D.I.Y. Detailing: Your Car’s Interior

Nov 18, 2015

Think about it:

You spend a lot of time in your car.

From long commutes to work to picking up the kids from practice to running errands, your car becomes something like a second home.

And you’ve probably grown tired of looking at all the dirt and grime that has built up in your car over time.

If you’ve decided to take action, roll up your sleeves and do some cleaning on your own, then we have some great solutions to get the interior of your car looking (and smelling) like new again.

Belongings

Have a bad habit of tossing garbage and other belongings in the back of your car?

Your first order of business is to remove all items that don’t belong in your car so you can have a clean start. Bring a trash bag if needed for those water bottles, coffee cups and anything else you’ve left sitting from your travels.

The more space you have to clean the better. Besides, isn’t it about time you’ve taken these unnecessary items out?

Carpet

Does your carpet look like it has seen better days?

To remove any dirt, sand and leaves, take your carpet mats outside and give them a good whack against each other.

If you want it to look nice again, you’ll need to vacuum to collect all of the loose dirt and crumbs. Then, you can treat the carpet with a stain lifter product and ensure that it soaks. Use a plastic bristle brush to scrub away those tough stains, and repeat application if needed. Take a clean cloth and wipe away any residue.

For best results, take the vacuum and go over the carpet again, to give it that clean look and remove any access dirt. You can even spray a touch of fabric freshener for an added clean scent.

Windows

Glass cleaner will do just the trick to make your windows shine and increase your visibility. (And don’t forget the old technique of using newspaper to avoid the streaks).

Did you know that glass cleaner works on interior plastic as well? It can help to remove access dirt and grime.

You can use it on all plastic surfaces. For example, you can spray the cup holders with glass cleaner, let it sit and later remove the stains and residue with a cloth.

Leather

Dirt can easily collect in the leather grains of your car. Use a soft bristle toothbrush in a slow and circular direction to remove the dirt that’s deep in the crevices.

For your steering wheel, use a cloth for the more noticeable dirt and try and use a cotton swab to remove those small spots, like in the steering wheel decal, that are tough to get to.

Once your car’s interior is squeaky clean and smelling fresh, you might feel like you’re driving your car off the lot for the first time. Even more so if you decide to tackle the exterior as well …

Sound like too much hassle? Or don’t have the time?

We offer vehicle detailing in our service department to keep your car looking its best. Feel free to take advantage and schedule an appointment today.