Taking your car to the car wash is simple. You pay a few dollars to get a shiny clean exterior. But what about your interior? Your car often acts as a home away from home. Between your extra jacket (Texas weather is so unpredictable), your kid’s toys, and the remnants of your quick snack, your car Interior may be in need of a deep cleaning.
Want to learn how to clean the interior of your car in the most efficient way possible? We’ve broken down the process into 8 manageable steps.
Step 1: Clean Out the Stuff
The first step is to remove everything from your car. Empty your trunk, remove the kid’s car seats, throw away your trash, and even take out your floor mats. To really get a good, deep clean you don’t want to find yourself vacuuming around a car seat or moving your backup jacket from spot to spot. Instead, just empty your car of everything, this will give you a clean slate to work with.
Step 2: Gather Supplies
There are a few important cleaning supplies are definitely want to have on hand:
- A vacuum with an extension cord and attachments.
- Stain remover for the carpet.
- Cleaner that meets the needs of your vehicle’s seats (leather, fabric, etc.)
- Paper towels and/or clean rag(s).
- Glass cleaner.
- Q-tips.
- Soft toothbrush.
Keep in mind that each cleaner you could potential cause damage to your car. Always test a small amount of a cleaner on a tiny area before using it throughout the entirety of your vehicle.
Step 3: Clean Dashboard and Other Surfaces
When cleaning your vehicle’s interior, or really anything, it is best to start at the top and work your way down. That way it is no big deal if any dust or dirt that has accumulated ends up on the floor. Start by cleaning your car’s dashboard, and don’t forget any nooks or crannies like cup holders and such.
Vacuuming may be the most effective, or at least a good start, but if that doesn’t clean everything use a gentle cleaner and a rag or paper towel. Watch out for any leather or other materials that require special cleaner or maintenance.
Step 4: Wash Windows
Use the glass cleaner and paper towels to clean your windows. Be careful to choose a window cleaner that will not harm your vehicle’s tint. If you’re not sure, test a small amount before using on all your windows.
Step 5: Clean Chairs
Again, how you clean your chairs depends on what they are made of. Try using the brush attachment for your vacuum first. This will pick up the particles you don’t want to be rubbed into your chairs later.
Then select a cleaner that will work with your vehicle’s chair material. Be careful not to use any cleaner that will cause damage.
Step 6: Pay Attention to Details
Your Q-tips will come in handy for cleaning out small crevices and detailed places throughout your car. Paying attention to the little details will make a huge difference in the overall feel of your vehicle’s interior.
Another tip is to use a soft toothbrush to clean out any leather grain areas you might have in your car’s interior. Gently brush these areas in a circular direction to clean out trapped dirt and other junk that has accumulated in the cracks.
Step 7: Focus on Carpets
The final step is to clean your carpets. Start by vacuuming the entire car and the floor mats you took out at the beginning of this process. Use a stain remover to focus on any problem stains in the carpet, and allow it the necessary amount and time to really soak. Scrub the problem spots, and repeat the soaking process on tough stains. Once you’ve removed the stains, wipe away any remaining product with a clean cloth and vacuum one final time.
Maintaining the interior of your car is essential to increasing the life of your vehicle. It also makes carpooling far less awkward and way more likely to happen, which is a great way to conserve gas. Using this cleaning process frequently will help keep your effort to a minimum and the interior of your car in the best possible shape.
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