Maintaining your vehicles interior is a money-saver when it’s time to trade in or sell, and just as important it adds comfort for anyone who goes along for a ride. Here is a breakdown of steps to take, products you will want, and a few tips on how to properly clean your interior.
Start from the top. Headliners attract dirt and should be cleaned every time the interior is tackled. Do not directly spray the headliner with a cleaning product. Instead spray said cleaning product onto a terry cloth and wipe into the fabric. You will be surprised how much dirt comes off the first time you do this.
Wipe away all dirt/dust buildup. Particularly the dash and center console areas. At this step you will not want to apply the final dressing, removal of any buildup that can fall to the carpets and seats is the purpose.
Tackle the carpets. Vacuum everything that isn’t bolted down. Including under all of the seats, seat tracks, between the front seats and center console, rear deck, storage compartments, etc… Next pre-treat any stains. There are tons of automotive carpet cleaners on the market today. Pick out a couple and test them under your seat. (Or anywhere you wouldn’t mind a possible change in color) Liberally apply the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. Once it’s set, remove with a terry towel by gently dabbing away at it. You do not want to rub it further into the fibers. After those steps are complete is when we break out our hot water extractor and remove dirt or stains that remain. Assuming most folks do not have a hot water extractor, taking the vacuum over the carpets one more time will suffice.
Seatbelts. The same cleaner that was used for your carpets can be used here as well. Pre-treat and then clean off. Seatbelts are notoriously stubborn with their dirt and will likely require multiple efforts.
Seats. For cloth seats many of the same products and procedures from cleaning carpets can be used here. If your seats are leather the process will become more involved. A good leather cleaner and conditioner will be needed, my suggestion is Leatherique. Frequent maintenance is required to prevent dye-transfer and cracking!
Dash and console. As with carpet cleaners, there are many vinyl dressings on the market. Choosing one that has UV protection and a cleaning agent is a must. Apply the dressing on all of your vinyl (Dash, center console, doors, etc..) and then wipe off with a microfiber towel. Multiple applications will increase the shine if wanted. This is also the stage where you’ll want to break out the Q-tips and toothpicks to properly clean the tight areas. Most time-consuming step of them all!
Windows. Many products are out there, but Stoners Invisible Glass is what you’ll want. (Widely available at all box stores) I wrote a review on this product a while back that can be seen here.
And here are some before and after pictures of a proper interior detail.
