Most drivers remember to keep their car's exterior clean, but interior detailing is often overlooked. Professional cleaning and polishing can be expensive, but doing it yourself can save you money and is easy to do. In addition to cleaning and polishing, keeping your car's interior (and exterior) clean prevents damage and increases its resale value.
Owning a car makes life much easier for most people, especially those with multiple errands to run, children to care for, and pets to care for. Unfortunately, cars aren't immune to dirt, as all sorts of things find their way out of them. This makes keeping your car clean even more important.
Easy tips for cleaning your car's interior
Here are some tips for cleaning your car interior.
1. Car cleaning
Purchasing commercial car cleaning products can be a waste of time and money. Keeping your car clean has many benefits, not just for maintaining its condition and the cleanliness of its parts. It also improves your mood while driving, your enjoyment of driving, and your overall health.. But the question now is: What's the solution, given the increasing prices of commercial cleaning products? The solution lies within your own home. You can use household products to clean your car, which we explain in detail in the following points.
Cars can collect a lot of junk if you're not careful, so the first thing you should do is remove the trash from your vehicle. Check under the seats, in the cabin behind you, and on the doors.
2. Car mat
Both the carpet and floor mat tend to get dirty, so they're probably the best place to start your interior cleaning. Of course, it might be best to keep the carpet and floor mat clean if your car's seats and dashboard are more dirty because cleaning them will leave dirt on the carpet. Don't forget to remove all kinds of debris that has accumulated on the floor, and move and adjust the seats to ensure nothing is left behind.
Car carpet
✔ Vacuum the dirt from your car carpet/rug thoroughly using different nozzle attachments to clean the seam areas and gaps around the seats.
✔ Use steam to clean your car carpet/rugs using a carpet cleaning foam product of your choice.
✔ Do not make the floor mats too wet as moisture may lead to mold and mildew, and if they are too wet, dry them with a clean, absorbent towel.
✔ Use specialized or extra-strong products for tough stains.
✔ Use known methods with unconventional waste such as chewing gum.
- Such as rubbing it with an ice cube for several minutes until the gum hardens, then pulling it away from the floor mats.
floor brushes
✔ Remove the floor mats from the car and remove all dirt, especially anything stuck in deep gaps.
✔ Dirt should be removed from deep gaps and spaces by vacuuming them with a vacuum hose until they are free of dirt and using high-pressure water to wash away any remaining dirt. Don't forget to dry the car completely.
✔ If you choose to wash your floor mats with a cleaner, rinse and dry them completely to avoid them becoming sticky and dangerous.
Clean your floor mats by taking them out and giving them a good shake. Scrub them and let them dry.
3. Scanning
Wipe the console, dashboard and car doors thoroughly with a cloth to remove dust.
Although this part of the car makes up a large portion of our visual field, it is the most difficult to clean – due to the many small parts, knobs, switches, and vents, but it will be much easier with the right tools.
The dashboard
✔ Vacuum thoroughly before using any cleaning product, then try to reach the farthest corners of the dashboard.
✔ Choose a suitable cover to prevent the dashboard material from being damaged or cracked due to exposure to sunlight.
console
✔ Cover the head of a flat-head screwdriver with a cloth and use it to clean the crevices and grooves on the console. The thinner and softer the cloth, the more effective it will be. Alternatively, you can wrap a piece of cotton around a plastic knife.
ventilation holes
✔ Although ventilation grilles are not the most difficult to clean, they are definitely the most difficult. Use a soft, long brush to remove as much dust as possible, then use a powerful air compressor as a final step.
4. Dust removal
Use a toothbrush or a small brush and scrub around handles, between AC vents, and in tight spaces.
5. Cleaning methods
Spray some automotive cleaner and polish the console, dashboard, and inside the doors.
6. Vacuum
Vacuum the car first, then move it down. Make sure to vacuum everywhere possible, including the crib. If you're wondering how to clean car seats, use a vacuum to reach all the hard-to-reach places.
On most cars, door panels are made of materials that match the rest of the car's interior design, and this should be considered as a basic guide when choosing cleaning products for door panels.
Cup holders and open gaps on door panels should not be neglected as this can be one of the most contaminated and dirt-attracting areas in your car. Therefore, remove any objects that can be picked up by hand, then vacuum up the dirt thoroughly before applying any cleaning chemicals.
