What is Car Valeting?

Car valeting is a popular service which involves thoroughly cleaning the interior and exterior of a vehicle. There are different valeting packages available to suit the requirements and budget of the customer. NVS Valeting provides a premium mobile car valeting service in Essex to ensure your vehicle looks and feels factory-fresh.

In this guide we’ll be explaining exactly what is involved in a valeting service, the benefits, and answering plenty of frequently asked questions.

Exterior Valeting

Exterior valeting services can be split into two categories:

Maintenance washing
Deep cleaning

Exterior maintenance valeting focuses on safely washing the vehicle to keep it in excellent condition. The exact process and steps involved can vary from valeter to valeter.

At NVS Valeting we provide a thorough exterior wash service to ensure your vehicle is left in immaculate condition, but we also perform the service in a manner that is safe for the exterior surfaces. Be wary of cheap roadside valeting services which unfortunately often do not follow safe-techniques and use overly aggressive chemicals in order to cut time and costs.

All our exterior valeting services involve several stages to guarantee your vehicle is treated in the best possible way, with the highest quality chemicals and tools. Here is a brief outline of the stages involved:

Thorough clean of all the wheel surfaces (tyres, arches, alloy faces and barrels)
Pre-wash using citrus/ snow foam to remove as much dirt as possible before hand-washing. This reduces the risk of causing scratches and swirl marks when making contact with the paintwork
Hand-wash using the two-bucket method to gently remove any remaining traffic film from the paintwork and glass
Drying stage using a plush microfiber towel
Tyre dressing application to complete the freshly-washed look

Deep clean valets go a step further by including additional stages to tackle contamination build-up. This includes the use of dedicated chemicals to remove tar and iron deposits which cannot be removed during a standard wash. We also apply a 6-month spray sealant to the paintwork to keep it protected from the elements and help it stay cleaner for longer.

Interior Valeting

Interior valeting can also be split into two types of service:

Interior maintenance valets
Interior deep clean valets

Typically, maintenance valets are only offered to previous clients who have had their vehicle recently deep cleaned. The reason being, that it’s necessary to achieve a high-standard of cleanliness before the vehicle can be maintained regularly.

A deep clean valet will essentially reset the vehicle’s interior so it looks and feels like a new car again. Deep cleaning a car’s interior is a time-consuming process that can take up to a day in some cases. Excessive dirt, pet hair, sand etc., will all add time to the cleaning service. Not only does the process require a high level of experience, but it also requires specialist equipment to achieve such an immaculate finish. Professional valeters know exactly how to tackle difficult stains, stubborn dirt and lingering odours using a variety of tools, techniques, and chemicals.

At NVS Valeting, we offer an interior deep clean valeting service to all new clients who are looking for that factory-fresh feeling. This service includes the following stages:

Thorough interior vacuum to remove all debris
Use of an air compressor to dislodge dust and debris from tight areas
Steam cleaning and wet-vac extraction of fabric surfaces e.g. mats, carpets and seats
Leather surfaces are deep cleaned and protected from UV, friction, and spillages with a sealant
Plastic surfaces are cleaned and degreased to leave a fresh, non-sticky finish
Complete clean of all interior windows to achieve a streak-free finish

Once your vehicle has been treated to an interior deep clean valet, it will then be eligible for our maintenance plan which is typically carried out on a monthly basis to ensure it stays immaculate all year round.

Valeting Packages and Prices

At NVS Valeting we keep things simple and offer two valeting packages for new customers.

Interior Valet
Exterior Valet

The reason being, that we have extremely high-standards and having these two all-inclusive packages ensures every vehicle we valet is spotless once we’ve worked our magic. Both of these packages start from £100. Please visit our Valeting Services page for more information.

Our Interior Valet Package includes a thorough vacuum, and deep clean of all surfaces (e.g. leather, plastic, glass and fabric) to ensure your vehicle feels brand-new again. Our Exterior Valet Package includes a thorough clean of all the wheel surfaces (arches, tyres, wheel faces and barrels), a two-stage pre-wash and hand-wash, and the removal of all tar and iron deposits. To finish it off, we also protect the paintwork with a 6-month spray sealant and apply a tyre dressing.

We also offer an affordable maintenance plan for clients who have previously had their vehicle valeted by NVS, and want to keep it in-check on a regular basis.

What are the Benefits of Car Valeting?

