27. May 2026

A day in the life...

A Day In The Life: Mobile Detailer & Valet Around Torbay

People often ask me what a typical day looks like as a professional mobile detailer based here in Torquay. “Is it just cleaning cars all day?” they say. Well, yes – but it’s so much more than that. Every single day I travel across the beautiful English Riviera, visiting every corner of Torbay and beyond, working on everything from small hatchbacks to cherished classics, 4x4s, and luxury cars.

Here’s exactly how my day unfolds – and every place I visit, from one side of the bay to the other.

6:30 AM – Starting The Day In Torquay

My alarm goes off before the sun is fully up. I load up my van with every bit of kit I need: steam cleaner, pressure washer, specialised chemicals, polishes, brushes, microfibres, generators, and my trusty steps. Everything has its place – organisation is key when you work on the move.

I check my diary: today’s route will take me all around Torbay, starting right here in Torquay, then moving through St Marychurch, Babbacombe, Meadfoot, Chelston, and Cockington, before heading south through Preston, Paignton, Goodrington, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton, all the way down to Brixham, and even across to Kingswear. Later I’ll pop out to Collaton St Mary, Marldon, and over the border to Totnes and Dartmouth.

By 7:30 AM, I’m on the road. The air is crisp, the palm trees along Torquay’s seafront are glowing in the early light, and the bay is calm and blue. This is why I do this job.

8:00 AM – St Marychurch & Babbacombe: Classic Cars & Coastal Views

First job is up in St Marychurch, on a quiet residential street with big houses and sea views out towards Babbacombe. I’m here to give a classic MG B GT a full exterior detail and headlight restoration. This car is a local favourite, driven carefully only in summer months, but even so – salt air from the coast has dulled the paint, and the headlights have gone cloudy.

I set up in the driveway, looking out over the rooftops to the sea. It’s peaceful here, with the sound of birds and the distant waves. I carefully wash, decontaminate, and polish the paint until it gleams like new, then spend an hour restoring those yellowed headlights back to crystal clear. The owner comes out halfway through with a hot cup of tea – classic Devon hospitality!

Next, just down the road in Babbacombe, I visit a family home near the famous cliffs. They have a modern Range Rover that spends every weekend exploring the coast lanes and beaches. It’s covered in red clay mud, salt spray, and sand. Today: full interior deep clean, wheel arch deep clean, and engine bay valet.

I love working here – the views over Oddicombe Beach and Babbacombe Bay are incredible, and the steep, winding roads make every journey feel like an adventure. I carefully clean every inch of the wheel arches, removing years of trapped salt and grit, and restore the engine bay to show-room condition. These cars battle some of the harshest conditions in the UK, so protecting them is what I’m all about.

10:30 AM – Meadfoot, Chelston & Cockington: Luxury & Heritage

Next, I wind back towards central Torquay, stopping first at Meadfoot. This is one of my favourite spots – elegant villas, sweeping views across the bay, and some of the most beautiful driveways you’ll ever see. Today it’s a sleek Mercedes E-Class, owned by a local business owner. It needs a premium wax sealant and paint correction, to keep it looking perfect all year round.

Then it’s on to Chelston, leafy, green, and full of characterful homes. Here I’m working on a family SUV that’s seen plenty of school runs, dog walks, and trips to the beach. The interior is full of sand, hair, and everyday mess – my job is to deep clean every surface, sanitise the upholstery, and make it fresh and safe again.

Midday brings me to Cockington, the picture-postcard village with thatched cottages, cobbled lanes, and ancient woodland. It feels like stepping back in time. I’m valeting a vintage Land Rover Series 2 here, owned by a local farmer. It’s been working hard around the farm and lanes of South Devon, covered in mud, dust, and grease. I give it a thorough wash, clean the chassis and underbody, and make sure everything is protected. Working here, with the smell of grass and woodsmoke, is absolute bliss.

1:00 PM – Preston, Paignton & Goodrington: Family Cars & Seaside Life

Lunch is a quick sandwich in the van, parked up overlooking the sea at Preston Sands. The tide is in, families are playing on the beach, and the pier at Paignton glints in the sunshine.

First afternoon job: Preston, valeting a compact family hatchback that’s used every single day. Full wash, vacuum, and tyre dressing – quick but thorough, making it ready for the school run and weekend trips.

