How often should you get your car detailed in Sydney?

For most people a full detail every three to six months is about right. If the car sits outside under trees, carries kids or a dog, or does big kilometres, go closer to three. If it lives in a garage and mostly does the shops and back, six is fine.

That’s the rough answer. The real one depends on how you use the car and what happens between details.

What’s the difference between a wash and a detail?

A wash gets the dirt off. A detail goes further. Inside, that’s a proper vacuum under the seats and in the gaps, every surface wiped down, and the glass done. Outside, it’s a wash and decontamination, then wheels, tyres, arches and glass. A standard detail takes me 2 to 4 hours, not 20 minutes.

So you don’t need a detail every week. You need good washes in between and a detail every so often to catch what the washes miss.

A rough guide

Got a coated car? There’s more on looking after it in how long ceramic coating lasts.

Some of my customers go monthly

This BMW gets a detail from me every month. So does the Mercedes further down. That’s the keen end, but it means the car never gets bad. Each visit is quicker, nothing has time to bake on, and the paint stays glossy all year.

If you like the car always looking sorted, monthly is great. If you don’t mind a bit of dust between visits, every few months does the job fine.

How do you know it’s due?

• The paint feels rough when you run your hand over it after a wash. That’s contamination stuck to the surface.
• Water sits flat on the paint instead of beading.
• The inside smells a bit stale, or you can feel grit in the carpet under your shoes.
• The windscreen smears when the sun hits it.
• You’ve stopped offering people a lift.

Does Sydney weather change it?

Yes, summer especially. Bird droppings, bat droppings and sap bake on in the heat, and the UV is harsh. I’d rather see a car more often between October and March and less over winter. If you’re near the harbour in Mosman, Cremorne or Kirribilli, the salty air is another reason to wash more. I’ve written up how to get sap, jacaranda flowers and bat droppings off if your street’s under trees.

What to do in between

A good hand wash every week or two keeps everything under control. Two buckets, a pH-neutral shampoo and a clean mitt. The whole process is in how to wash your car at home without scratching it. Skip the brush car wash if you can, it puts swirls in the paint.

Inside, a quick vacuum and a wipe of the steering wheel, gear lever and screen every couple of weeks goes a long way. There’s more in my interior detailing guide.

Regular mobile details on the North Shore

Regular details are the easiest thing to do mobile. I come to your house or work and you don’t lose half a day. I come to homes and workplaces right across the Upper and Lower North Shore. The full suburb list, and what I need on the day, is in mobile detailing vs drop-off. Just outside those? Ask anyway.

You can see every option on the services page and real cars I’ve done in the gallery.

Want to set up a routine?

Tell me the car, where you are and how often you’d like it done. Request a quote and I’ll text you back to confirm the right service and a time. There’s no payment to enquire. Rather talk? Call 0491 754 707.

Jake
STIKKYS Detailing, North Turramurra

I grew up on the North Shore, taught myself on my own cars and started STIKKYS in 2025. I work 7 days, 9am to 5pm. More about me.

Cover photo: Ariyo / Pexels. Car photos are my own work.