How to Clean Your Car Interior: A Beginner’s Guide

A clean car is not just about appearance; it also enhances your driving experience. Cars should pass a basic level of hygiene check in order to be comfortable for the driver and passengers. It also helps with the overall maintenance and durability. But simply giving the car exterior a quick wipe or wash from time to time isn’t enough.

Over time, dust, grime, odour and other pollutants can accumulate inside your car. Thus, maintaining a clean interior is important in creating a healthy and hygienic cabin. Sure, you can always get your car serviced, but it can cost a lot.

Read on to learn how to clean the car interior like a pro.

Recommended products for your car interior

To begin with, it is essential to acquire the appropriate equipment and products to clean your car’s interior. Here is a list of what you’ll typically require:

• All-purpose cleaner: Use an all-purpose cleaner for wiping down dashboards, doors, and consoles of your vehicle. Find a cleaner which is safe for plastics, rubber, and leather.
• Leather conditioner: Apply conditioner to keep your leather seats or trim supple and soft. Pick a leather conditioner made for automobile leather.
• Glass cleaner: Choose a cleaner that is safe for tinted surfaces to avoid damage and acquire a streak-free finish.
• Fabric cleaner: Use a fabric cleaner made for automobile fabrics. Some of these cleaners also work as stain removers.
• Spray protectant: Spray a protectant to shield your interior against water, UV rays, and dirt. Pick a spray that's safe for your car’s interior materials.
• Disinfecting wipes: Keep disinfecting wipes handy to immediately clean up spillages or mess.
• Garbage bags: Place garbage bags in your car for easy disposal of trash.

Cleaning equipment to clean your car

Next up, we have a list of a few essential products that’ll help you clean your car effectively.

• Car vacuum cleaner: Essential for removing debris, dust, and dirt out of your car’s interior. Ideally, it should come with attachments for different surfaces.
• Microfiber towels: Excellent for wiping and polishing surfaces without leaving behind lint or scratches. They can be used for dashboards, windows and other components.
• Brushes and scrubbers: Useful to remove stubborn stains or dirt buildup from your car. Opt for a soft-bristled brush to clean without damaging the interior.
• Applicator: A sponge or foam applicator might be useful for transferring cleaners or protectants to bigger surfaces.
• Gloves for protection: Important for protecting your hands from chemicals and dirt while cleaning your car’s interior.
• Detailing spray bottle: Useful while mixing and spritzing cleaning products. It also comes in handy while spot-cleaning particular areas.

Step by step: Detailing a car interior

Follow these suggestions and make use of the equipment and products to get a deep clean.

1. Prepare your workspace: Clean your car in a dry, well-ventilated location to avoid exterior debris and dust.
2. Remove all loose items: Remove any loose items from your vehicle, including floor mats, flooring liners and ashtrays. This will make all areas simpler to reach and clean.
3. Vacuum the whole interior: The first thing is to vacuum the carpets, floors and seats completely. Use attachments to reach hard-to-reach spaces and crevices.
4. Wash the upholstery: Use fabric cleaner on the seats and carpets, especially on stains. Let it soak for some time before vacuuming once more.
5. Clean the leather seats and trim: Clean leather surfaces with a leather cleaner. After cleaning, apply a leather conditioner to hydrate and protect the leather.
6. Clean dash, doors and consoles: Dab an all-purpose cleaner onto a microfiber towel and wipe them down, paying particular attention to buttons, vents and other points.
7. Clean the windows and mirrors: Wipe the windows and mirrors inside and out with the help of a clear glass cleaner and a soft cloth.
8. Spray with protectant: Once things are dry, squirt a protectant spray on areas including the dashboard, seating, and carpets to avoid future stains and dirt.
9. Replace items removed: Reinstall any floor mats, floor liners or ashtrays you removed earlier.

• Deodorise: Always deodorise the cabin during your detailing session, no matter whether your car’s interior smells bad or not. You can use car perfume or air freshener to deodorise.
• Final inspection: Give the interior of your car a final wipe-down to ensure things are in place and spotless.

Conclusion

Giving your car’s interior a deep clean at least twice a year can ease your worries about car hygiene and contribute to healthier, more enjoyable drives. If you travel around with children or the elderly, then clean interiors are a must to prevent any allergic reactions or the spread of infection.

Maintaining a clean and well-kept car can help protect your investment, which is why it is a good idea to ensure you invest in comprehensive car insurance. A solid policy will provide coverage against any sudden mishaps while ensuring you’re protected in case of accidents, damage and theft. Opting for comprehensive insurance will also make sure you are covered in case of damages caused by vandalism or natural disasters, giving you peace of mind and a good driving experience.

Cleaning your car is not complex at all. Make sure that you have the correct supplies and equipment handy, and create a schedule for frequent clean-ups.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.