Hyundai Elantra detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the Elantra

Paint and exterior

The current car has sharp angled creases running across the doors that trap sealant residue, so each line is wiped out by hand. Deep blue, red and black show wash swirls clearly; white and the silver shades hide them until the light hits at an angle.

Interior

Cloth on SE and SEL, leather-trimmed seats on Limited. The newer cabin wraps a tall trim panel around the driver and a long glossy surround over the screens, both of which hold dust and fingerprints.

Living in Houston

Plenty of Elantras do rideshare and long commutes, so the driver's seat bolster, the steering wheel and the driver's mat take the wear. Parked outside at an apartment complex, the rear deck and dash bake all summer.

• Soft clear coat: it marks from a dirty towel or an automatic wash, so every wash is two-bucket with clean mitts, and polishing finishes down with a fine pad.
• Cloth seats on many trims: spot-treated in every interior detail, with shampoo extraction as an add-on when they need it.
• Piano-black trim: it scratches if you look at it, so it gets plush microfiber only and can be polished and coated.
• Older plastic headlights yellow in the sun: headlight restoration is an add-on worth asking about.