An automatic wash just drags grit across your paint and scratches it. We pull the embedded road grime and brake dust out, level the swirls, and bring back the deep, wet look — then seal it so it holds through a Calgary winter.
Why a hand detail beats a tunnel wash
Hand Wash Only
Two-bucket method with plush microfiber mitts, so we're never dragging grit across your paint.
Clay Bar Decon
Pulls out the embedded contaminants a wash can't touch and leaves the paint glass-smooth.
Iron Removal
Dissolves brake dust and rail fallout off the clear coat before it has a chance to rust in.
Silica Sealant
Every package finishes with a spray sealant — 3–6 months of beading and gloss.
No swirl marks
Deep clean (not just surface)
Protect plastic trim
Clean wheels barrels
Door jambs cleaning
Tire dressing (no-fling)
At a glance
Coverage
Inside and out — wash, decontamination, interior, protection
Install time
1.5 hours to a full day by package
Price from
$149 (Essential Detail)
Best for
Winter salt, swirl marks and pre-sale prep
Booking
Online, instant confirmation
Car detailing is a multi-stage deep clean and restoration of a vehicle inside and out — well past a standard wash — using clay-bar decontamination, hand polishing, leather conditioning, steam cleaning, and protective sealants. In Calgary that matters more than most places: road salt, brake dust, calcium chloride splash, and the grit off a daily Deerfoot or Stoney Trail commute all work against your paint. For most drivers, two or three full details a year plus a monthly maintenance wash keeps a car looking right. Driving something special? We do a Porsche-specific detailing service tuned to a fussier finish, and our seasonal detailing packages bundle your visits around Calgary's winter and spring cycles.
Detailing packages
Pick your level of clean. Prices are up front for a compact car, and we'll tell you if a lower tier is all your car needs.
Studio drop-off in SE Calgary · serving Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks & Chestermere
Essential Detail
1.5–2.5 hours
From $149
Maintenance cleaning to keep a well-kept vehicle fresh.
Drag the slider. That haze on the left is oxidation and wash-marring from tunnel washes — the right is the same panel after a single-stage machine polish. Same paint, no filters.
Swirls & Oxidation
Mirror Finish
Why Your Car Looks Dull.
Your clear coat is supposed to bounce light straight back at you like a mirror. Embedded iron, sap, and tar — plus the fine swirls a bad wash leaves behind — scatter that light in every direction, and flat, lifeless paint is the result. Dents and door dings are a different job entirely; our paintless dent removal smooths panels without ever touching the factory paint.
The Problem: Visual Noise
The spinning brushes in a tunnel wash leave a maze of fine scratches that scatter light — that's the dull, hazy look you see under the sun.
The Fix: Optical Clarity
Machine polishing levels those scratches back down so light reflects straight back at you again — that's where the deep, wet gloss comes from.
ROUGH SURFACE
CORRECTED SURFACE
The Physics of Gloss
Comparison of light refraction on untreated vs treated paint.
Car Detailing Near You, Across Calgary
Searching "car detailing near me"? Obsidian Auto looks after every quadrant of the city — NE Calgary (Saddleridge, Skyview, Marlborough), NW Calgary (Tuscany, Varsity, Crowfoot), SE Calgary (Cranston, Mahogany, Auburn Bay), and SW Calgary (Signal Hill, West Springs, Aspen Landing) — plus Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, and Chestermere. Our climate-controlled studio is a short drive from anywhere in the city: drop the car off in the morning and most details are ready the same day. It's the same auto detailing work in Calgary that earned us 696+ Google reviews at a 4.9-star rating and a Consumer Choice Award (2022–2025).
Buying for someone else? Pick up a gift card toward any service — it never expires and works on detailing, PPF, or ceramic.
Engine Bay Detailing in Calgary
An engine bay detail (engine shampoo and degrease) safely removes years of oil mist, road salt, and grime from the engine compartment using low-pressure rinsing, electronics-safe degreasers, and careful covering of sensitive components — never a high-pressure blast. A clean engine bay runs cooler, makes leaks easy to spot, and adds real value at resale or pre-purchase inspection. It's included in our Signature detail and available as a standalone add-on.