Then I head into Paignton, busy, lively, and full of holiday vibes. I work in a driveway near the harbour, on a bright yellow sports car – a real head-turner. I give it a full decontamination and polish, removing every trace of tree sap, tar, and road grime that builds up around the busy town and seafront.

Just down the road in Goodrington, right next to the famous sands and water park, I’m working on a campervan. These are so popular here – people use them to tour Devon’s coast and moors. It’s covered in salt and sand from trips to the beach, and the interior needs a full deep clean and odour removal. I love working on campers – they’re full of stories and memories, and making them fresh and ready for new adventures is brilliant.

3:30 PM – Churston Ferrers, Galmpton & Brixham: Country Lanes & Fishing Heritage

Leaving the busier seaside towns behind, I head south along the winding lanes to Churston Ferrers. This is beautiful, rolling countryside, grand houses, and quiet roads. I’m here to clean and protect a luxury SUV that spends half its time on country lanes and farm tracks. I pay extra attention to the wheel arches and underbody – packed with mud and grit that can cause rust if left.

Next, a short hop to Galmpton, a lovely village with a real rural feel. It’s quiet, green, and peaceful. Today I’m doing an engine bay restoration on a family estate car. It’s been neglected for years, caked in oil, grease, and grime. I carefully mask all sensitive parts, steam clean every inch, degrease, and restore all rubber and plastic parts. The owner is amazed – they had no idea it could ever look this good.

Then it’s the big one: Brixham, the jewel of Torbay. As I drive down the hill, the harbour comes into view – colourful fishing boats, the golden beach, and those steep, winding streets lined with pastel cottages. It’s my favourite town in the whole bay.

First job here: right down by the harbour, valeting a classic Jaguar owned by a local fisherman. He keeps it pristine, but the salty air is always fighting back. I give it a full exterior detail, apply a durable sealant, and make sure every corner is protected. Then I head up to the higher streets to work on a modern van, used for deliveries around the bay. It’s tough work here – constant salt spray, wind, and rain – so cleaning and protecting these vehicles is vital.

I even nip across the water to Kingswear, just a short hop on the ferry. It’s a stunning spot, looking back across to Dartmouth. I’m here to detail a small sports car kept in a garage near the river. The views up the Dart Estuary are breathtaking, and it’s such a peaceful place to work.

5:30 PM – Collaton St Mary, Marldon & Beyond

Heading inland now, away from the coast. First Collaton St Mary, a pretty village surrounded by fields and farms. I’m working on a 4x4 that’s been used on the moors and farm tracks – absolutely covered in thick red Devon clay. I spend ages carefully cleaning the wheels, arches, and underbody, removing every bit of mud that could hold moisture and cause rust.

Then Marldon, set high on the hills between Torbay and the South Hams. Wide views across the countryside, quiet lanes, and big farmhouses. I’m doing a full valet for a local family, including cleaning and conditioning the leather interior and restoring the trim.

If I have time, I’ll often head just a little further afield – over to Totnes, with its ancient castle and quirky streets, or down to Dartmouth, where the river meets the sea. I’ve even been known to travel up to Newton Abbot or along the coast to Teignmouth – every place has its own charm, and every car has its own story.

7:00 PM – Wrapping Up & Heading Home

By the time I pack everything away, the sun is starting to dip low over the bay, painting the sky pink and gold. I drive back through Torquay, past the marina and along the seafront, tired but completely happy.

Every single day I’ve been to every corner of Torbay: Torquay, St Marychurch, Babbacombe, Meadfoot, Chelston, Cockington, Preston, Paignton, Goodrington, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton, Brixham, Kingswear, Collaton St Mary, Marldon, and out to Totnes, Dartmouth, and beyond.

I’ve worked on cars that are loved, cars that are workhorses, cars that are classics, and cars that are family favourites. I’ve met wonderful people, seen incredible views, and done work that actually matters – protecting their vehicles from salt, mud, and weather, saving them money, and giving them back that pride in their car.

People say I have the best job in Torbay. I think they’re right. Working here, moving between these amazing towns, helping people care for their cars – it really doesn’t get any better.

If your car has been tackling the salt air, red mud, or winding lanes of Torbay, I’d love to come and give it the care it deserves – wherever you are in the bay.