See Our New Promotional Video Here

Mobile Auto Detailing & Ceramic Sealants

I WHAT IS THIS? I CERAMIC WHAT? I MENU PLEASE! I LET ME BOOK! I YOUR PRIVACY I

VOUCHERS I CLIMATE MAGAZINE I WHAT THE FUQ?

So What's All The Fuss About, Huh?

An Affordable Specialty Service Is Born

Starting out with just a few cleaning supplies and a cheap $36 vacuum soon after Covid19 closed the popular car wash where he was a supervisor responsible for quality control, Michael Hosking, a man many of you know as the kiwi from the car wash, is fast becoming a household name in the community for his positive energy, sense of humor and high attention to detail.

Despite many challenges over the last 3 years, Michael has been working tirelessly building his brand, investing, and then reinvesting into the company, upgrading equipment, fine tuning techniques and developing structure.

Building an empire during a pandemic, trying to market yourself to a community, battle weary from months of social distancing and a new world of which many of us are still coming to terms with, has made Michael's first few years in business interesting to say the very least.

Still, this Kiwi, from a popular Redwood City car wash he chooses not to name specifically because he doesn't particularly want to be sued, pushes on, more determined than ever... and with your support.

Quality Over Quantity

Perhaps for others in the industry, auto detailing is seen as a cash-cow, there to be milked, with emphasis being more on speed and high customer turnover than quality.

For Michael, detailing is a passion. Motivated primarily by the satisfaction he gets on completion of any given project, Michael becomes invested in the quality of his work. For the duration of the project, Michael gives your vehicle the same level of dedication and commitment he would his own vehicle.

His love and appreciation for this fantastic opportunity, made possible by what has now become a long list of satisfied (to put it lightly) clients, becomes very apparent when you see him in action.

Coming from a background as a qualified house painter with some 15 years experience, Michael discovered he had a lot of transferrable skills he could apply to detailing...

...and with outstanding results!!

Convenience

Given the associated health risks of Covid19, it's important we all limit our physical interactions with each other.

With that in mind, Michael's service comes to you, often with no physical interaction what-so-ever.

Simply provide a source of electricity for him to use, then go on about your day. He'll let you know when it's finished.

Our "Minimal Use" Water Policy

Due to the severe and ongoing drought, we have implemented a scratch-free water-less wash technique using soap agents, polymers & ceramic sealants, and consider ourselves "Minimal Use"

We Service The Following Areas (Recently Expanded)

San Carlos
Redwood City {Most Streets)
Woodside
Atherton
Menlo Park
La Honda
Portola Valley
Belmont
San Mateo (Case By Case)
Hillsborough
Half Moon Bay
Christchurch, New Zealand (Call-out fee of US$3000 applies)

In rare cases, Michael may ask that you bring your vehicle to him. This is almost always due to safety concerns around traffic at your location, or the neighborhood you live in.

You Had Me at "hello"

Important Information for Before & After Your Service

To make things as smooth as possible for both you (the client) and Michael (The Kiwi), we ask the following..

Before you make your booking, please do an inspection of your vehicle(s), taking note of things like stains on the carpet/upholstery, white marks from sunscreen lotion, excessive dog hair for example. Red spots on the exterior or globs of tree sap etc. This information is used by Michael to plan the project, determine what materials are needed and if any additional charges apply due to heavy soiling.
Before the day of your detail(s), please remove all personal items from your vehicle. This includes the pockets at the back of the front seats, door compartments, console, trunk space and anywhere else Michael needs to clean. Please also remove children's car seats and boosters, seat covers and other accessories. Please let us know in advance if you require assistance removing items from your vehicle. We're sure Michael is more than happy to negotiate something with you if need be.
Please allow a minimum of 2.5 hours for Exterior Detail, 3 hours for Interiors and roughly 5 for Complete Detail
2 x Complete Detail will likely see Michael at your house the entire day. While Michael is flexible in most cases, We prefer that he work on both cars simultaneously (it's less time consuming to wash 2 cars than it is to wash 1 & 1)
Please always remember to keep 6 feet between Michael and yourself. We do understand how having your vehicle detailed can be particularly exciting, and the desire to squeeze Michael to death in gratitude for his effort can be strong, but Michael has thus far managed to avoid Covid, and doesn't plan on catching it now.
Payments can be made by Cash or Venmo,
Payment is due on completion, unless negotiated otherwise
All services are covered by our satisfaction guarantee . Should you not be 100% satisfied with your service, please don;t hesitate to contact us .

OK, You really Had Me at "hello"

A Simple Introduction To Ceramic Coatings

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic coating is a long-term nanoscopic exterior paint treatment and protectant that is applied in a liquid form, bonding to the paintwork, hardening as it cures.
Ceramic coating is typically composed of silicon dioxide (silica, Si02), which is sourced from natural materials such as quartz and sand. Some types and brands also use titanium dioxide (Ti02) as an additional hardening agent. When applied to a car's paint, the two create a chemical bond with excellent hydrophobic (water-repellent) properties.

