Riding in a clean car not only uplifts your mood but also helps preserve the condition of your car’s interior. Over time, dirt, dust, and grime accumulate, potentially damaging your car’s materials. Simply put, neglecting your car’s interior can lead to more significant issues than unpleasant odours or unsightly stains.
The good news is that you don’t need to pay for professional car interior detailing to keep things spotless. Cleaning your car at home is straightforward and cost-effective. If you’re ready to give your car’s interior the care it deserves, here are some practical tips to guide you.
What Is Best to Clean a Car Interior?
Instead of using common household cleaning products, you should purchase car interior care products specially designed to give your car a deep clean while protecting the materials. Household cleaners tend to include harsh chemicals that over time might harm your car’s surfaces.
The products you’ll need to remove stains, kill germs, and eliminate that nasty smell include glass ammonia-free window cleaner, leather cleaner, carpet cleaner, and upholstery cleaner.
In addition to these car interior care products, you’ll also need a vacuum cleaner with different attachments, microfibre cloth, stiff bristle scrub brush and crevice cleaning tool.
Cleaning Your Floor Mats
Remove all the trash from the inside of your vehicle and then take your floor mats out. Give them a good shake to remove large crumbs and other debris then run the vacuum to gather any dirt that may have become lodged in your mats. Depending on how dirty your car mats are, you could wash them with water and cleaner. If you decide to do that, make this the first thing in the cleaning process so they have time to dry while you clean the rest of your car’s interior.
If your car has carpeted mats, you may either use a carpet or upholstery cleaner (be sure to follow the product’s directions) or wash them. Rinse your car floor mats well to remove any soap residue, then allow them to air dry. Before putting the mats back in place, make sure they are thoroughly dry.
Vacuuming the Interior
After removing the floor mats, you may begin vacuuming the inside of your car. To access areas that are difficult to reach, such as the area between your dashboard and windshield or your cupholders, you will require attachments. Additionally, be sure to vacuum your seat to get rid of any crumbs or grime that could be hiding there.
Dusting and Disinfecting the Dashboard
Although the vacuum works well for removing some of the dust and debris from your automobile, it could be too big to fit through the narrower spaces on your dash. To remove tiny particles from your dash and vents, use a duster or microfiber cloth. Dusters and microfiber cloths are made to collect dust rather than disperse it throughout your car, and they are soft enough not to cause damage to your vents.
Make it a practice to regularly clean your dash since dirt, spills, and normal use can encourage the growth of bacteria, especially on high-contact surfaces. Maintaining a clean dash can help keep you and your passengers safe and healthy by preventing the transmission of infections.
Cleaning the Console
Dust, grime, and debris should be removed from your console as well. But make sure you are careful when cleaning the console controls, infotainment panel, and shifter – these are all sensitive areas.
If your car has an infotainment screen, don’t clean it with anything that contains ammonia. Infotainment touchscreens are generally made from plastic, therefore ammonia-based glass cleaners can harm the surface, especially if it has an anti-glare or anti-fingerprint coating on it. Alternatively, you may use a microfiber cloth gently moistened with distilled water to wipe the touchscreen.
Cleaning Cupholders, Door Panels and Steering Wheel
Remove any cupholders that are detachable and wash them in warm water with soap. To get rid of any residue, give them a thorough clean with a sponge or soft-bristled brush. The steering wheel and door panels are high-touch areas of your car that may be cleaned with disinfectant wipes.
Wiping Windows
To clean the interior of your windows and windshields, use a glass cleaner that is alcohol based. Products that aren’t designed for cleaning glass should never be used. Consider using two microfiber towels to clean the inside of your car. Spray the cleaner into one cloth and then clean the glass. This will prevent the cleaner particles from falling on other inside surfaces of your vehicle, where they may accumulate and cause harm.
Wipe the glass clean with the second towel. A microfiber cloth is recommended because it protects your glass from scratches, and this strategy of using two cloths helps you minimise streaks.
Cleaning the Seats
To start cleaning your seats, use the hose attachment on your vacuum to get rid of any crumbs or other dirt. Then, clean them using the right products for the material your seats are made of. To clean leather seats, use a leather cleaner designed specifically for cars. Follow the product’s instructions and consider using a leather conditioner as a follow-up treatment to keep the leather supple, smooth, and shining.
For fabric seats, check for any stains that need to be removed. To clean stains you’ll need a stain removal product. Apply the product, let it set and then clean. Next, apply an upholstery cleaner all over the seat. To achieve a deeper clean, use a scrub brush to assist in working the product into the seat. Then use a microfiber towel soaked in water to rinse the product; however, do not saturate the seat as this might lead to the formation of mould. If necessary, use a dry towel to wipe away extra water before allowing the seats to air dry.
Deodorising
To get rid of that funky smell in your car you can buy a commercial air freshener or make your own natural solution. How? With baking soda and essential oil. Fill a small plastic container with baking soda and then add a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Cut a few vents into the lid and put the container under one of the seats. To keep your car fresh, replace the contents every two months.
