Ford F-150 detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the F-150

Paint and exterior

Since 2015 the body is aluminum, but it is painted and clear-coated like steel, so it washes and polishes the same way. The hood, roof and tailgate are big flat panels where swirls show, and black, dark blue and grey trucks show them first.

Interior

Work trims run vinyl or cloth seats with rubber flooring; Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trucks have leather that creases on the driver's outer bolster from climbing in and out. Crew cab rear floors hold a lot of caliche dust and grit.

Living in Houston

A lot of F-150s here pull boats to Lake Conroe or trailers to the deer lease, so tar, brake dust and red clay build up behind the wheels and along the rockers. Love bugs packed into the grille in May are a close second.

• Black and dark colors are common: they show swirls, water spots and pollen film first, and benefit most from a coating.
• Pickup bed: tell us what the bed carries; spray-in liners clean up well, drop-in liners come out for the rinse.
• Tows and hauls: hitch, rear bumper and the lower panels collect road tar and brake dust, so they get iron remover and tar remover.
• Large wheels and tall tires: wheel faces, barrels and wells take real time on this one, and it shows when they are done right.
• Lots of chrome: Houston hard water etches it, so it is dried fully, polished where needed and sealed.
• Sees dirt roads and lease land: mud is softened and rinsed before any mitt touches the paint, and wheel wells are cleaned out.