A clean car isn’t just about appearance. Dirt, bird droppings and airborne pollutants can actually etch in and damage your paint. Regular washing prevents that, but uses large amounts of water and chemicals.

That gave Simon Smith the idea to start Eccosave Mobile Wash, which he describes as an “eco-luxury auto detailing service.” Make an appointment, and a team will come to clean your car inside and out, with eco-friendly cleaning products that don’t require any water.

“I started this at the beginning of 2009, and the idea is twofold,” Smith says. “First, there’s the environmental aspect of it. Secondly, someone comes to you, so you don’t have to drive your car somewhere and drop it off.”

The service starts at $20 for exterior cleaning only, and at $35 for inside and out. There’s no need for a water truck, and the cleaning supplies fit in a compact car, “so the expenses are cut down and we pass that discount on to the customer,” Smith says.

He spent almost two years testing products before deciding on environmentally-friendly ones that work well in all seasons. Later this year he plans to add a compact steamer.

The two-person team starts with the inside, vacuuming the carpets and seats, cleaning the mats, and dusting and cleaning the dash and other surfaces. Then it’s onto the exterior, where the team uses waterless products to loosen and remove dirt. It’s possible to scratch paint if you don’t use these products correctly, Smith warns.

“We do left to right, or up and down, when taking off the dirt,” he says. “When you do a swirl pattern, the dirt you’ve lifted up is placed back on the vehicle.”

There’s an extra step if the vehicle is very dirty or covered in road salt.

After the car is polished and buffed, one person tackles the rims and tires, while the other cleans the windows. Depending on the service requested, it takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours. Eccosave will also do headlight restoration, engine steam cleaning, odour removal, and leather protection, and will work on motorcycles, large trucks and RVs.

Most clients have their cars cleaned at their workplace.

“People say they hate washing their cars,” Smith says. “This way, someone comes out to do it for you.”

Service area

Eccosave Mobile Wash’s service area is from Burlington to Scarborough, and north to Richmond Hill. Outside areas serviced at extra charge. Call 1-888-838-1386 or visit Eccosave.com.