Clean the Interior of Your Car

Cleaning the interior of your car is important for maintenance and value. If you get too much dirt and debris on the floor or on the dashboard, it can get in the way of your driving. If your windows get too dirty, the grime could prevent you from seeing an oncoming vehicle. It is also important for the appearance and value of your vehicle. With a few simple supplies, you can clean the interior of your car.[1]

Steps

Cleaning the Central Console Area

  1. Remove extraneous items. You should take out all of your valuables and stuff that could get in the way, such as work and gym bags, children’s toys, books and magazines. Then, remove all of the recyclables such as water bottles and cardboard items. Finally, remove all of the trash and put it in a garbage bag.[2]
  2. Wipe down the center console. Moisten a rag with some household cleaner or glass cleaner. Work from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest, leaving the grunge for last. Clean the dashboard area, steering wheel and center console. You will also want to wipe down the gearshift and inside door pockets.[2]
    • Instead of a rag, you could also use car cleaning wipes.
    • Remember to use a clean cloth or you will just be redistributing the dirt and grime.
    • If you have time, you can use a cotton bud to wipe out any grime in hard to reach areas, such as detailing on the steering wheel.[2]
    • You can use a rag or car cleaning wipe to get the dust out of your cup holders.
  3. Clean the buttons on the dashboard with a flathead screwdriver. Wrap a rag around the top of the screwdriver. Then, run the rag along the buttons to remove any dust and grime that may have accumulated.[2]
  4. Detail the car using an old toothbrush. Use an old, soft bristle toothbrush to clean tough spots such as leather grain on the interior doors and console. Surfaces with texture on your doors or steering wheel can be tackled with an old toothbrush. Brush in a circular motion to get rid of the dirt.[3]
  5. Clean the windows. Use window cleaner and a rag to wipe down the interior of the windows. Clean the windshield, side windows, rear window and sunroof. Use a circular motion to clean the inside of each window. Once the entire window is wet and the dirt and oils lifted, polish with a firm circular motion.[2]
    • Make sure the cleaner meets the recommendations for your tinted windows.
    • Buff with a rag until all streaks are gone, being particularly careful to clean the corners and around the edges. If you cannot eliminate all streaks, there is still oil, grease or smoke residue on the window. Apply the cleaner and buff a second time.

Vacuuming Your Car

  1. Clean the floor mats. Prior to vacuuming, you should remove the floor mats so you can get to the grime underneath. If your vehicle has plastic floor mats, you can take them out of the car and shake the dirt out. Then, hose them down with a garden hose and let them dry. If your car has carpet mats, you can vacuum them in the car or take them out to vacuum. Return the mats to the car after you finish vacuuming the interior.
  2. Vacuum from top to bottom. Start by vacuuming the ceiling of the car and then gradually work your way down to the floor. You should use the appropriate nozzles for the various surfaces of your car:[1]
    • You will need the upholstery nozzle to vacuum the seats, headliner and other upholstered areas of your car.
    • To clean the crevices in the seats and the seat pockets, you can use the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner.
    • When you get to the hard plastic and vinyl, you should use the dusting brush.
    • The floor brush can be used to clean the carpet on the floor of your car.
  3. Move the seats to access tough to reach areas. To clean under the front seats, you will need to push the seats all the way forward or all the way backward. Then, use the crevice tool to pick up any debris or grime from under the front seats.[1]
    • If your car has removable rear seats, you can take them out and vacuum the floor underneath.
  4. Put everything back in place. Put the mats back on the floor. Return the seats to their normal position. If you have any items that you removed in order to vacuum, you could put them back in an orderly manner.[2]

Cleaning the Seats

  1. Clean your leather seats. Leather seats must be conditioned as well as cleaned or they will crack and dry out. To clean leather seats, use a soft brush and an appropriate cleaner, such as saddle soap. Once dry, condition with a water-based, pH neutral conditioner.[3]
    • If you are using a new cleaning product, try it out on a small, inconspicuous area. If the new product works well, proceed with cleaning your seats.
    • If the leather is badly cracked and the color is worn out, you may need to replace the seats.
  2. Clean your upholstered fabric seats. Check your car's manual to check for approved cleaners to use on your upholstery.[3] First, vacuum your seats. Then, use a foam or other cleaning product on the seats. Finally, vacuum the seats a second time.[3]
    • You could also use a carpet cleaner on your upholstered seats. In this case, you could clean your car seats at the same time as cleaning your home carpets.
    • Don’t use window cleaner on upholstered fabric seats.
  3. Remove tough stains with a stain remover. Candy, chocolate, crayons and other products can all lead to unfortunate car seat stains. You can use a stain remover product and a clean rag to remove the stains.[3]
    • If you find candy or crayons melting in your rear seat, you can stop the melting with an ice cube and then remove the item.[3]
  4. Use a hot iron to get rid of bad stains. If it is a tough stain, you could try the hot iron method. Place a paper towel on top of the stain. Turn your iron to a low heat setting. Then, iron over the paper towel, using the heat to soak the stain into the paper towel. If you use this method, you should be careful not to burn yourself or your seat.[3]
  5. Air out your car seats. If you have used a lot of cleaning products on your seats, it is a good idea to air out the car. So, if it is a sunny day, you can open all of your car doors and windows to air out the interior of your car. If you like to use fragrances in your car, you can spray or install a new air freshener product.[1]



Tips

  • Plastic floor mats are great if you tend to have a lot of mud/water/snow around that you'll track into your car. Just remove them every now and then and shake or hose them clean.
  • When finished, spray the interior of the car with some air freshener for a clean scent.
  • If you live in a climate where there are snowy winters and you don't have a garage, you'll probably want to do thorough cleanings in late Fall and in Spring.
  • The more regularly you clean, the easier it will be and the less time it will take.
  • If you have a vacuum that is powered, it's as easy as just plugging in an electrical extension cord. Exercise caution when plugging and unplugging the vacuum cleaner.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum cleaner with hose and attachments
  • Extension cord (if needed)
  • Garden hose (if plastic floor mats)
  • Rags
  • Paper towels or newspapers
  • Window cleaner that is compatible with your tinted windows
  • Vinyl cleaner/protector
  • Leather conditioner (optional)
  • Carpet cleaner (optional)
  • A steam cleaner is a great way to tackle cloth upholstery
  • Leather cleaner or saddle soap is very good for leather seats or trim.
  • Regular household cleaner.
  • Car cleaning wipes
  • Paper towels or rags

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/detailing-your-car-s-interior/index.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/speed-clean-car-interior
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5928/how-to-clean-your-car-interior/
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