Calgary's intense high-altitude UV yellows and clouds headlight lenses, cutting night-time visibility and aging the whole front end. Our headlight restoration wet-sands away the oxidized polycarbonate layer, machine-polishes the lens back to clarity, and seals it with a UV-stable coating so the haze doesn't return in a season. It's a fast, affordable add-on to any detail — and a genuine safety upgrade.
This is what the process actually looks like — no stock photos.
Snow Foam Pre-Wash
Touchless dirt encapsulation.
Two-Bucket Method
Zero-scratch contact washing.
Engine Bay Detail
Degreased and dressed to factory new.
We Make Iron Bleed.
Your paint is peppered with tiny metal particles — brake dust and rail dust — that are quietly rusting into the clear coat. We spray a pH-neutral iron remover that reacts with them and, no exaggeration, turns purple as it dissolves them off. It's oddly satisfying to watch.
01
Apply
Chemical sprayed on dry paint.
02
React
Iron turns purple as it dissolves.
03
Rinse
Contaminants safely washed away.
The Safe Wash Arsenal
Not putting new scratches in is every bit as important as buffing old ones out. Here's the gear we use on every wash to keep grit away from your paint.
Grit Guards
Traps dirt at the bottom of the bucket so it never touches your paint again.
Plush Mitts
High-GSM microfiber mitts that trap dirt deep in the fibers, away from the surface.
Forced Air
We blow-dry crevices to prevent drips, eliminating the need for towel drying contact.
pH Neutral
Soaps that clean without stripping your existing wax or sealant layers.
What Calgary Drivers Say
Real, verified 5-star Google reviews from Obsidian Auto customers.
"Mo and his team transformed the interior of our extremely dusty and dirty back-roads work truck into brand new showroom quality. Their Ozone treatment removed all the built up smell of dirty/wet coveralls and chemicals. From booking the appointment to picking up the truck it was a short 48-hour turn around. 100% will be returning for repeat business."
PB
Paul B.
Jan 2024•Work truck
"I brought in my car to get detailed here and had a phenomenal experience. After multiple cross country trips, my car was well overdue for a cleaning — pet hair, excess dirt build up, and more. Mo and the team at Wash My Ride were very accommodating to my timeline and deep cleaned the car to restore it to like new condition. My wife and I only wish we could have found the shop earlier. I highly recommend Mo and the team at Wash My Ride."
II
Igor I.
Feb 2024
"Wash my Ride did an amazing job detailing my 2011 Mazda. I got the full reset interior package plus pet hair removal, interior shampoo, and headlight treatment. The interior and headlights look brand new! Mo also took time to go check over the vehicle with me before and after the detailing to ensure any specific concerns were addressed. He also reviewed the contract and timing with me so we were on the same page. I will definitely use this service again."
CL
Charlotte L.
Jun 2024•2011 Mazda
"I just got my truck interior detailed and i cannot believe how amazing it looks. I track in mud, salt, diesel, glue, stone dust and everything else you could imagine from a work site, and it was no problem for these guys. It looks as fresh and clean as when i first bought it. For reals a huge shout out to Mo, he is great to deal with. These guys are professional, thorough, very friendly and go above and beyond."
MC
Micah C.
Apr 2024•Work truck
"I LOVE how my car looks after having purchased the 'Interior Reset' package!!! I drive a 13 year old car, and honestly it looks like it just came off of the showroom floor. Great customer support, fast service, good value and clear attention to detail are just some of the reasons why I'll definitely be back in the future."
MC
Mark C.
Jul 2023•13-year-old car
"Had my Odyssey in for an Interior Reset and an Express Wash this week. I love my van, and can usually keep up with a good surface level clean myself. But there is absolutely something special when every single speck of dust and dirt is removed from every crevice. I think it's cleaner now than when I bought it, they did fantastic work! Definitely will do again!"
KM
Kim M.
Aug 2023•Honda Odyssey
"Mo and the team at Wash My Ride did an incredible job getting my 2018 Honda CRV looking brand spanking new again. We have a dog and haven't had a good clean for nearly 3 years. It was impeccably clean and I'll return there again and again for the same service."
KB
Kristen B.
Sep 2023•2018 Honda CRV
"Did an excellent job detailing my 4Runner. They managed to get all of the dog hair out of the carpet and all the crevices it accumulated over the summer/fall, which is amazing considering I have two massively shedding pugs. Will definitely use their services again."
