Cleaning and detailing the exterior of your car by yourself can undoubtedly yield excellent results, but what about the interior? Often overlooked by car owners, the interior may be even more critical for the well being of the passengers. A nasty interior not only looks terrible, but it can contribute to serious health issues.
Most common issues of dirty interiors are allergies to the skin and air passages. There is also the danger of unwanted bacteria growth, which often contributes to diseases and infections. In the end, dirty interiors don’t look attractive at all. Sure, you may not notice how dirty the interior is while driving, but what about the passengers? Suffice to say; a clean car interior is essential both to the well being and health of the commuters.
That said, thoroughly cleaning a car interior is not as straightforward as it sounds. Using only a vacuum cleaner will get rid of most of the dirt, but some places will still be messy. That is especially true for areas that you touch with your hands, like the buttons or the infotainment system.
In this article, you will learn how to clean the interior of your car entirely. And by completely we mean the upholstery, seats, center console, armrests, cargo area, infotainment system, buttons, etc. It will take time for sure, but the result will be like sitting in a new car. The interior will smell much more delicate, and it will feel better. And who doesn’t want a cleaned and detailed car interior?
How do you deep clean a car?
Deep cleaning an interior is a time-consuming practice, which certainly doesn’t bode well with the 21st-century car owner. Most people still use car-washing services, which is fine, but the job they do isn’t on the level discussed here. If you want a deeply cleaned interior, you should do it yourself. Follow the steps below for best results.
How often should you clean the inside of your car?
It depends. For example, if you mostly drive your car alone, deep cleaning every two to three months should be enough. However, if you often carry passengers, especially if they are kids, you may want to deep clean the interior every month. That is if you use a vacuum cleaner every week for the upholstery, of course.
Start with the trash
Almost everyone is guilty of leaving trash in the interior of their cars. To even start cleaning, you first need to get rid of the trash. Plastic bottles, paper bags, and the ashtray – get rid of everything. Of course, always dispose of the waste correctly and try to recycle if possible.
Remove all items and belongings
Apart from the trash, our interiors are full of items and belongings. Put all your valuable belongings in a big box, so you don’t lose them. While we’re at the matter of belongings, investing in a trunk or seat organizer might be a great idea. These organizers will keep your stuff neat and tidy, all in one place.
This is a great time to remove the floor mats as well. Always clean the floor mats out of the car with water (rubber mats) or vacuum cleaner (carpet mats).
What is the best thing to clean the car dashboard?
The center console and instrument panel are often full of dust and grease. You can clean all parts of the console with household cleaners for smooth surfaces, but you can also use specialized detergents. Spray from the cleaner on the surface and clean with a soft cloth. Start with the places that are cleaner and then move on to the dirtiest areas. Clean the whole console, then clean the steering wheel, then the instruments, cupholders, etc. Be sure that you also clean the plastic on the doors as well as the door pockets. Always make sure that the cloth is clean – for very greasy consoles, you may need two or more towels. You can also use interior cleaning wipes, but detergent is still the preferred choice.
Cleaning the vents, buttons and infotainment system
If you want a thoroughly clean interior, you should also take care of the buttons, vents, and the display on the center console. For the vents, you can use a screwdriver with cloth on the top and then use the same fabric on the buttons. If there’s a lot of grease on some buttons or controls, you can use a toothbrush. On the other hand, if there is dust around some buttons, you can use a small anti-dust brush. Use a clean microfiber cloth for the infotainment system and then finish it with screen wipes.
How to clean car interior roof?
The ceiling doesn’t get as dirty as other parts of the interior, but you should still clean it from time to time. We recommend using a damp microfiber cloth for this job. Also, do it carefully as the headliner fabric can be easily damaged and may fall off the roof. If you smoke cigarettes in your car, you can also use foaming cleaners to remove the stains on the ceiling.
How to clean the windows on the inside?
Always clean the windows with a microfiber towel and glass or window cleaner. However, if there’s a lot of dust on the windows, we recommend starting with water. Whatever you use, always make firm circular motions for best results. If one side of the cloth gets dirty, use the other side, or fold it in half.
How to clean interior seats (leather/fabric)?
The seats require a bit more care than other parts of the interior. The most common materials that car manufacturers use for the upholstery are leather and fabric. This means that these materials also require different methods of cleaning.
Leather seats should be cleaned with detergents and cleaners that are specifically designed for that job. Use the cleaner in conjunction with soft brush or cloth and according to the instructions on the bottle. After you finished cleaning all the seats in your car, use a conditioner to prevent cracking of the leather. Using a conditioner monthly is recommended to keep the leather in great shape.
Cleaning seats with fabric upholstery is different than leather seats. You can start by using a vacuum cleaner and an upholstery attachment to remove dust and bigger contaminants. Use the crevice tool for places that are hard to reach and the brush tool to remove hair. Then, use a fabric cleaning foam. Apply the foam on the seats and wait for 10 minutes until it is fully absorbed. If there are stains, you can use a brush to remove them while the seats are still damp. In the end, use the vacuum cleaner with the upholstery attachment to remove any residue.
How to clean car interior carpeting?
After you finished cleaning the upper parts of the interior of your car, you can move on to the carpeting. Naturally, you should use a vacuum cleaner with the upholstery attachment and crevice tool for some tight places. Move the front seats back and forth to reach even the most distant parts. In case of minivans or SUVs, you can also remove the rear seats for detailed cleaning of the whole upholstery. Then, use a carpet cleaning detergent and medium-hard brush to remove any stains from the carpet, or soft brush for the plastic and vinyl parts. In the end, use the vacuum cleaner again to remove any residue.
Air out the interior for few hours
After you finished cleaning, it is recommended to air out the interior due to the chemicals in the detergents. Open all doors and wait for at least an hour or until the seats and upholstery are completely dry. Then you can put the floor mats and your belongings in place.