Preparing for a valet takes about fifteen minutes. Empty the car of personal belongings and anything in the boot, remove child seats if you can, park legally with room to open every door, and arrange how we get the keys. Then tell us about anything we should know: stains you want tackled, a smell, existing damage, or anything delicate. That is all. You do not need to vacuum or wash beforehand, and you should avoid spraying products on the interior. The checklist below goes through each step and why it helps.
What should you take out of the car?
- Valuables and documents: purses, cards, cash, sunglasses, chargers, garage remotes, parking permits you need that day.
- The boot contents: shopping bags, sports kit, tools and the dog bed. The boot floor can only be cleaned properly when it is empty.
- Door pockets, glovebox and console: loose change, receipts, tissues. We clean the surfaces, but sorting your belongings is better done by you.
- Child seats if you are comfortable refitting them. The worst of the crumbs live underneath, and the seat itself can then be cleaned too.
- Anything fragile or sentimental hanging from the mirror or stuck to the dash.
Where should the car be parked?
Somewhere legal and safe, with room to open every door wide. If it is on the street, leave a gap on the driver's side and behind the car if you can. The Highway Code says not to park in front of an entrance to a property or where the kerb has been lowered for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, and not to park in bays reserved for residents or Blue Badge holders unless entitled to. A car parked across a neighbour's dropped kerb is not a good place to spend two hours cleaning. Our guide on whether you need a driveway covers on-street valeting in more detail.
What should you tell the valeter in advance?
- Stains: what they are, if you know, and how long they have been there. Coffee, milk, make-up and ink each need different treatment.
- Smells: damp, smoke, pets or sickness. A musty smell can point to water getting in and possibly mould, which needs professional car mould removal rather than a standard clean.
- Damage: existing scratches, cracked trim, loose panels or damaged seats, so we both know about them before work starts.
- Delicate areas: aftermarket wraps, matte paint, suede or Alcantara trim, or a dashcam you want left in place.
- Access: permit zones, gates, codes and the best place for the van.
How should you handle the keys if you won't be there?
Most people are at work or busy during the valet, which is fine. We need to get into the car and lock it again afterwards. Common arrangements are leaving the keys with someone at home, meeting us briefly at the start and end of a workplace visit, or a key safe if you have one. Please do not leave keys hidden on the car. Let us know the plan when you book, along with a number we can reach you on during the appointment.
What should you not do before a valet?
- Don't spray stains with household products. Some set stains or bleach fabric, and mixing chemicals can make the next step harder.
- Don't use an air freshener bomb. It masks smells we need to find, and leaves residue on surfaces.
- Don't pre-wash the car. It is not needed, and a quick wash with a sponge can add swirl marks.
- Don't apply tyre shine or dashboard dressing. It has to be removed before surfaces can be cleaned properly.
Are there extra steps before a sale or lease return?
If the car is going back at the end of a lease, the BVRLA fair wear and tear guide is the industry-wide standard used to assess returned vehicles. It separates normal deterioration from damage caused by impact, harsh treatment or negligence. A clean car is easier to inspect fairly, so book the valet a few days before collection and photograph the car afterwards. Before a sale, take your listing photos straight after the valet. If the weather looks doubtful, read what happens if it rains on valet day. Full details of what we do are on our car valeting service page.
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