FAQs About Our Mobile Detailing Services
You'll Find A Long List of Common FAQs We Get Regularly
FREQUENTLY ASKED Detailing Questions and answers
Wash and Wax
Applying wax will cover and conceal micro scratches on your paint. The wax forms a protective layer that fills in some of these scratches, giving your car a shiny appearance.
Paint correction is necessary to achieve a higher shine by removing swirls and scratches.
How you store and maintain your vehicle affects the durability of the wax. If your car is left outside 80% of the time, the wax will degrade faster because of constant exposure to sun, rain, bird droppings, and more. In such conditions, expect about 2 to 3 months of protection.
On the other hand, if your car is garaged at work and home most of the time, you can extend the protection to 4 to 6 months, particularly if you routinely wash your car and use a spray wax after each wash.
As part of our exterior detailing, the clay-bar treatment effectively lifts any microscopic grime clinging to your vehicle’s surfaces. This leaves no contamination behind and reveals any paint chips or surface imperfections that need correction.
Yes, definitely! For the wax to adhere correctly, your paint must be free of loose dirt and bonded contaminants. We accomplish this through mechanical decontamination using a clay bar and chemical decontamination using an iron remover.
We’re a big fan of Hydro Blue by McKee’s because it lasts much longer than others. But we have a few different ones that we can use depending on the vehicle type and weather conditions.
Definitely! The roughness of your paint could be due to two factors: it’s been a while since you clayed the paint, resulting in a lot of dirt buildup, or paint overspray has affected your vehicle. A clay bar application can address this issue.
We can complete most vehicles in about 2-3 hours. If it takes longer, we’ll definitely let you know.
No, it reveals them instead! Our clay bar treatment decontaminates your vehicle’s exterior, making any surface defects visible to our paint correction team, who can then apply restorative methods to correct them.
Premium Hand Wash Service
The Premium Wash is designed for maintenance purposes. It is not intended for deep cleaning or paint polishing. To remove water spots or scratches, you’ll need paint correction services.
Yes, we provide a fully equipped mobile detailing service, carrying our own water and power, so we can perform the job wherever you are—at home, in an apartment, or at work. Currently, the Premium Wash is not offered independently; it needs to be bundled with another service.
Excellent question! Though both are car washes, our Premium Wash goes above and beyond. We use gentle washing and drying techniques to prevent swirls and scratches, blow out water from tight spots, clean door jambs, apply a spray wax for added shine, use deionized water to eliminate water spots, and dress the tires and fenders.
The premium wash will receive a very light wax, which will last about a month.
Engine Cleaning Service
Yes, it’s safe when done correctly. We take precautions by using only the necessary amount of water to rinse off cleaner and dirt, maintaining a safe distance with the wand, and covering any sensitive areas to ensure no damage occurs.
Unfortunately, if the oil or grease leak is extensive, we won’t be able to clean it up. The oil seeps into all the engine bay’s nooks and crannies, making it hard to reach and clean. It becomes even more complicated if the leak has been there for a while. Our service mainly addresses the top-level surfaces of the engine bay.
In summary, inspect the engine, cover sensitive areas, spray and agitate thoroughly, dry off the bay, and apply dressing to plastic and rubber components. We use multiple brushes to reach all the intricate parts of the engine bay.
The average time that it takes is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
The engine bay service must be paired with another service. It pairs excellent with out premium wash service.
General Questions
We service San Antonio and surrounding areas like Schertz, Cibolo, Stone Oak, Alamo Heights, Universal City, and New Braunfels. Feel free to text or call us to find out whether we service your area.
Yes, mostly. In rare instances, same-day service is possible based on your location and the specific services needed. Nonetheless, appointments are required 98% of the time.
You don’t need to be there the entire time or even at all. We only require access to the vehicle and enough room to work. For payment, we’ll send you an online link, allowing you to go about your day while we complete the service.
Yes, we can detail your vehicle at your apartment. We ask for enough space to move around the vehicle. If you’re parked in a tight spot with no open spaces, it complicates things for us. We can usually perform the detailing at your workplace as well. Please confirm that we are allowed on the premises, as some property management do not permit on-site detailing.
We accept cash, card, Venmo, Cashapp, and Zelle. We don’t accept checks.
