Car interior cleaning and detailing should not only be seen as a service to passengers, but can also extend its lifespan. Learn the best DIY cleaning recipes and hacks to keep your car looking great while keeping its smell at bay!
Grated Fels Naptha soap, Borax and dish soap combine to produce an efficient homemade cleaner that’s great for upholstery as well as high-touch surfaces like door panels and steering wheels.
Removing Debris
Left unattended, debris in your car can quickly accumulate dirt, odors and stains that surface cleaning or DIY cleaners won’t remove. To get the job done quickly and thoroughly, open all doors for ventilation before clearing away trash and possessions such as sunglasses and manuals with an all-purpose cleaner, such as sunglasses and manuals into separate bags or containers. Using damp cloth and an all-purpose cleaner on door panels and handles as well as on the dashboard; for hard-to-reach areas like vents or cup holders use compressed air dusters which will ensure dust particles will get cleaned away effectively.
For stubborn stains, consider creating your own DIY stain remover from ingredients found in your pantry. Grate Fels Naptha soap onto a cheese grater before mixing it with borax and boiling water in a clean spray bottle for use on stained surfaces – then wipe clean using microfiber cloth or sponge! Baking soda sprinkled over carpets or seats also can help eliminate odors according to Kelley Blue Book.
Cleaning the Dashboard
The dashboard of any vehicle is usually the first thing people notice, and often becomes dirty quickly due to all its crevices, buttons, and crevasses where dust, dirt, and oil tend to gather.
Start by vacuuming with a brush attachment to remove as much dirt as possible from your dashboard, before dampening a microfiber cloth and wiping down its entirety, paying close attention to corners and cracks. For dashes composed of materials like suede or alcantara, consider investing in cleaners specifically tailored towards them in order to prevent damage to these delicate materials.
Once your dashboard is clean, be sure to dry it completely so as to prevent moisture build-up and further dirt accumulation. Apply dashboard protectant to give it new shine while helping it resist scratches and UV damage; these protective products are available at most automotive parts stores and range in degrees of shine from semi matte to glimmer.
Cleaning the Steering Wheel
Your steering wheel can be challenging to clean depending on its condition. Leather may require more intensive cleaning techniques; otherwise, any mild interior cleaner should do just fine.
If your surface is plastic or resin, use a vinyl and plastic cleaner designed specifically to penetrate and break up heavy stains. Be sure to dry it off using a microfiber towel afterward in order to prevent scratches.
Maintain your vehicle by employing some DIY car upholstery cleaning hacks! By regularly clearing away debris and wiping down seat and floor mats, regular care will keep them looking brand new while saving money in repairs or replacement costs later on.
Cleaning the Cupholders
Your car’s cup holders can quickly become sticky, grimy messes that are hard to keep clean. To make it simpler, remove all items from their respective compartments and vacuum using the crevice tool (if your vacuum offers one). Cotton swabs or detailing brushes may also come in handy for reaching into awkwardly-shaped notches and grooves.
Once carpets and upholstery have dried completely, apply fabric protector to protect against future spills and stains. This step is especially crucial if fabric seats tend to stain easily – doing this could save you from having to purchase new covers in the near future.
Brigitt Earley is an experienced freelance writer and mom to four kids ranging in ages 3 through 6. Working alongside experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, Brigitt has put together this guide on how to clean and detail your car like a pro. Some of her tips for doing so include using silicone baking cups lining cupholders as preventive measure against spilled drinks and debris adhering, regular decluttering sessions to limit dust build-up, using an odor-eliminating fabric refresher spray once weekly as well as using an odor-eliminating fabric refresher on upholstery upholstery regularly.
