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
The husband of a former coworker of mine did car detailing. This was in the late '70s.
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.
Detailing sound like what is called getting your car valeted here. And that’s been a thing since at least the 80s.
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.)
To be honest, I’ve never heard “valet” used as a verb but perhaps where @MrDibble lives it is synonymous with detailing.
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.)
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.
Thanks. That’s something I wasn’t familiar with.
I should point out that it isn’t a South African idiosyncrasy, I’ve encountered the same meaning in the UK.