What Is A Ceramic Hybrid?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic Hybrid (Included in the Exterior Detail) isn’t a Full Ceramic Coating, but it has SiO2 infused in a polymer matrix that deliver some of the great qualities you find in full ceramic coatings without the full ceramic price tag. Essentially it combines polymer molecules with an SiO2 core making it a hybrid between a polymer sealant and a ceramic coating.
With it's superior longevity and showroom quality finish, we're confident once you try a ceramic hybrid you'll never have your car waxed again.
Better still, having developed great relationships with our suppliers, we're able to keep our price point down, providing you with a fantastic specialty service for less than what you'd pay at a commercial car wash for a not-so-specialty service.

!!Let's do it!!

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

In the graphic shown above, I've tried to illustrate

!!Let's do it!!

OK, So How Much Is This Going To Sting You?

Fixed rates for standard size vehicles in reasonable condition

Large Pick-ups, 3rd row SUV, Minivan priced accordingly, but in most cases are only an additional $25

New Car Paint Preservation

$125

- Water-less Wash

- Hand application of Ceramic Hybrid Sealant

- Wheels cleaned and tires dressed

- Plastic trim treated with protectant

Interior Detail

$175

- Vacuuming
- Deep cleaning of all interior surfaces including seats, carpets, floor mats etc.
- Windows (inside and out)
- Application of high quality leather/vinyl conditioner to Doors, Dash & Console, Seats (if Applicable)

- Optional air freshener (coming soon)

- Comes with complimentary exterior wash service

Exterior Detail

$150 - $175

- Water-less Wash

- Clay Bar

- Paint Correction (where possible)

- Surface decontamination

- Hand Application of SiO2-Rich Ceramic Hybrid Sealant (replaces waxing for superior durability and longevity)

- Wheels Cleaned / Tires Dressed

- Exterior Trim Dressed With Protectant

Complete Detail

$300

Combine Interior & Exterior Detail for the Fantastic Price of Just $300

2 X Complete Detail (Requires 10% Deposit)

$499

Book 2 Complete Details For The Same Day And Save Over $100.

Please Note: This Service Requires A Deposit of 10% Which Will Be Deducted From Your Total On Completion.

Cancellations Must Be Made A Minimum of 24 Hours In Advance.
In The Event Of A Short Notice Cancellation, Your Deposit Will Then Be Considered Your Cancellation Fee
Both Vehicles Must Be Made Available On The Day Of Your Service

By Booking This Service, You Agree to The Above Terms & Conditions

2 X Exterior Detail With Ceramic Hybrid Sealant

$250

Book 2 Exterior Details For The Same Day And Save Over $100.

Please note vacuuming is not included in this service unless requested.
Both Vehicles Must Be Made Available At The Same Time On The Day Of Your Service

Headlight Restoration

$30 - $60 (pair)

Headlights restored to the best of our ability (results can vary depending on age/condition)

Waterless Wash (Available after your Exterior or Complete Detail)

$20 - $25

Using a high lubricating formulation of soap agents & polymers which Michael spices up with ceramic sealants, your vehicle is carefully cleaned, scratch free and without the use of our most precious resource - Water.

With the addition of ceramic sealants, each wash boosts your ceramic coating, allowing Michael to now guarantee (After your exterior detail) you will not need another exterior detail for the life of the vehicle, provided you commit to Waterless washes once a month.

Waterless Wash (Without having had an Exterior Detail)

25 - 30

- Waterless Wash

- Wheels Cleaned & Tires Dressed

- Exterior Protectant Applied To Trim ($5 extra)

Currently available for the Western Suburbs of Redwood City excluding Farm Hill, Emerald Hills & Canyon

Large Pick-ups, 3rd row SUV, Vans, RV and small passenger air craft priced accordingly

Gift Certificates (On Sale)

Purchases through the website coming soon

The FUQ? (Frequently Unanswered Questions)

What is a Kiwi?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Which Brands Do You Use?

Quite unlike a Chinese gooseberry, The Kiwi is a flightless 🐦 Bird 🐦 native to New Zealand.

The kiwi is an icon of New Zealand, and the association is so strong that the term Kiwi is used internationally as the colloquial demonym for New Zealanders.[7]

Which Brands Do You Use?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Which Brands Do You Use?

The majority of the products we use are from Meguiar's 'Ultimate' range, Chemical Guys & Adams Garage professional line of detailing products.

Michael over in our research and development department recently made an interesting discovery about chemical compatibility while unsuccessfully trying to reverse engineer Migliore's 9H Strata Coating

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

No Comment

Shortly after this question was asked, Mr Woobie & his Kiwi went AWOL, presumably in search of the San Francisco Bay where a Yubbler like Woobie and Kiwi like Michael would be welcome.

Do I Pay Extra For The Ceramic Hybrid Sealant?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

NO - The Ceramic Hybrid Sealant is included in both the Exterior Detail & Complete Detail

Is Michael Seeing Anyone At The Moment?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

Michael recently had his beating heart ripped from chest and stomped on. So no, apparently he's single. He's open to something casual.