Full Interior Detailing Service
It varies based on the vehicle’s size and condition. Typically, it ranges from 2.5 to 5 hours. After inspecting the condition, we can give you a more precise time estimate.
No. We don’t use any harsh chemicals during our detailing process. We do this to protect you and ourselves.
To thoroughly clean your interior, we utilize a range of brushes, cleaners, and machines. Our approach depends on the condition and material type. Sometimes, a quick brush cleaning is enough, but other times, we use the steamer and extractor.
With hundreds of interiors cleaned, we have developed proven methods for various conditions. You can trust that you’re in capable hands!
In warm weather, the carpets and seats should be 85% dry by the time we complete the interior. It’ll take about another hour for them to be completely dry. In cold weather, drying takes longer as water doesn’t evaporate as quickly from the fabrics. That said, we never oversaturate the fabric so you won’t find puddles of water.
We also use a specialized upholstery tool to prevent oversaturation, which speeds up the drying time.
We are confident in our ability to clean your interior to the highest standard. That said, some stains may be too set in to remove altogether. No matter what, we’ll do everything we can to make your interior look its best. If we can’t remove a stain entirely, we will at least improve its appearance significantly.
We don’t.
Cleaning an interior to enhance its appearance differs from removing odors from a vehicle. Although we can successfully remove odors, additional steps are required. We start with a thorough interior cleaning, then use a fogger or ozone machine to remove the smell. (Learn more about our smoke odor removal.)
99% of the time, we don’t charge a mobile fee. If you’re a lot further from us, we’ll tell you before your service that there will be a small fee.
Paint Correction
Following our Wash, Clay, and Wax exterior detailing, your vehicle’s paint may reveal minor imperfections such as scratches, dings, or swirl marks. If you notice any of these defects, our paint correction add-on is highly recommended to restore a flawless finish.
This is one of our most time-consuming and meticulous services. The time it takes to complete depends on the vehicle’s size, condition, and the level of correction you desire. For instance, a high level of correction on a 2-door car can take 11 or more hours, while a light polish might only take 4-5 hours. It varies based on your needs.
Paint correction almost completely eliminates swirls from your paint. Swirls and scratches will only return if they are reinstalled through improper washing and drying techniques.
Yes, indeed! We have several ceramic coatings available to fit your needs. Before we can apply the coating, your paint must undergo our paint correction process. We offer professional-grade 9H ceramic coatings with 3 to 9 years of durability.
Certainly, paint correction will remove imperfections in your paint, including swirls, scratches, paint transfer, and water spots.
It’s unfortunate, but if your clear coat is peeling—what we call clear coat failure—a detailer’s options are limited. Respraying the vehicle will be necessary. However, if the clear coat failure is slight and only affects one panel, the paint can potentially be preserved.
Mini-Interior Detail
The Full Interior Cleaning is an extensive service in which we thoroughly clean every part of your interior, from top to bottom and front to back, to achieve optimal condition. The Mini-Interior Detail is a maintenance service that includes a thorough vacuum and wiping down the dust on surfaces.
Yes, if you need specific cleaning, such as stain or pet hair removal, just let us know when you request a quote. These services will incur an additional charge, but we can definitely address your needs.
This service usually takes about one to two hours.
No problem! Send us some pictures of your interior, and we’ll recommend the best service for your situation.
Ceramic Coating
With proper care, ceramic coatings from TopShine Mobile Detailing are designed to last for years, potentially up to a decade. However, they will eventually need replacement. Reduced hydrophobicity in certain areas indicates it’s time for a new application.
The most effective way to care for your ceramic coating is by utilizing our professional detailing services in San Antonio, TX. We offer a thorough exterior maintenance package that keeps your coating in top condition.
We’ll also share the dos and don’ts of maintenance and our best tips.
No, ceramic coatings are suitable for all makes and models. Depending on the vehicle’s usage, certain applications may be more advantageous, but these coatings are not exclusive to any one type of vehicle.
Depending on the coating we choose, we usually recommend letting it heal or cure overnight. Some ceramic coatings require less cure time.
Following the manufacturer’s guidelines is always the safest bet.
SiC ceramic coatings offer durable protection by chemically bonding with your vehicle’s clear coat. Made from ceramic silica, these coatings form a permanent layer that adheres to the paint, eliminating the need for regular reapplications to sustain their lifespan or warranty.