CK
Christine K.
Nov 2023•Toyota 4Runner
"This is my third time with Mo and his amazing crew. They leave no stone unturned, and my Jeep Wrangler is absolutely spotless! Very friendly and personable: I had to wait in the lobby for my Jeep to get done, and Mo made sure I was comfortable and even brought out a portable heater to make sure I was warm enough. I have met all of the staff, both at my residence for mobile cleaning and in the shop and they all go above and beyond!"
JF
Jennifer F.
Feb 2024•Jeep Wrangler
"Been here 2 times and I've left satisfied every time they always do a fantastic job"
JQ
Jeffery Q.
Aug 2024
"During an extreme cold snap at -33°C, my rear window shattered, leaving broken glass scattered throughout my cloth interior. I took my truck to Mo, and I was not only impressed by his friendly demeanour, but his team also painstakingly removed every single shard from my cab. I couldn't be more satisfied, and I'll definitely return."
DT
Dave T.
Jan 2024•Truck
"I was thrilled with the level of detailing that was done, especially on older beige leather. They did an immaculate job on the interior. You can tell the pride and passion taken in their work. Everyone I encountered was very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Great communication throughout the process and pickup time."
EC
Erin C.
Feb 2024
"I had a great experience here! I brought in my SUV that hadn't been detailed for an embarassing number of years while being used and abused by my two kids and a very hairy dog. It is now in pristine condition and I was even given good advice on a leather treatment for my centre console moving forward. They did such a great job that I almost wasn't sure it was still my vehicle!!"
SH
Shauna H.
Jan 2024•SUV
"Excellent service!! Hands down the best in Calgary! I was a new customer using their mobile service and it did not disappoint. The attention to detail Nicklas performed on my Range Rover was above and beyond my expectations! Looking forward to bring a repeat customer!"
DC
D C.
Jun 2025•Range Rover
"I would highly recommend this company. Mustafa and his crew are very knowledgeable, professional and do exceptional work for reasonable pricing. They go out of their way to satisfy their clients. They made my red 2015 Durango look brand new! Thanks for everything."
BP
Beverly P.
Aug 2025•2015 Dodge Durango
Reviews from our verified Google profile (4.9★, 696+ reviews). Last names anonymized for customer privacy.
Coming from NE, NW or SW Calgary?
There's one Obsidian Auto studio, at #2, 239 61 Ave SE in SE Calgary near Chinook. Every detail is done there, in the shop. We don't offer mobile service or vehicle pickup, so plan on dropping the car off. Here's roughly how far that is from around the city.
Distance and typical drive time to the Obsidian Auto studio
From
Distance
Typical drive
Downtown & BeltlineBeltline, Mission, Eau Claire, East Village
5 km
10–15 min
SW CalgaryEvergreen
10 km
15–20 min
SW CalgaryAspen Woods
11 km
20–25 min
SE CalgaryAuburn Bay, Mahogany
13–15 km
15–20 min
NE CalgarySaddle Ridge
17 km
25–30 min
NW CalgaryCrowfoot
17 km
25–35 min
NW CalgaryTuscany
20 km
30–35 min
ChestermereEast of the city on 17 Ave SE
18 km
20–30 min
OkotoksSouth on Highway 2
31–36 km
25–35 min
AirdrieNorth on the QEII
31–36 km
30–40 min
CochraneWest on Highway 1A
31–36 km
40–50 min
Distances are straight-line from the studio. Drive times are typical off-peak estimates; allow more at rush hour.
Car Detailing Across Calgary & Area
One studio in SE Calgary, serving the whole city and the towns around it. If you're coming in from one of these areas, start here.
Most detailing in Calgary lands between $149 for an express exterior and $499+ for a full Signature detail with engine bay, polish, and ceramic sealant. Here at Obsidian Auto the Exterior Reset starts at $149, Gloss Enhancement is $399, and the Signature showroom prep is $499. The honest caveat: a filthy truck with baked-on winter salt or a serious pet-hair situation takes longer than a clean commuter, so size and condition move the final number. Send me a photo and I'll quote you straight — no surprises when you collect the car.