7. Cup holder
Some cars have removable cup holders, making them easy to remove and clean, but for those that don't, you can clean those seemingly inaccessible corners with a Q-tip and some cleaning solution.
8. Clean seats
To clean leather car seats, you'll need to clean them to prevent them from cracking. If your seats are upholstered, you'll need to check your manual to see which cleaning products can be used on the seats. The best way to do this is to vacuum, disinfect, and vacuum again.
The method for cleaning seats depends on the upholstery material – whether it is leather, vinyl, or fabric. Before using any cleaning product, vacuum your car seats thoroughly to remove as much dirt as possible.
leather
✔ Spray/use the cleaning product on the skin and then use a towel.
✔ Wipe the seats dry with a soft cloth (microfiber).
✔ After completely drying the skin, use a skin conditioner.
vinyl
✔ Most of the products you use should be compatible with vinyl – and you should check to make sure they are compatible with vinyl.
✔ The cleaning product should be sprayed on the seat, then wiped and dried with a cloth.
piece of cloth
✔ Use specialized stain removers for tough stains.
✔ Try using any of our homemade odor eliminators to make your car smell fresh.
✔ Avoid making the seats too wet – fabrics that absorb moisture significantly are likely to not dry completely, which leads to the creation of unpleasant odors.
✔ To be extra careful, sprinkle some baking soda and let it sit for several hours – then vacuum it up for a clean, fresh scent.
9. Cleaning the glass
Use glass cleaner to clean the inside of the windows and wipe them with a clean cloth.
10. Fur removal
Sometimes, fur can remain even after vacuuming. Take a spray bottle filled with water and a small mop to get the remaining fur out. You can even blow up a balloon and rub it over the seats to create a permanent hold.
11. Stain removal
Treat any stains on your car seat or carpet with a formula made from vinegar and water. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, then wipe it off with a damp cloth.
12. Melting objects
If you have children who leave with their crayons, or if you have a candle melting somewhere in your car, use ice cubes to stop the melting and then remove the item.
13. Let the air flow
If you've used a lot of cleaning products in your car, it's a good idea to leave the doors and windows open so your car can get its fresh scent back.
14. Air freshener
There are many different types of air fresheners available, so if you want your car to smell good you can install one or spray it on your car.
Persistent odors can be extremely difficult to remove, so before you go out, take a close look to see where any odors are coming from.
For For smokers Or if you travel with pets, keeping your car smelling fresh can be a more difficult task. Therefore, you should hang a car deodorizer on your rearview mirror, or hide a plastic box of charcoal under your car seat with a small hole in the lid, which are great ways to eliminate unpleasant odors.
15. Replace everything
Once you're done cleaning the inside, you can replace everything and enjoy a clean car.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about cleaning your car's interior.
1. How do I disinfect the interior of my car?
When it's flu season and you're sneezing and coughing in your car, it's natural to worry that germs will linger in the vehicle and spread to you or anyone else in your car. This is especially true if you have children traveling in your car. The best way to disinfect your car interior is to shampoo your car seats and use a disinfectant to clean the console, dashboard, and doors. Pay special attention to the radio buttons and door handles, as these are the most frequently touched areas.
The first thing you need to do is clean your car completely, then open a window and hose it down. Block the remaining open window so that no ozone escapes. Run the generator for an hour and no longer, as doing so can be harmful to your car. However, ozone is one of the best disinfectants you will find, and it will not only eliminate odors but will also kill any bacteria or viruses that may be lurking in your car. Leave your car for another hour with the generator off so the ozone can settle. Make sure no one gets near the car or generator when it is running, as it is dangerous to people, animals, and even plants. You can also find a place that offers this service and let someone else do it for you if you are unsure about doing it yourself.
2. How do I get rid of the white residue on my door handles and switches?
For any stains or residue on door handles and switches, use a clean cloth and some soap or mild detergent. Spray the detergent onto the cloth and wipe it off, rather than spraying it directly onto the console and door handles.
Although cleaning your car may seem like a daunting task, it's worth the time and effort. Having a clean car can make you feel good, especially if you spend a lot of time in it. Not only that, it can be beneficial if you have young children.
