From time to time, the big cleaning is necessary! And to be successful, it is important to follow a good methodology. If you want to find your immaculate car like new, discover our step-by-step guide to cleaning your vehicle thoroughly. Ready to get started? Here we go!
Refreshing your interior is not a simple courtesy! Between dashboard, car plastics, through the carpet … Completely cleaning your interior can be a nightmare. Is that clear! However, for a successful wash, it is necessary to know the solutions to adopt and the types of products to use. And that’s where we come in! In this article, we offer tips and tricks to help you do just that. It will be just child’s play!
To begin, here is a small list of products and equipment that you need to have on hand:
Recommended products:
- Disinfectant wipes
- Ammonia-free window cleaner
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- Baking soda
- White vinegar (optional)
- Carpet cleaner (optional)
- Bleach (optional)
- Leather cleaner (optional)
- Fabric cleaner (optional)
Cleaning equipment:
- Dustbin
- Vacuum cleaner
- Microfiber cloth or chamois
- Sponge
- Scouring brush hard bristles
- Bucket
- A garden hose (optional)
- Feather duster
- Spray
- Cotton swab
- Old toothbrush
Do you have what it takes? Can’t wait to get started with your cleanup? Let’s go!
Pre-wash: collect waste and debris
First, get rid of all the waste in your car. Empty door pockets, cup holders, seat pockets and trunk! Throw them away or recycle them if possible. Remove carpets and all other items from your car. Now that the field is ready, let’s take the next step!
Floor mat cleaning
Without a shadow of a doubt, floor mats are the dirtiest items in your vehicle! After taking them out, shake them to remove large crumbs and debris. Then, vacuum hard to remove the encrusted dirt. So far so good!
For carpet mats, apply a special fabric cleaning product! In a bucket, put water and then add a few drops of the product. Soak your carpets in them, scrub them to remove stains before rinsing and hanging them to dry. Spread sheets of newspaper instead of hanging your rugs directly on the floor. Simple and fast, right?
For carpetless mats (rubber, silicone or vinyl), use a hose to get rid of excess dirt. Alternatively, add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to a bucket of water and clean your carpets with a scrubbing brush. You are pros!
Vacuum the inside of your car
To optimize your cleaning, a vacuum cleaner is required! Once the carpets are removed, vacuum the entire interior of your car. Feel free to use your accessories to reach hard-to-reach corners, such as the space between your windshield and dashboard.
Vacuum your seats to remove crumbs, pet hair, dirt… There you go!
Is your dashboard very dirty? Disinfect it!
A sticky dashboard? No thank you! Although the vacuum cleaner is super effective at removing dust, sometimes it’s not enough! Use a microfiber cloth or feather duster to dust off your dashboard properly without scratching it. Then, use disinfectant wipes to kill germs and bacteria. Careful! Avoid bleach-based products so you don’t damage your dashboard. You have been warned!
Wash the console thoroughly
Just like your dashboard, you need to remove the stains embedded on your console. Important! Be careful when cleaning certain sensitive areas, such as the gear lever, radio buttons… Be gentle! Another thing, avoid ammonia-based products, especially if your vehicle has electronic devices (infotainment touch screen, etc.).
Clean the entire surface with a microfiber cloth, slightly moistened with distilled water. The result will be impeccable!
Clean door panels, cup holders and steering wheel
Are your cup holders removable? So take them out and wash them with warm water and liquid soap. Use a soft-bristled sponge or brush to remove any residue. For door panels and steering wheel, simply use disinfectant wipes. And that’s it, it’s clean!
Wipe the interior windows
A golden tip! Always use an alcohol-based window cleaner and never products that are not specifically designed to maintain glass. You can also use white vinegar, which is known to give shine to glass surfacs. Use two microfiber cloths: the first to apply the cleaner to your windows and the second to wipe them dry. The result: shiny windows without traces or scratches!
Seat maintenance
After vacuuming to remove debris and crumbs from your seats, it’s time for another special treatment! For leather seats, use a special leather product (or beef oil) and conditioner to maintain their softness and shine. What could be better than that smell of clean leather?
For fabric seats, use upholstery cleaner to remove stubborn stains. Apply the product, scrub with a brush, then rinse with a microfiber cloth to avoid soaking the seats.
It’s done!
Use a natural product to deodorize your home
And that’s it, we’re almost there! To finish in style, it is important to remove all bad odors from your vehicle. And how about doing it naturally? Add baking soda with a few drops of essential oil in a plastic container and store it quietly under one of your seats. Goodbye foul smells!
No need to go to a car wash! By applying our advice, your car will be nickel in no time. It’s great! It’s up to you…
