What Does a Full Car Detail Include?
By Kyle Massingill, owner of Forged by Heart — five years of hands-on detailing experience in Richmond, KY. Published 2026-09-21.
A full detail is a complete clean of the vehicle inside and out, done by hand and in a set order, rather than a quick wash of the paint. It is the difference between rinsing off dust and actually removing what has built up in the carpet, on the glass, around the seats and on the paint.
Here is what a full detail covers at Forged by Heart in Richmond, Kentucky, and where the line sits between a standard detail and heavier restoration work.
The interior side of a full detail
Interior work starts with vacuuming seats, carpets and floor mats, then wiping the dash, console, door panels and accessible surfaces. Cup holders and interior windows are cleaned and door jambs are wiped.
Deeper interior work — detailed seam and crevice cleaning and steam on suitable surfaces — starts with the Signature Deep Clean. Forged Finish adds interior plastic and vinyl protectant. Carpet and seat shampoo/extraction and pet-hair removal are add-ons to a booked detail.
- Vacuum seats, carpets and floor mats
- Wipe dash, console, door panels and accessible surfaces
- Cup holders, interior windows and door jambs
- Steam and crevice cleaning on Signature Deep Clean and above
The exterior side of a full detail
Exterior work is a hand wash, wheel faces and tires, exterior windows and tire dressing, finished with wax for approximately one month of protection. Signature Deep Clean keeps the approximately one-month wax, and Forged Finish adds clay treatment before a paint sealant that replaces the wax with up to six months of protection.
What a full detail is not
Detailing cleans and protects. It does not resurface paint. Polishing and paint correction are quoted separately and are not part of any package, and clay treatment does not remove scratches.
Stains, odors and mold vary by material, age and cause. Deep cleaning improves most interiors substantially, but no honest detailer can promise full stain removal or odor elimination before seeing the vehicle.
Which package counts as a full detail
All three packages include interior and exterior service, and all prices are starting prices. Heartfelt Refresh starts at Car $175 · SUV $185 · Truck $200 · Van $225. Signature Deep Clean adds detailed crevice cleaning and steam where suitable at Car $225 · SUV $235 · Truck $250 · Van $275. Forged Finish adds clay treatment, paint sealant and interior plastic/vinyl protectant at Car $275 · SUV $285 · Truck $300 · Van $325.
Excessive dirt, pet hair, heavy stains and oversized vehicles require an adjusted quote before work begins.
How long does it take and what affects scope
Final pricing depends on vehicle size and condition: how soiled the interior is, whether there is pet hair, and how much contamination is bonded to the paint. Those factors are confirmed before work begins, which is why the condition question matters when you call or text.