Pet Hair and Stained Light Leather: 2016 Lexus ES in Camas, WA
Interior and exterior detail
Before and after
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BeforeAfter
This 2016 Lexus ES Hybrid had pet hair on the seats, the dash and the steering wheel, dark soiling in its light leather, and water spots and old dirt on the paint. We detailed it on site in Camas, Washington, in about three hours, inside and out. The paint got a hand wash under a canopy, the pet hair came out, and the leather was cleaned one spot at a time.
What we did
Pet hair on the seats, the dashboard and the steering wheel. Dust built up over years in the panels and vents. Dark soiling worked into the light leather on the driver seat and the armrest. Outside, water spots from the rain and dirt that had been sitting on the paint for a long time.
We looked the car over before starting. The dirt that had been sitting on the paint for a long time was treated on its own with a dedicated cleaner, so it came off without harming the paint.
It was a hot day, so we set up a canopy over the car to keep water from drying on the glass and paint. Then a hand wash, and the wheels cleaned of brake dust, tree debris and dirt.
Inside, a full vacuum including under the seats. The pet hair had worked into the deeper layers, so it was treated and lifted out rather than just vacuumed over. Every surface was wiped, the door panels were cleaned with soft brushes and microfiber, and the cup holders were cleaned.
The light leather took the most care. The soiling sat in patches, so we treated those patches one at a time instead of working the whole seat hard.
Light leather, one spot at a time
Cream leather shows every mark, so it gets worked in stages.
- Vacuum first, so loose dust and hair are not rubbed into the leather.
- Pet hair lifted from the seat surfaces and the seams.
- Soiled patches treated one at a time with a cleaner suited to leather.
- A final wipe with a clean microfiber towel.
Result
- Hand washed under a canopy, wheels cleaned of brake dust and debris.
- Old dirt on the paint treated separately so it came off safely.
- Full vacuum including under the seats, pet hair lifted from the seats, dash and steering wheel.
- Leather cleaned spot by spot, door panels and cup holders cleaned.
Surface dirt lifts out of light leather, and the armrest shows how far that can go. Soiling that has soaked in over years does not always come out completely: look at the driver seat bolster, much lighter but not gone. Leather that has worn through, like the grip areas on this steering wheel, stays worn. On the paint, fresh water spots come off in the wash. Spots that have been drying on for months have etched into the clear coat and washing will not lift those. A dedicated spot remover can be tried on them for an extra charge, and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth paying for first.
About three hours, on site in Camas.
Finished
How it looked when we packed up.
Questions people ask about jobs like this
Yes. On this Lexus the hair was on the seats, the dash and the wheel. Hair that has worked into fabric and seams gets treated and lifted out, not just vacuumed over.
Yes, with the right cleaner and some patience. We treat soiled patches one at a time instead of working the whole seat hard, which is how light leather gets damaged.
Surface dirt usually does. Soiling that has soaked in for years often comes out much lighter rather than fully gone. We look at the seat and tell you what to expect before we start.
It was a hot, sunny day. Water that dries on hot paint and glass leaves spots, so we shaded the car before washing it.
This one took about three hours with the pet hair and leather work. A car in lighter condition takes less.
