How and Why Mobile Detailers Stay Organized

As a mobile car detailer, you need to be ready to work on a variety of cars every day. Once your turn the keys in your van in the morning, you're on your own. That van should have everything you need to get in, do great work, and then get out, without ever having to leave the site. This means that you'll be toting around dozens of items which you'll need to access at various times during the day. The extra minutes it takes you to find the right paint or correct type of sand paper can add up to the time it takes to perform one more job each day. Simply put, meticulous organization will pay off in more jobs per day. A little bit of obsessive compulsive disorder truly does wonders for a mobile reconditioner. We've come up with some advice to help you keep all those tools organized. By staying organized, you will exude professionalism and will also fill your day with the highest amount of detailing work possible.

In the van, it's more than just the drivers' seat that should be ergonomic. Your shelves and tool boxes must be arranged in such a way that they fit your particular detailing style. Your shelves and tool carriers should be organized according to frequency of use. With experience, you'll have an idea of what tools you need to access at what stage of the job. Most mobile detailers start with the hard-hitting cleaning tactics - the brute removal of debris with high powered water. If you start by giving the vehicle an all-around hose down, don't put your power washer behind your sanding toolbox. This is pretty straightforward. You want to be able to step into the van and find what you need with your eyes closed.

A common downfall of mobile reconditioning operators is their lack of a dependable inventory system. You've got to know that you're armed with a good volume of every color paint you may need. Same with your cleaning solvents. The only way to be sure is by checking your levels every day and ordering more of a certain color or chemical as soon as your supply drops below the 3/4 full mark. Your inventory system should be color coded or otherwise organized in such a way that you aren't being forced to spend time opening bottles of paint or searching through different drawers trying to find the right size brush.

Take a look inside the vans of good mobile detailers and it’ll look like a hybrid between a surgery chamber and something out of a science-fiction movie. Total organization - from the shop-vac tube coiled up and over the shelving to the accordion file of receipts and documentation strapped to the inside of the van’s back door. Test the detailer - “Where are your spare brushes?” and they’ll point to them without thinking. The method of detailing is reflected in the van’s organization - the things the detailer uses first are closest to the back door. The equipment used for finishing touches is close to the front of the van.

As a mobile reconditioner, you’re the captain of a ship on the open seas. There’s no one to call if you run out of paint, or if you lose the right brush. There’s no one to call if your power washer blows out. Be prepared, and be organized. Use space wisely. The roof of the van should be replete with hooks and racks for tools. Customize, customize, customize. Have fun with it.

Check out the article in its original form, along with lots more information on how to choose the right mobile detailing equipment