# When did car detailing become a thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380 "2021-08-23T16:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/41 "2021-08-27T21:34:07Z")
My office had a car detailing service that came regularly - once a week, once every two weeks, something - and always had a line of people signed up. They’d do all the work in the parking lot. It was very convenient for the owners, because the car was just sitting there all day anyway. StG ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/42 "2021-08-27T21:51:44Z")
The husband of a former coworker of mine did car detailing. This was in the late '70s. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/43 "2021-08-29T16:46:36Z")
I’ve never had a car detailed, but I already know that whenever my dog dies it will be one of the first things I do (she’s 13). I’ve only had coupes her entire life, so she always rides in the passenger seat, and after she’s gone I don’t think I’ll be able to bear seeing any traces of fur; I’ll want the car to look like she was never in it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/44 "2021-08-30T14:09:46Z")
Detailing sound like what is called getting your car _valeted_ here. And that’s been a thing since at least the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/45 "2021-08-30T14:11:27Z")
Here in the US, “valeted” means an attendant went and parked your car for you. (And will presumably give it back to you later on.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/46 "2021-08-30T14:12:55Z")
To be honest, I’ve never heard “valet” used as a verb but perhaps where @MrDibble lives it is synonymous with detailing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/47 "2021-08-30T14:13:38Z")
Really? I certainly use it like, “you can get your car valeted at the hotel.” (Just checked, and it’s not just my quirk: wiktionary does list it as a transitive verb with that meaning for US speakers.) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/48 "2021-08-30T14:16:34Z")
That’s valet parking, we have that too. But you’d say your car was _parked_, not _valeted_. But “getting your car valeted” (mispronounced as _vallayed_) or “getting a wash and a valet” would mean getting the thorough behind-the-knobs cleaning service. At least, if you opted for the “full valet”. “Half valet” or “quick valet” would just mean a thorough interior cleaning, probably steamed seats etc and light wax but no scratch repair or lifting of seats etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/49 "2021-08-30T14:17:21Z")
Thanks. That’s something I wasn’t familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380/50 "2021-08-30T14:19:00Z")
I should point out that it isn’t a South African idiosyncrasy, I’ve encountered the same meaning in the UK. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-car-detailing-become-a-thing/949380.md?page=2)