A wash is a surface clean — soap, rinse, dry, maybe a vacuum, and you're out in 15 minutes. A detail is a full restoration: clay-bar decontamination to pull embedded brake dust and rail dust out of the clear coat, machine polishing to knock down swirl marks, deep interior steam cleaning, leather conditioning, and a sealant that actually lasts. A wash buys you a clean weekend. A proper detail takes 4–8 hours and the result holds for months.
For most Calgary drivers, 2–3 full details a year does it — one in spring to strip winter's salt and calcium chloride off the paint, one mid-summer, and one heading into winter to lock in protection. Between those, a monthly maintenance wash keeps salt from etching the finish. If your car lives outside and eats the Deerfoot commute daily, lean toward the higher end.
Interior-only is the right call if your paint still looks good but the cabin's carrying pet hair, spilled coffee, salt-caked mats, or a lingering odour. Go full detail (inside and out) if the paint feels rough to the touch, you can see swirls or water spots in the sun, or you're prepping to sell, hand back a lease, or head out on a road trip. Genuinely not sure? Text me a couple of photos and I'll tell you the honest answer — including if you only need the cheaper option.
Our exterior detail from the Gloss Enhancement tier up includes a single-stage machine polish, which clears roughly 50–70% of light swirls and oxidation — enough to make most daily drivers look sharp again. True multi-stage paint correction, the kind that chases out deeper scratches and gets you to 90%+ clarity, is its own dedicated service. That's what we do before ceramic coating or PPF, because you don't want to lock imperfections under a coating.
Budget 4–6 hours for a full interior and exterior on a sedan, 6–8 for an SUV or truck, and up to a full day when a car's been badly neglected, needs heavy pet-hair removal, or has an odour to decontaminate. Drop it off in the morning and most people collect it after work. If your schedule's tight, tell us when you book and we'll plan around it.
No. We've retired our mobile service, and every detail now happens in our studio at 239 61 Ave SE — climate-controlled bays, filtered water, and proper lighting get a noticeably better result than working in a driveway in the wind. We don't offer pickup or delivery either, so plan to drop the car off and collect it; most exterior details are done the same day.
We don't offer pickup or delivery: every car comes to our SE Calgary studio at 239 61 Ave SE. Drivers come to us from NW, NE, SW, and SE Calgary, plus Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, and Chestermere. Book online, drop the car off in the morning, and most exterior details are ready the same day.
Lease-return prep is one of the jobs we do most. We target exactly what the dealership's inspector looks for: interior stain removal, scuffed door panels buffed out, headliner cleaned up, and swirls reduced on the paint. For a lot of clients that's a few hundred dollars saved versus the wear-and-tear charges the dealer would have written up.
Clear your personal stuff out of the cabin and trunk — we won't touch valuables, but it speeds the job up and keeps your things safe — and pull out child seats if you want us cleaning under them. Give us a heads-up about pet hair, smoke odour, or anything biohazard so we can block the right amount of time. And show up on time; we run a tight schedule so we can keep pricing fair for everyone.
Not when it's done right. We wash with pH-neutral soap, non-abrasive microfiber, and coating-safe sealants. Just tell us at booking if your car has ceramic, PPF, or tint and we'll steer clear of anything that could compromise it — no harsh alkaline degreasers on PPF edges, no ammonia-based cleaners on tinted glass. Protecting the work you already paid for is the whole point.
Every 7–10 days once the roads get treated. Calgary runs sodium chloride, liquid calcium chloride, and a salt-and-gravel 'pickle' mix in deep cold — all of it corrosive and abrasive. The stuff that starts rust is the salt sitting in your wheel wells, seams, and undercarriage, so flushing that off with a touchless or undercarriage wash matters more than chasing a perfect shine. A ceramic coating or a ceramic-boost wash makes the salt rinse away far easier all winter.
A few things I'd actually mention to a friend. Graphene and ceramic 'toppers' — quick-apply hybrids that sit between a wax and a full coating and add months of protection to a maintenance detail. Interior ceramic coatings, which seal leather, plastics, and carpets against road salt, coffee, and UV fade, and are one of the fastest-growing things we do. And more people moving to scheduled maintenance-wash plans instead of one reactive deep clean a year — the finish stays protected and it costs less over the year. Ask and I'll tell you which is worth it for how you drive.
Swing by the studio in SE Calgary. You'll see the climate-controlled install bay, meet the installers who'll actually wrap your car, and look at the work up close before you book a thing.