Be it a car, tractor, airplane or semi, Porters Mobile Detailing makes it look 'like new'

What started as a side job has turned into a lucrative, full-time business for Jerad Porter.

The 26-year-old Burlington man launched Porters Mobile Detailing in July 2020 after learning he was going to be a father.

"I was working for a place called Wilderness Land Management and then found out I was going to be a father and I just wanted extra money," Porter told The Hawk Eye Wednesday from inside his garage on South 10th Street, where he spent the afternoon cleaning the interior of a Chevy Silverado 2500.

Porter has always had a knack for cleaning vehicles, starting with his own. His grandparents, Marlene and Kevin Murphy, had been encouraging him to start a detailing business since he graduated Burlington High School in 2014, but he initially opted to go into landscaping before taking a job selling vehicles for Billion Auto in Iowa City.

From there, he took a job doing stormwater repair for Apex Companies in Urbandale, but later decided to move back home to be closer to family.

About two weeks after returning to Burlington, he and his girlfriend, Libbie Magel, learned they would have a child.

So Porter went to Lowe's and purchased a power washer, generator, vacuum cleaner and steamer, along with cleaning chemicals from O'Reilly Auto Parts and started taking on customers.

One of his earliest jobs was a wash and wax on a Cessna 210. His customer base grew quickly to include semi trucks, combines, tractors, campers, boats and an array of cars and trucks.

On Aug. 22, 2020, he decided to quit his job to run his business full-time.

"I started running this on the side and then it started picking up," Porter said. "It was definitely a big risk, but it all worked out."

His son, Zaire, was born Oct. 5, 2020, and Porter has enjoyed being able to simply walk inside and spend time with him and Magel while taking breaks. Zaire, now nearly 20 months old, also likes to help his dad in the garage.

As business continued to pick up, he was able to purchase additional equipment, including the 275-gallon water tank inside the trailer he brings for mobile jobs, such as those involving multiple or larger vehicles. He also found a Mount Pleasant-based distributor for his cleaning chemicals.

On average, he details three vehicles per day, occasionally with the help of friends Romeo Maestro and PJ Jones.

The amount of time it takes per vehicle depends on the mess and the package.

There's an interior package starting at $125 that includes a thorough vacuuming; shampoo and/or leather condition; steam clean; dashboard, door panels and upholstery; windows; door jams; and air fresheners that can take up to three-and-a-half hours.

"We go over the doors and stuff with plastic and leather cleaner and go over them with either a leather condition or interior shine," Porter said.

The full detail package starts at $140 and includes everything in the interior package, as well as an exterior wash, foam condition, spray wax, wheel and tire dressing, and windows. Washes are done using microfiber cloths.

The deluxe detail, starting at $300, includes everything in the full package, plus a clay bar and hand wax.

Customers also can get a buff/paint correction starting at $300, as well as ceramic coating, the price of which varies depending on the vehicle.

"Our goal is to make the vehicle look like you just got it off the showroom floor," Porter said.

Evidenced by before and after pictures of his work shared to his business's Facebook page, that goal is met by the time he's finished.

"He makes them look like new," Linda Robinson, a family friend of Porter's, told The Hawk Eye.

Among his favorite jobs have been a Ford GT and a fully restored 1947 Chevrolet.

The most challenging to date was a semi that had been towed. The cabin, Porter recalled, was filled with trash to the point that it required shovels and the use of rubber gloves and face masks.

"It was absolutely filthy," Porter said. "We had to shovel everything out. We ended up filling up a whole dumpster. It smelled like someone died in there."

Porter is uncertain whether that was the case. He never did meet the driver.

With business continuing to go strong, Porter is considering purchasing a shop capable of housing large vehicles. Currently, those jobs must be done at the mercy of the day's weather.

Those wanting to schedule an appointment may do so by calling or texting Porter at (319) 601-0046, or via Facebook by messaging Porters Mobile Detailing.

Michaele Niehaus covers business, development, environment and agriculture for The Hawk Eye. She can be reached at mniehaus@thehawkeye.com.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: A look inside a Burlington man's mobile detailing business