Exterior Detail + Clay Bar

What this service is

This is a hand wash done the careful way. We pre-rinse to knock off loose grit, lay down a foam bath to loosen bonded dirt, then wash panel by panel using the two-bucket method with a clean mitt so grit is not dragged back across your paint. Wheels, tires, and wheel faces get dedicated tools so brake dust never crosses over onto painted surfaces.

The clay bar step is what separates this from a wash. Even after the paint is clean it is usually not smooth — industrial fallout, rail dust, tree sap mist, and bug residue stay bonded to the clear coat. Claying pulls that contamination off mechanically, which is why the paint feels like glass afterward and why any sealant applied on top can actually bond. We dry with plush microfiber, never a brush or squeegee.

What's included

• Pre-rinse and foam bath
• Two-bucket hand wash, panel by panel
• Wheels, tires, and wheel wells cleaned with dedicated tools
• Clay-bar decontamination across painted surfaces when the clay add-on is approved (from $50)
• Bug and tar residue addressed
• Plush microfiber dry, no brushes

Who it's for

• Vehicles parked outdoors that feel rough or gritty to the touch
• Paint being prepped before a ceramic spray sealant
• Drivers who want a wash without automatic-wash brushes
• Vehicles with bug or sap residue after highway driving

How the appointment works

1. 01Send a booking request through the homepage form, or call or text us with your vehicle and its condition.
2. 02We reply with an arrival window and a condition-based quote — pricing depends on vehicle size and how much work the vehicle actually needs.
3. 03We arrive fully equipped and work at your driveway or another eligible location you have permission to use.
4. 04We finish with a walk-around so you can look over the work before we call it done.

Starting prices are published by vehicle size on the pricing section of the homepage. The final quote depends on your vehicle's actual condition, and any extra work is approved by you before it starts.

What you need to have ready

• An accessible outdoor water spigot at the service location.
• A standard 120V exterior outlet we can reach.
• Room to work around the whole vehicle, ideally out of direct traffic.
• Personal belongings, valuables, and child seats removed from the vehicle beforehand.

Honest limitations

• Clay bar removes bonded contamination — it does not remove scratches, swirl marks, or oxidation. That requires machine paint correction, which is a separate process.
• Water spots etched into the clear coat, rock chips, and existing paint damage will still be visible.
• The hand wash starts at $60 (coupe/sedan), $70 (midsize truck/SUV), and $80 (XL/three-row); clay-bar treatment is a separate add-on from $50, and ceramic spray sealant from $40.
• Polishing, scratch removal, and long-term protection are not included.
• Wash results depend on weather at the appointment; we may reschedule in heavy rain.

Add-ons that pair with this

Exterior Detail + Clay Bar FAQ

Where we perform this service

Duality Auto Detailing is based in Wylie, TX and works at eligible home or workplace locations in nearby communities.

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