Is car valeting a rubbish gift?

[FoofOfTheWalkingDead]

I'm stumped what to get my husband for his birthday. He's the kind of guy that doesn't want or need anything unless it's very specific. In which case he's best left to get it himself. In previous years I've bought him vouchers for experiences and book tokens and he never uses them so I'm not keen to waste money like that again. I've already bought him the latest Stephen King as a gift from our son.

He loves a shiny car and gets a kick out of watching water bead off the paint but our car isn't fancy, it's a 5 year old Ford Mondeo (he would probably add that it's the sport model, thank you very much). Is it worth it to get it valeted? I'm worried he'll be like 'meh, you just wasted your money', rather than 'ooooo, thanks babe!' which is what I'm going for.

Any other ideas around the £100 mark? He's 52, fit and active but a homebody, doesn't really drink, not much of a socialiser, hobbies: gaming.

God no. Sounds lovely.

I'd love it if someone paid for car to be cleaned! Go for it!

I’d love that! My only other idea would be a metal detector.
I’m buying my husband a log splitter, but will save your idea for next year.

I'd love it but £100 seems steep for a valet!

I grt mine done every month. Not a full one. I'm not letting them at the engine but I get a mini valet every month and a full one (without the engine wash) twice a year.

Can’t you jazz the valet up a bit and have it done by a bird in a bikini?

I was thinking of doing this for our son

I'd love that too.

It all depends on your husband if he likes to do your car himself he may not be to keen on someone else doing it even if he doesn't have time. Also if your car is particularly bad you may not get much for £100 it may be best to consult some local companies to see what they think.

I asked my DP if he could organise and pay for a valet for my birthday. It didn't happen. I'd be chuffed if it did, any day.

🤣😏. The boyfriend would be well chuffed with that.

I'd love that!

I always buy my difficult to buy for dh theatre tickets. Over the heads I've made him go to see thing ms he never would have chosen but has either loved or laughed with me.

Yes a detailing valet is amazing gift!

My husband is properly into his cars cleaning and detailing them and so on. He spends loads on the chemicals theres forums dedicated to it and it's a bit of a hobby for some. I didn't realise this was even a thing! Decontaminating getting out the swirls and so on, machine polishing make it that what you will!

I asked him that he did me a full valet for my car for Xmas and he said no!

I'm just gonna take it the guys next to aldi for a wash £7. Feel a bit weak I weird leaving it.

I’d be delighted.

Some car valeters are crap. I'd like it if it was done well, but there are some seriously half arsed ones about so watch out.

My kids do this for me every Mother's Day. I love it.

I didn’t know this was a thing but it sounds a good idea. I thought valeting is what our MOT person does when he brings it back and says “I gave it a bit of a clean”.

DH gets my car valeted for Christmas….but a voucher alone is no good. He has to actually book it…..otherwise I’d never get it done.

I get mine done once a month and as a result it's never looks dirty (inside)
But as we live in the country the outside stays clean until I drive it home, so approx half an hour 😢

It's a good idea for a gift and I'm totally going to steal that for my mum as she hates her car being dirty but isn't well enough to clean it right now! And she doesn't live near me ....

That’s not necessarily a lot! Can easily be several hundred up to several thousand for a full detail. I’m a hobbyist but can deliver a paint correction detail that would cost £3-400 from a pro.

A full valet for my car, a full size Range Rover (so a hatchback will probably be cheaper) is £120. They come to my work and do it in the car park, it's fab!

What about some nice detailing products if he would usually use cheap ish stuff? Autoglym is nice. Or Autofinesse.

Thanks everyone! He already has a lot of car cleaning products so I wouldn't go that route. I'll book the detailing to happen on his actual birthday so that it's ready for him when he gets home from work.

Are you sure he’d appreciate that? I’d be livid if some random person cleaned my car.

Why not ask him what he'd like? I'd love it if dh got my car valeted, but I'd be a bit annoyed if it was a gift. I'd much prefer a nice dinner out or night away. Or I'm totally happy to just tell someone what I'd really like. Dh often just sends me a link to something he wants as he's into quite technical gear for his hobbies and no way I'd manage to get that right if I tried.