LEWISTON — The owners of Black Diamond Detailing have found a new home in the downtown area at 114 Pine St., after leaving their Sabattus Street location in August 2024.

Abdirahman Saeed, whose nickname is “CJ,” and his partner Abdinur Mohamed are familiar faces around town, and graduates of the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Top Gun competition.

“Our routine is to go ahead and make the car as clean as possible, and not only clean but sanitary, so we use a lot of steam,” Saeed said, as they started to detail a 2003 Toyota Camry in their new location last week.

Asked why that’s important, he talked about scientific evidence that high-touch surfaces like steering wheels are likely to have more bacteria than a public toilet seat. There are studies — some commissioned by carwash companies and one by industry journal Biofouling — that confirm this.

Steering wheels, gear shifts, cup holders, door handles, radio dials and the trunk of a car are among the worst areas that harbor germs, most commonly staphylococcus  and propionibacterium.

Food, spilled drinks, dogs and dirt make matters worse, while upholstery and carpet can harbor mold and mildew.

Steam cleaning is part of the package at Black Diamond, it’s not an add-on service, like at other detailing outfits. “We don’t see sanitary as an add-on,” Saeed said. “We think that’s a necessity.”

Another selling point that Saeed and Mohamed feel is important to their customers is valet service. They will come and pick up a vehicle in the Lewiston and Auburn area, detail it and return it when completed at no extra charge. The business is fully insured for the service, they pointed out.

It’s a win for the customer they say, but it’s also a win for them, because they don’t have to bring their mobile detailing van with generator, water and supplies, and allows them to give a consistently good cleaning experience.

They still do mobile detailing — it’s what kept them afloat the past 18 months after their former landlord decided to house his business at the Sabattus Street site.

There are three levels of services: a quick clean for $85, a deep clean for $105 and a full restoration for $200-$285, depending on the size and type of vehicle.

They also do exterior washes, minor paint correction and ceramic coating.

“As long as you’re hardworking, you show people respect, and you’re honest, that speaks more volume than anything else,” Saeed said.

Black Diamond Detailing is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can find it on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or call 207-740-8963.

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