A hand wash and wax is the entry package. In the valley it does two jobs: it lifts the dust film that settles within days, and it lays down a barrier against sun and hard water.
This page covers what the wash-and-wax package includes at the published Las Vegas band of $90 to $175, how often a valley vehicle needs one, and why an automatic wash is not the same service.
A hand wash of the body, wheels and tyres, glass cleaned inside and out, door jamb wipe-down, and a wax or spray sealant applied and buffed. It is a cleaning and protection service, not a correction service: swirls and scratches stay where they are.
The work happens where the car is parked. That is the point of the package in Las Vegas, where a shop visit costs more time than the wash does money.
Published local pricing:
Ask what protection product is used and how long it lasts. A spray wax measured in weeks and a paste wax measured in months sit at different prices inside the same band.
Dust and caliche film settle on paint within days of a wash, and the valley gets little rain to clear them. Most local detailers suggest a wash every two to four weeks for a car parked outside, and protection reapplied with the seasons.
Hard water is the second reason. Sprinklers and pool splash leave mineral spots that etch into clear coat if they bake on, so glass and panels need attention before the marks set.
The published band is $90 to $175 for an exterior wash and wax detail, with price moving by vehicle size and the protection product used.
A hand wash lets the detailer work around trim, glass and wheels without brushes, and it is done where the car is parked. A drive-through is faster but touches the paint with the same brushes on every vehicle.
Every two to four weeks for a car parked outside, because dust and caliche film build quickly and the valley sees little rain to clear them.
A wax or sealant slows the effect of ultraviolet light but does not stop it. Long-term protection against the Nevada sun is a ceramic coating, which is priced from $700.