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

Spare time? Although fairly well educated, Michael appears unfamiliar with this concept. He remembers a time when he would enjoy hiking and taking photos. He also has a passion for electronic music, and has converted part of his living quarters into a studio where his mixer and turntables gather dust. People did always joke about his height saying he should be a jockey, so that's what he did... became a disc jockey. Rumor has it the flightless bird is also an artist, but your guess is as good as ours how he goes with those stubby little wings.

Giving Back To The Community

We're Donating 10% Of Our Complete Detail Profit To Help Combat Homelessness - Here's Why

Whenever we have jobs within a mile or so of the office, Michael likes to load up the detailing cart (pictured below) and roll it around the community.

It's good exercise. It's a great way to meet people in the community and often leads to new projects. Plus, it has excellent mileage (haha).

The downside: Michael is frequently mistaken for being homeless. People incorrectly, yet understandably conclude Man + Cart = Living on the street. As we've mentioned, it's understandable people would conclude that, given how unlikely it is the community has ever had a company quite like ours and an ambitious young go-getter like Michael rolling around with everything he needs to detail an entire fleet of cars.

The problem, however, is not the mistaken identity, but the way many people are treating Michael when they think he is homeless.

An earlier version of this section of the website drew so much criticism, including a barrage of abusive and somewhat threatening phone calls, we felt (at the time) it was in the interests of the company to remove the content from the page

Several weeks and countless hours agonizing over how to tell Michael's story without alienating a large portion of our potential client base, while still emphasizing the treatment of people living on the street, we are making the content available here today

Please consider how Michael was feeling at the time he documented these events. This has not been easy for him.

Thankfully, Michael DOES NOT live on the street, and after a long, often exhausting day, he has the luxury of hot food and a warm bed waiting for him in the phenomenally over-priced house he rents.

But in 2019, more than 151,000 Californians — more than 27% of the nation’s total homeless population — according to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. The number of people living on the streets, in cars or in shelters has been rising and is expected to increase even more as people who were laid off due to COVID-19 lose their unemployment benefits.

Thanks to all of you, The Kiwi From the Car Wash is a growing business, and we’d like to give back to our community by helping the least fortunate among us. From now through the end of the year, we’ll be donating 10% of the revenue from all Complete Detail packages to Street Life Ministries, a local charity who focus on the needs of people living on the street.

To learn more about how they're helping our least fortunate in the community, please visit their website

Update: Promotion is Officially Closed

Total Raised: $966

Can people please stop leaving aluminum cans and loose change on Michael's detailing cart? It really ruffles his feathers, His short, flightless feathers,

Book Your Complete detail

Mobile Auto Detailing & Ceramic Sealants

Our new promotional video

So What's All The Fuss About, Huh?

An Affordable Specialty Service Is Born

Quality Over Quantity

Convenience

Our "Minimal Use" Water Policy

We Service The Following Areas (Recently Expanded)

Important Information for Before & After Your Service

A Simple Introduction To Ceramic Coatings

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

What Is A Ceramic Hybrid?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

Why Do You Need This Ceramic Gloop?

OK, So How Much Is This Going To Sting You?

Fixed rates for standard size vehicles in reasonable condition

New Car Paint Preservation

Interior Detail

Exterior Detail

Complete Detail

2 X Complete Detail (Requires 10% Deposit)

2 X Exterior Detail With Ceramic Hybrid Sealant

Headlight Restoration

Waterless Wash (Available after your Exterior or Complete Detail)

Waterless Wash (Without having had an Exterior Detail)

The Best Way To Help Michael Is To Hire Michael

Book Online Here (Preferred), Or Call Michael on 650 771 3382 (Your Car Will thank You for It!!)

For Inquiries, Please Email Michael Directly michael@thekiwifromthecarwash.com

The Kiwi From The Car Wash

Your Privacy Matters

Voted Neighborhood Favorite of 2021 in 12 Bay Area Neighborhoods

Our Article in Climate Magazine

I'm Not Above Asking For Help (Donate using Venmo)

Gift Certificates (On Sale)

Guide Your Friends And Family In The Right Direction, Or Keep for your Next

Exterior Detail

Interior Detail

Complete Detail Gift Voucher

Email Michael With Your Gift Card Request

Our Perpetually Growing Team Of Dedicated Specialists

Out & About (Images)

Oh this thing? Nah it's nothing. Scroll on by.

The FUQ? (Frequently Unanswered Questions)

What is a Kiwi?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Which Brands Do You Use?

Which Brands Do You Use?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Which Brands Do You Use?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Do I Pay Extra For The Ceramic Hybrid Sealant?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

Why Did You Name Your Cart 'Mr Woobie The Yubbler'

Is Michael Seeing Anyone At The Moment?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

What does Michael like to do with his spare time?

Giving Back To The Community

We're Donating 10% Of Our Complete Detail Profit To Help Combat Homelessness - Here's Why

The Detailing Cart

Before The Upgrade

Before The Upgrade

Before The Upgrade

After The Upgrade

Before The Upgrade

Before The Upgrade

After The Rebuild

Before The Upgrade

After The Rebuild

Credit Where Credit's Due

Represent!!