Car cleaning is an inside and out process. A car owner shouldn't just wash the car with a hose and be done with it, or should he or she polish the interiors only and forget about the tires and other aspects of the vehicle. Wash often. Don't procrastinate. Do it now. You should be able to find time to clean both the inside and outside of the car. A car with clean tires but dirty seats is just as bad as anything.
Cleaning the inside of the car isn't as demanding or time-consuming as cleaning the outside. But it doesn't mean it's easy. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to properly clean the inside of a car.
How to clean your car's interior:
Aerate the car by opening the doors and windows and letting it stand for a few minutes. Take out the floor mats. Empty the trash cans, if any, and sweep the floor of dirt and other objects—pieces of paper, candy wrappers, etc.
Detach the front seats (the instructions manual should cover this) and place them on the ground next to the car if you're planning to wash them with soap. Otherwise skip this step.
Use a small hand-held vacuum or shop-vac to clean fabric upholstery and carpeting. Once in a while use liquid shampoo on your carpets for a deep clean. To absorb stuffy odors, tuck one or two open boxes of baking soda under the seats.
Floor mats are a haven for grime and dirt. For this lay the mats out on the pavement and saturate with a solution of water, washing soda and salt, one cup each. This creates a paste for removing tough-to-remove dirt. Allow the mats to dry afterwards.
Use another solution—a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar—to clean leather, chrome, plastic and vinyl interior surfaces. Spray some on a microfiber towel and wipe gently in circular motions. (Note: use hot water on waxed wood surfaces instead.)
A second application of jojoba oil and vinegar works well on leather and vinyl surfaces. Wipe in long strokes and buff to a shine every couple minutes or so with a clean rag.
Glass and windows are last. Take some old newprints and a spray bottle filled with white vinegar, then spray and wipe. Vinegar works well in breaking up dirt and greasy fingerprints. (Note: never use paper towels to clean the windows.)
Put back the seats and floor mats, and replace old car air fresheners with new ones. You're done!
More car fabric cleaning options
Some people have trouble deciding whether to vacuum or soap the car seats. There is no right or wrong answer to this one; it depends on how it long was since the last time you washed the seats.
The vacuum is an effective short-term solution. It won't leave your seats 100% clean, but at least it's better than just padding the dust off the seats with your hands. Use a small vacuum to get into tight corners and crevices, and vacuum thoroughly. As for washing the seats, which is good every couple months or so, use a sponge soaked in water and a small amount of detergent to wipe the fabric surface. Rinse by using a different sponge, and then leave out in the sun for a few hours to dry.
Don't splash perfume on the car fabric; it will leave the seats smelling musty and does nothing but hide the bad odor growing underneath. You can use deodorizers to freshen up the inside of the car.
Cleaning the interiors shouldn't take more than a couple of hours at most—that is, if you clean regularly and don't procrastinate with it. So go out and check to see if your car needs some serious cleaning anytime soon.
