When was the last time you cleaned the inside of your car? There’s nothing attractive about sticky cup holders, grimy armrests, and a dusty dashboard. If it’s time for a little detailing, consider a DIY job to save yourself some cash. Here’s everything you should stock up on to create a clean car interior.
Garbage Bags
Before doing any deep cleaning, gather loose trash and shove it in a garbage bag. Be sure to check thoroughly around the back seats – kids tend to drop toys and trash down into the cracks where they’re lost forever.
Clean Car Interior
Shop Vacuum
Any kind of handheld vacuum works well when cleaning the car interior. Start with a large brush attachment for the seats and floor, and switch to a chisel attachment to get into the crevices between the seats and other hard-to-reach places.
Rags & Paper Towels
Bring a variety of rags with you when you clean the car interior. Use one for washing the windows and another for wiping the dashboard and doors. Paper towels are useful for tight spots or particularly grimy areas.
Soapy Water, Bucket & Sponge
Tackle large vinyl or plastic surfaces quickly with a sponge dipped in a bucket of soapy water. If you have rubber floor mats, shake them out, and then squeeze water into them so grimy spots can soak. A quick rinse should leave the mats looking like new.
Stiff Bristle Brush
When a sponge isn’t quite enough to clean grimy doors and floor mats, a stiff bristle brush dipped in soapy water is right for the job.
Old Toothbrush
You need a brush with smaller bristles to get into tiny crevices and cracks, such as between the radio buttons on your dashboard and cruise control settings on your steering wheel. You can also use an old toothbrush to scrub your cup holders.
Upholstery Cleaner
Vacuuming your seats and carpet is a start, but to get a really clean car interior, you need upholstery cleaner. Find this product at your favorite hardware store. Most products work by sprinkling the cleaner onto the upholstery, rubbing in the foam, and vacuuming up the residue once it dries. This leaves the seats and carpet looking clean and smelling fresh.
Dashboard Cleaner
You could just dust the dashboard with a rag, but spraying it with a special cleaner first is a smart idea. This cleans the plastic and leaves a protective coating to prevent it from cracking in the sun.
Auto Glass Cleaner
Things are coming together! Now you just need to clean the fingerprints and haze from the windows. Auto glass cleaner is the safest option since it’s sure not to contain any harsh chemicals that could damage window tinting. Spray the windows and wipe off the cleaner with paper towels, a rag, or even a sheet of newspaper to ensure a streak-free finish.
Air Freshener
As a final touch, fill your car with a scent you like. Clip an air freshener to the vent or set one in the cup holder. Just avoid hanging a pine tree air freshener from your rearview mirror because it could obstruct your view and make driving less safe.
Get a Tune-Up to Go Along with that Clean Car Interior
What’s the point of a clean car interior if something’s wrong under the hood? Make sure your vehicle not only looks great but drives smoothly as well by visiting Scott’s Fort Collins Auto for an oil change and tune-up whenever your car needs these services. Our mechanics are knowledgeable, our services are first-rate, and our prices are fair. Stop by whenever it’s convenient for you, or schedule an appointment ahead of time by calling us at (970) 682-4202.
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