Do you lament over the days when you took pride in the
interior of your car? Does it now look like a play-pen gone wild? Or worse yet,
a dog crate? It’s time to reclaim your vehicle. Here are some simple tips to
bring back those halcyon days of pride in your car.
1. Slide seats forward
and clean out the junk underneath: This is a brutal job—definitely enemy
territory. Lord only knows what’s under there: bowl of half-eaten cereal,
baby’s diaper, take-out refuse. Also clean out those door pockets.
2. Vacuum: After
clearing all that stuff out, vacuum the seats, remove the mats and vacuum the
carpet underneath. If you have a brush feature on your vacuum, use it on the
dashboard control panel of your car.
3. Get Serious: Use a
Carpet Cleaning Machine: If you look under your rubber mats and the carpet
is in rough shape, you might want to consider renting a carpet cleaning machine
for both the carpets and cloth seats, if applicable.
4. Use a Microfibre
Cloth for Surfaces: Wipe down the dashboard and in and around the doors,
plastic armrests, etc—anywhere it is dusty.
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| These microfribre cloths are awesome for interiors. They're even good to keep in your glove compartment for those time when you're sitting at a red light and notice your dashboard is covered in dust. Simply take it out and do a little detailing while you're waiting for the light to turn green. |
5. Clean Inside of
Windows: Use either a window-cleaner, a natural, non-chemical product is
recommended, or make your own with one-part vinegar and three-parts water in a
spray bottle. Use a rag or paper towel to remove streaks. And remember: open
the window to reveal the top edge and get that whole area clean—it’s one of
those things you just can’t hide when you’ve drawn down the window on that
commute home.
6. Brush Out Air Vents:
These louvers are a real magnet for dust, and a vacuum with brush attachment
won’t get at it all. Take an inexpensive paintbrush and a light shot of Pledge
furniture polish. Work the brush in and through the crevices to collect the
dust. Wipe the brush off with a rag and move on to the next one.
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| This gets into some real detailing, but if you want that meticulous interior, or you're preparing to sell or lease bust your vehicle, this is an important step. |
7. Scrape Off Annoying
Stickers: Have your or someone else’s kids gone sticker crazy in the back
windows of your car? High-quality stickers will pull off if you can get under a
corner and work it carefully through at a 90-degree angle. Others will leave
grimy residue and demand more attention. Use a plastic putty knife and some Goo
Gone to get rid of it.
8. Remove Odor: There
are countless products on the market to get rid of those nasty odors in your
vehicle. Choose one you like, and put it to use. Just because you have a dog or
a child, doesn’t mean your car should smell like it.
9. Take it Out for a
Spin: Enjoy your clean car. Get it out for a spin—it’ll feel great. Just
remember to lay some newsprint down on the floor to keep it spotless—at least
for one day…
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