.
Such as:
•PCM's adaptive memory
•KAM chip
•BCM ("the gate keeper")
•Etc.


Bob
 
Like every one said how much are you getting paid .Ive been doing this along time. There are different situations if it's empty I will vac real quick and lift up the mat and vacuum around where the mat sits.I never take mat out ,I will take a glance in spare tire compartment,if you see it's dirty you have to question you're self how much time is this gonna take.Different detailers either do interior first or exterior,me I always do outside first cause that part will eat time,in essence if you blow through exterior you can estimate time left over.If there's ample time left and see spare tire needs to be removed I will do it ,and always show the customer.When I show up to detail,I access the car,is the exterior gonna be more work than interior.I really don't get a trashed ext or interior on the car I'm detailing,when its trashed in and out I charge I will do a quick vacuum and clean spare compartment if need be .
 
Generally just a careful vacuum and a wipe on rubber treatment for the seal.

And at the same time a very careful cleaning of the drip channel around the trunk.

I actually consider that part of the "wash" but some I have had to attend to have had a lifetime worth of leaves and crud in them. Even requiring a steamer, strong cleaner, and actual compounding (on a MF) to get that area back to the original paint color.

I just can't get myself to leave that crud in there even on the cheapest wash.
 
I'll add to the common thinking so far...i go as far as the customer wants and is paying for. Yes, they can be time consuming at times.

I, most of the time, do a thorough vacuum but don't generally lift the trunk floor and go nuts underneath. If i am paid to do that i go all out. I clean and dress all plastics with my basic interior and always get the drip channels with my exterior. It is amazing how filthy those drip channels can get! One thing i have found helpful is to open the trunk and hood and blow (or vacuum) everything out first while dry and before the exterior wash. Some of that ends up in the trunk so it's removed later.
 
For car trunk, gets vacuumed and if there are stains in the carpeted spare tire cover, it will get hot water extracted (no biggie because we already have the extractor out and running). Perhaps a vacuum (the little brush attachment) is run through the spare tire area... But nothing ever comes out.

For an SUV or car with a hatch, that's a little different, the back area is wiped down, all hidden secret compartments are cleaned, plastics in the back are cleaned and like the car, the bed of the SUV is vacuumed and hot water extracted.

The only importance I see in at least vacuuming out or wiping the spare tire area is, here in the North East, it's a great collection point for salt and moisture to get and cause corrosion. Usually only found on very neglected cars or ones that are 10+ year old DD's. Which by that point is too late.

We don't remove anything from the car. no on spare tires, no on jack assemblies, no on seats...
 
Good point in that geographic location may come into play. Here in FL they remain fairly cleaner (generally).
 
Depends on the trunk. If I do a complete interior detail I schedule 4 hours for it. So I take into consideration how much time I think the interior will take and the condition of the trunk.

If the car has a trunk that has never been cared for, or if it's filled with junk, I will go pretty fast because to me that means the owner doesn't care and won't appreciate a very detailed job. So in a case like this I will spend more time in car and less in the trunk.

If on the other hand the trunk is neat and clean, I will try to make it perfect because I feel the owner will appreciate that.

In doubt talk about it to the owner. I work on an hourly rate. If you work on a fix price you should definitely agree about what the owner expect before you quote a price or it might be on your time for the extra work.
 
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