A freshly valeted vehicle not only looks fantastic, but also feels great too. Having your vehicle valeted by a professional offers a whole host of benefits including:

The use of specialist equipment such as steam cleaners, wet-vac extractors and air compressors to provide a deeper clean
The use of premium chemicals which do not damage any interior or exterior surfaces
They have years of experience and know all the details to look for in order to guarantee an impeccable finish
It saves time for busy individuals compared to doing it yourself
It improves the resale value of the car as it keeps both the interior and exterior surfaces in excellent condition

Not only is a car a huge investment (second only to a home for most people), but it is also a place where you spend a lot of time in, and investing in a valeting service will ensure you enjoy that time spent significantly more.

Which Products are used to Valet a Car?

In order to achieve a thorough interior and exterior clean, specialist chemicals and equipment are essential. Here are some examples of the products used to valet a car:

Valeting Equipment:

Pressure washer: to efficiently remove dirt from the exterior of the vehicle
Steam cleaner: to sanitise and remove odours from interior surfaces
Wet-vac extractor: to remove stains from fabric mats, carpets and seats
Industrial vacuum: to efficiently remove debris
Air compressor: to dislodge dust from tight areas inside the cabin
Premium microfibre wash mitts and towels: to avoid inflicting clear coat swirls and scratches
A variety of detailing brushes: to clean hard-to-reach areas

Valeting Chemicals:

Wheel cleaners: specifically designed to tackle brake dust contamination
Citrus pre-wash: to remove heavy-grime during the pre-wash stage
Snow foam: to soak dirt and traffic film so it can be easily rinsed away before hand-washing
pH neutral car shampoo: to gently hand-wash the vehicle
Tar remover: to dissolve stubborn tar deposits which litter the lower sections of most vehicles
Iron fallout remover: to remove embedded ferrous contamination which causes the paint to feel rough
Automotive glass cleaner: safe on tinted windows and leaves a streak-free finish
Interior cleaners: including carpet shampoos and dedicated leather cleaners
Paintwork sealants: to protect the finish and enhance the gloss
Tyre dressings: to rejuvenate the rubber and complete the freshly-valeted look

Why Choose NVS Valeting?

NVS Valeting are Essex’s trusted car care specialists having valeted hundreds of vehicles across Wickford, Basildon, Brentwood, Rayleigh and Billericay. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose us to valet your vehicle:

Convenient mobile-service. We can complete the job at your home or workplace with our fully-equipped van.
Two valeting package options to keep things straightforward and ensure our clients always get the highest-quality results.
Years of experience valeting a whole range of vehicles from daily drivers to supercars, and classic cars to builder’s vans.
We only use high-quality chemicals and tools in every valeting package.
Over 50 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about car valeting.

How long does car valeting take?

Most car valeting services take between 2-4 hours to complete. Some full valets can take up to a day if there is excessive dirt and pet hair for example.

Can you valet my car at home?

Yes, NVS Valeting has a fully-equipped mobile van so we can complete our valeting services on your driveway, or at your place of work.

How often should a car be valeted?

Most of our clients who enjoy the feeling of driving a clean vehicle typically get their cars valeted either monthly, or twice per month. We offer a maintenance plan to all our clients who have previously had their vehicles valeted by us to keep the car in immaculate condition.

What is the difference between going to an automatic car wash wash and a professional valeter?

Automatic car washes cause scratches and swirl marks as they use harsh brushes which damage the clear coat. They also use aggressive chemicals which stain the surfaces, and promote rusting. Instead, professional valeters take much more care when cleaning the vehicle. Not only do they ensure that the vehicle is cleaned with more attention to detail, but also in a way which is safe for the long-term condition. Keep in mind though that this is only true of more premium valeting services such as the ones we provide. Be wary of roadside car wash stations and very inexpensive valeting services as these also often cut corners and don’t treat the vehicle with a high level of respect.

What is the difference between car detailing and valeting?

Car detailing goes a step further than valeting by placing more focus on restoring the condition of the vehicle and protecting it. We offer both car valeting and detailing services including paint correction and ceramic coatings. Please read this article comparing detailing and valeting services for more information.

Does car valeting remove scratches?

Car valeting is not designed to remove scratches. However, we also offer additional detailing services including paint correction to deal with defects such as scratches and swirl marks. Please visit our machine polishing service page for more information.