Everyone wants a spotless car interior but the unfortunate reality is that our vehicles are the spaces that accumulate dust, stains and junk the most. Between drinking your morning coffee on your way to work, the kids enjoying their ice cream, and the dog shedding fur, our cars can become nasty quickly. That said, achieving a spotless interior does take a lot of work which is why a professional detail is so expensive. Thankfully, with the right car interior care products and practising good habits, this isn’t something that you should do very often. By sticking to the following advice, you won’t need to clean more than once a month.
Invest in Specialised Interior Detailing Products
You need to know what car interior products to use if you want the inside of your automobile to look better than it did when it was brand-new. While you can recycle many everyday items like clothes and sponges, buy cleaners made expressly to give your car a thorough cleaning while safeguarding its materials.
It’s good to know that some household cleansers could contain abrasive substances that, over time, could harm the surfaces in your car. Avoid using these chemicals or dilute them to safeguard your car as they can deteriorate leather, plastics, and fabric components. That said, it’s best to use cleaners and products made especially to deep clean your car while preserving its materials.
A List of What You’ll Need
Interior Cleaner Spray
An all-purpose interior cleaner spray is designed to clean various surfaces inside the car such as plastic, vinyl, leather, and fabric. Simply spray the cleaner onto the surface, let it sit for a moment to loosen dirt and grime, and then wipe it away with a microfiber cloth.
Glass Cleaner
Specifically formulated for automotive glass, this cleaner removes fingerprints, smudges, and grime from windows and mirrors. Spray the cleaner onto the glass surfaces, then wipe them down with a clean microfiber cloth or paper towel in a circular motion until they’re clear and streak-free.
Fabric Upholstery Cleaner
This cleaner is made to remove stains and dirt from fabric seats, carpets, and upholstery. Apply the cleaner to the affected area, gently scrub with a soft brush or sponge, then blot with a clean cloth to lift away the dirt and excess moisture.
Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
For leather seats and surfaces, use a leather cleaner to remove dirt and stains, followed by a leather conditioner to moisturize and protect the leather from drying out and cracking. Apply the cleaner with a soft cloth, massage it into the leather, then wipe away any excess. Follow up with the conditioner in the same manner, allowing it to penetrate the leather for added protection.
Dashboard and Trim Cleaner
Designed specifically for cleaning and protecting plastic and vinyl surfaces, such as the dashboard, door panels, and trim. Spray the cleaner onto a microfiber cloth and wipe down the surfaces, gently buffing to restore shine and remove dust and fingerprints.
Interior Detailing Brushes: These small brushes come in various shapes and sizes to clean hard-to-reach areas such as air vents, seams, and crevices. Use them in conjunction with the appropriate cleaner to agitate dirt and grime, then wipe away with a cloth.
Odour Eliminator
To get rid of unwanted smells in the car, use an odour eliminator spray or sachet. Simply spray the product in the interior or place the sachet in a cup holder or under a seat to neutralize odours and leave behind a fresh scent.
Microfiber Cloths
Essential for cleaning and detailing interior surfaces, microfiber cloths are gentle yet effective at trapping dirt and absorbing excess moisture without scratching delicate surfaces. Use them with cleaning products to wipe down surfaces and buff them to a shine.
Car Vacuum
After removing the floor mats, vacuum the whole interior of your vehicle. A car vacuum comes with attachments to reach tight spaces, such as the area between your dashboard and windshield and your cupholders. Remember to run the vacuum over the seats to get rid of all the little crumbs and dirt particles.
Cleaning Your Car’s Interior: A Quick Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Gather and dispose of all the clutter and trash and take out your car mats.
Step 2: Use a vacuum. This is when your vacuum cleaner’s attachments come in useful. If they cannot get into the tight spaces, use a can of compressed air to blow the dirt out. Remember to check the seams on your car’s seats, door handles, armrests, and dashboard.
Step 3: Scrub and polish all of the hard surfaces, such as the sideboards, doors, glove box, and other storage areas. After using a cloth sprayed with a suitable cleaner, wipe the surfaces. For difficult-to-reach areas, use an old toothbrush with soft bristles.
Step 4: Wipe the upholstery. Depending on what kind of upholstery you have (fabric or leather), use a suitable cleaner. Vinyl seats can be cleaned with an all-purpose cleaner, just steer clear of silicone-containing conditioning products as your clothes may get stained by them.
Step 5: Clean your mats. Car mats can be completely cleaned with a steam cleaner or a carpet cleaner if you do not have one. To stop mould, do not overwet any carpets; instead, let them dry completely.
Step 6: Wipe down every window inside. Mist a rag or paper towel with glass cleaner, rub to clean, then shine with newspaper for streak-free results. If your windows are tinted, stay away from ammonia-based window cleaners as they may create blotching.
Practicing Good Habits So You Don’t Have to Clean as Often
By keeping everything organised and practising good habits, you can reduce the amount of effort you have to do when cleaning the interior of your car:
- Never eat while driving. This applies to both you and the children; in particular, it applies to sticky items like lollipops and messy foods that break readily.
- Before putting your pets in the car, clean their paws. If you drive an SUV, you might also want to think about fastening your pets safely in the cargo area. Every time your dog or cat goes for a ride, you might also want to have a lint roller in the glove compartment so you can easily remove any hair from the vehicle.
- Keep a tiny trash container in your car for empty cups, food wrappers, and those annoying receipts that accumulate.
- Cover the seats of your car with protective covers. To prevent muddy footprints from getting on the leather, vinyl, or fabric seats, you can also purchase kick mats to place on the backs of the front seats if you have little children.
- To help prevent spills and make stains simpler to remove, apply a fabric protector or a leather conditioner.
The Takeaway
While keeping a car interior spotless may seem daunting, it’s entirely achievable with the right tools and habits. Investing in specialised cleaning products and following a simple step-by-step guide ensures a thorough cleaning. Cultivating good habits, like banning snacks on the go and cleaning pet paws before entry, reduces the need for frequent deep cleans. With these strategies, maintaining a pristine car interior becomes not just a chore, but a satisfying and manageable task, ensuring a comfortable ride every time.
