While the exterior of a vehicle braves the elements, it’s the interior that faces the tracked in dirt, pet hair, food crumbs and spills created the lifestyles we lead. It can get out of control quickly. In many cases, it’s the inside of the car that needs most of the attention.
If your vehicle is in need of a thorough interior clean, it’s probably time to visit an auto detailer. But if you’d rather take matters into your own hands this time, this new article will take you through an interior detail checklist. Let’s get started…
Supplies for Interior Detailing
Before you get going, you’ll need to begin gathering some cleaning tools and products for the job.
We realize not everyone will have access to the level of products and equipment used in a professional detailing shop. Nor will they want to endure the hassle and spend the money to acquire them. Whatever you have on hand is what’s best – after all, a DIY job is better when it’s cost effective.
That being said, it’ll be hard to provide any kind of quality clean without a couple things. Some kind of handheld vacuum cleaner or shop vac is a must. You’ll also want microfiber cloths, or something used for wiping that’s friendly for all surfaces. Any further products and equipment are a bonus. Brushes, wipes, toothbrushes, soft paintbrushes, stain removers, degreasers, steam cleaners, UV treatments and leather treatments can also be used to give your vehicle a more professional feeling clean.
Car Cleaning Checklist
Ready to start cleaning? This checklist details some of the key areas and techniques to focus on:
Vacuum
Vacuuming is the bread and butter of any DIY-style interior detailing. Most people have access to a vacuum cleaner, either at home or at a gas station, and a good vacuum job is able to make a big difference in the interior’s appearance. The vacuum will suck up the majority of debris, pet hair and crumbs left behind by passengers, and can be used on all surfaces you can reach.
To take your vacuum job to the next level, consider picking up a specialized car cleaning vacuum or some special parts designed for the car. This will allow you to access the smaller nooks and crannies of a vehicle for easily.
Seats
The seats and upholstery are another key target area for an interior clean. Along with the floors, it’s the seats that collect the majority of debris and food crumbs. That’s why the seats should always be vacuumed along with the other surfaces in the vehicle.
How you actually clean the seats will be determined by the material they’re made of – cloth or leather/vinyl. Leather or vinyl seats can be cleaned pretty well with multi-purpose wipes or a damp microfiber cloth. Special leather stain remover can be used, and a protective leather treatment can be applied to extend its life. With cloth seats, your cleaning options are more limited, but a combination of dish soap, water and vinegar could be effective against stains.
Dash, Wheel & Console
The centre console of the vehicle, including the dash, vents and steering wheel is an area that tends to collect a lot of dust. Given this is a more delicate part of the interior, you’ll want to be careful by using cleaning tools that don’t scratch. A damp microfiber cloth or wipes will go along way in removing debris like dust.
If your steering wheel is made of leather, try sticking with leather-specific wipes or cleaning products. For other materials, you’re safe to use multi-purpose wipes and cleaners.
Mats
The mats in your vehicle do a great job protecting the floors underneath, attracting the most amount of dirt from the bottom of footwear, plus crumbs, pet hair and other debris. These rubber mats can be removed from the car for a more thorough clean. You can spray them off with a hose to remove excess debris, and then go at it with soap and a bristled brush to remove caked on dirt.
Floor
With the floor mats removed, a good vacuum can clean the floors of your vehicle pretty thoroughly. If there are still stains left behind, try a combination of hot water, vinegar and dish soap and dab the affected areas. With a bristled brush, you should be able to scrub the stains out.
If you’ve got the time and patience, you could even remove the seats in your vehicle to reveal the entirety of the floor. This is the best way to ensure the most debris is removed from otherwise tough to reach places. This method may be a little much for DIY job, but it’s part of the procedure when you bring your vehicle in to be professionally detailed.
Windows
Especially if you’ve got kids or dogs, the windows of your vehicle will collect plenty of fingerprints and nose prints, along with food and other remnants. A wet microfiber cloth will be pretty effective at cleaning the glass – just don’t spray the cleaning product directly onto the window. Then another pass with a dry cloth will ensure no streaks are left behind.
While a DIY-style detailing can be effective, it can also be extremely time consuming. Plus it’s never as thorough. When you take your car in to be detailed at Mill Bay Auto Spa, we can pull out all the stops to have the interior of your vehicle looking brand new. That includes UV protection, VIP leather treatment, and a full shampoo. We’ll even clean hard to reach areas like foot pedals, vents, and underneath the seats.
Request a detailing service for your vehicle today and experience the ultimate car clean: Request an Interior Detailing Service.