How to Clean a Car’s Interior
Having a clean car interior can be just as impressive as having a clean car exterior. Learning how to clean your car’s interior can save you some money from professional car detailing, and it’s just something a responsible car owner should know. Here’s how.
Tools
Vacuum cleaner
Paper towels
Upholstery cleaner
Laundry detergent (optional)
Small towel
Carpet shampoo
Sponge
Window cleaner
Vinyl protectant
Procedure
Take out all the trash from your car: Receipts, discarded junk food bags, used tissue paper and anything that’s cluttering the space. Take out things that shouldn’t be in a car, whether they be umbrellas or old magazines. Put things in the trunk if they need to be kept around (like umbrellas), while put the others back in your house or in the trash where they belong.
Take out the floor mats and shake them to get rid of the loose debris.
Make a last check for trash or coins that you may have missed before vacuuming.
Use the hose attachment of the shop vacuum to vacuum the seat surfaces. Pay special attention to the corners, crevices and the part of the seat that meets the car floor. Use a soft brush attachment if the car seats are made of leather, as leather can get damaged with harsh vacuuming.
Keep vacuuming the floor of the car and under the seats.
Use a soft brush attachment to vacuum the dashboard and doors.
Vacuum the floor mats separately using the appropriate vacuum attachment. After vacuuming, give them a thorough shake and return to their original places.
If your car’s carpet, seat surfaces or door upholstery have stains or you just want a more thorough cleaning, use a spray cleaner directly applied on the surfaces. Rub it well and then wipe off using a clean dry cloth. Do not get the are soaking wet, as this will cause mildew.
An alternative to spray cleaner is mild laundry detergent mixed with warm water. Dip a towel in, wring the excess water out and apply on the surfaces. Dry off immediately after.
Clean the windows using window cleaners and paper towels.
Clean the dashboard further by using a small amount of water and laundry detergent. Dry with a clean towel. To make it shine, use plastic polish applied using a soft toothbrush. You can just use a duster to clean it periodically in the future.
Use an odor treatment product available in most car shops and apply it to your air vents to get rid of the musty smell.