Cleaning the car over the weekend is a chore some may dread, but for Ryan Aquilina the idea of spending hours doing just that sounds like the best way to spend his free time.
Mr Aquilina has been cleaning supercars like Porsche and Ferrari for almost eight years now, turning his passion into a part-time job four years ago.
“It all started when a friend put me in touch with someone who was selling his car and needed to make sure it was in a great condition,” Mr Aquilina said.
“It snowballed from there and the business grew by word of mouth.”
It took about 40 hours to go through a supercar thoroughly, Mr Aquilina said, adding that the process could take up to 100 hours in the case of older models which required greater attention.
This is a nice way to break from routine. It’s a relief, actually
His childhood friend, Ayrton Sims, joined him at his garage last year.
Cleaning the supercars was surprisingly relaxing, the 26-year-old said.
“I spend most of my time sitting at the office, so this is a nice way to break from routine. It’s a relief, actually,” he said.
They admitted the supercars brought to Mr Aquilina’s garage in Mellieħa were often spotless but insisted their job was to make them even better than factory condition.
“We have had clients who brought the car in as soon as they bought it so we can make it even better than it was in the showroom,” Mr Aquilina said.
“A lot of cars tend to come with some defects, slight scratches or marks. We give them a protective coating so it would be easier for owners to clean the car themselves,” he added.
Do they ever get nervous cleaning such expensive vehicles?
“Sometimes,” they laughed.
“Especially if it’s a model we have never cleaned before,” Mr Sims noted.
Keep it clean
■ Keep separate towels for the paint, wheels, interior and glass.
■ Use a microfibre based wash mitt for washing the paint instead of a foam sponge.
■ Use a microfibre drying towel for drying the paint instead of a chamois.
■ Apply car care products instead of household-based ones to prevent possible damage.
