How to Clean the Interior of Your Car

We’ve all been there, that dreaded question: ‘are we okay to travel with you?’. Well, you can skip the embarrassment of excusing the crumbs and loose change by cleaning your car interior!

Now, while you can fork out the cost of a professional valet, we can help you clean your car interior to that valet standard at home. Whether you’ve got fabric or leather interiors, we’ve got all the tips to get you a sparkling clean car with ease!

In this article, we will cover how to clean car seats, how to clean the car carpet, as well as how to clean your dashboard, to really make your car sparkle.

There are plenty of awkward spaces to tackle when cleaning your car interior, including down the edge of your seats, air vents, cup holders and the centre console. So, to do a thorough job from your own garage or driveway, you first need the right equipment. So, let’s take a look at what equipment you’ll need to clean your car:

• ·        A vacuum cleaner
• ·        Soft brush
• ·        Multipurpose cloths
• ·        Wet wipes
• ·        Dashboard polish
• ·        Upholstery cleaner
• ·        Hose pipe
• ·        Washing detergent

When it comes to picking the perfect vacuum for cleaning your car interior, you’ll want to pick one that’s mobile and easy to manoeuvre. And the Gtech Multi MK2 has been specifically designed to overcome the difficulties of car cleaning. Cordless, lightweight, and handheld - you can easily cover every area of your interior! But for a thorough clean of those harder to reach places, why not consider a car cleaning accessory kit. With additional fittings for your vacuum, including a dusting brush, upholstery tool, and flexible extension, you’ll be able to clean your car interior of any dirt and grime engrained into the upholstery with ease! With your equipment sorted, let’s look at how to put them to use to clean your car.

Your car dashboard is always in your line of sight when driving. This means that, as we look at the road ahead, any dirt and dust in our peripherals can be quite distracting. So, let’s explore how to clean your car dashboard.

1.       You’ll want to start by cleaning your car dashboard of dust, and this is really easy to do. Take the soft dusting brush from your car accessory kit and add it to your cordless vacuum, gently gliding along the top of your car dashboard to remove dust.

2.      Next, pick up a polish for your dashboard, making sure it is the right one for the material, whether it be leather, plastic, or wood effect. And as your dashboard is directly underneath your windscreen, it is exposed to plenty of UV rays. So, using a polish with UV protectants to clean your car dashboard will protect it from discolouring or cracking.

3.      Once you’ve selected the best polish for cleaning your car, add it to a microfibre towel or multipurpose cloth, and wipe the dashboard and displays thoroughly. However, avoid applying polish to the steering wheel and pedals, as this can make them slippery. Instead, for these areas, use a damp cloth or wet wipe, allowing to dry thoroughly before driving.

As your car mats will likely be the part of your interior with the most grime, it’s worth paying them a bit of extra attention when cleaning your car.

1.      For speed, it can be tempting to try and clean your car mats without removing them, especially if you have a handheld vacuum. But the mats are removable for a reason – they are far easier to clean outside of the vehicle. So, once removed, first give them a little shake to loosen any dirt.

2.      Dirt loosened, lay the mats out flat on the driveway, so you can conveniently vacuum them just like any normal rug or carpet. You won’t need a handheld vacuum for this step, you can cover your mat swiftly with the use of an upright vacuum, such as the Gtech AirRam MK2.

3.      Once you’ve got rid of any dirt, crumbs, or dust, you can clean your car mats with water and cleaning detergent. First, soak your mats with a hose, then sprinkle on some cleaning detergent or baking soda, about the same amount as you’d use in your washing machine.

4.      Lastly, cover the entire soaked mat, and using a stiff bristled brush or broom, scrub the mat thoroughly back and forth and side to side. This will help to remove any engrained mud and dirt. Wash the suds from the mat and then hang to dry, ensuring they are completely dry before returning it to your car.

Regular visits to a drive-through or long journeys with children and pets can take their toll on your car’s seats. So, we’ve got some top tips for cleaning your car upholstery, including both fabric and leather.

Leather is typically easier to take care of, but there are still some essentials you need to know before cleaning your leather car seats:

1.      When it comes to cleaning leather car seats, you’ll want to avoid using any upholstery tools as this could mark the leather. But you can give your leather car seats a quick vacuum first to get rid of any lingering crumbs or dirt. 

2.      Then, apply your leather cleaner to a microfibre towel and gently rub it into your seats in circular motions. Once this has dried, finish cleaning your leather car seats with a leather conditioner, and your car is ready for its next adventure.

With your clean car interior sorted, you might now be looking for how to get your home looking just as fresh with some top vacuuming tips. Whether it’s finding the best vacuum for pet hair or how to keep your carpet clean, head over to our blog for all the cleaning know how.