The interior will shine like a car wash: 4 steps to clean the inside of your car

Debris, food stains, and other traces are commonplace in a car, but without regular cleaning, the interior can turn into a real mess. To prevent this from happening, you need to take action in time. As soon as you notice that the car is dirty, get to work.

According to The Drive, if you want to save money on professional interior cleaning, you can do it yourself. All you need are common detergents and tools that can be found in any home.

What you need to have for car cleaning

First of all, you will have to be patient, because the process will take some time. And here is a list of necessary things:

• vacuum cleaner
• towels, both cloth and paper;
• microfiber napkins;
• window cleaner;
• vinyl and/or leather cleaner and conditioner;
• carpet cleaner;
• garbage bags;
• electrical extension cord (if needed);
• gloves (if necessary);
• safety glasses (if needed).

Once you have all of these items, you can start cleaning. It takes place in four steps, and your salon will sparkle with cleanliness.

Step 1: Find a shaded or cool place with good lighting

Working in the sun is not only unpleasant and can lead to sunburn and overheating. The sun's rays also make cleaning products less effective. Heat can change the properties of a product, especially if it is left on a surface for a while. In this case, it can stain and even damage materials. And good lighting is essential to ensure that you don't miss a single stain.

Step 2. Clean up any debris and clutter

Grab some trash bags and a pair of gloves. Start by collecting all the old packaging, papers, and other debris. Be sure to pay attention to the trunk.

If you have children, look under the seats and in the cracks between the seats. Children like to hide various items in hard-to-reach places. You might find a lost favorite crayon or a toy this way.

Remove everything from the cabin that is not vital for driving. There should be nothing left in the vehicle. Absolutely nothing.

Step 3: Clean the interior surfaces

Start cleaning the interior from the top and work your way down. This way, the dirt and dust will fall to the floor and can be collected completely at the final stage of cleaning.

Starting with the dashboard, wipe off dust and dirt with a microfiber cloth, cleaning cloth or towel, and car cleaning spray.

Wipe the steering wheel, dashboard, gear lever, and other hard-to-reach areas. These areas tend to accumulate dirt, so pay special attention to them.

If you use cleaning cloths, change them frequently to ensure that you are cleaning the entire interior evenly. If you use a towel and spray, eventually turn the towel over to the other side or take a clean one to avoid spreading dirt.

Places such as buttons, grills, and corners are well cleaned with an old toothbrush.

Use glass cleaner spray and microfiber towels to clean the glass inside the car.

Try to avoid glass cleaners that contain ammonia. It can damage the plastic and other surfaces inside the vehicle. Also, read the product instructions carefully if you have tinted windows. Some liquids can damage the tint.

Work on surfaces in small areas to prevent the cleaner from drying out and leaving stains.

Step 4: Vacuuming

Before vacuuming, remove any floor mats, if any, and shake them out.

Use a fine nozzle to get all the dirt out of the cracks and crevices in the interior. Slide the upholstered parts of the seats to get at any dust that gets trapped in these spaces.

Vacuum the air vents, the top of the dashboard where it meets the windshield, and the floor behind the rear seats if your car has them.

Start cleaning the floor. Start under the seats and make sure to vacuum the space between the seats and the inside of the body, such as the center console or doors. Slide the seats back and forth to reach all those crevices.

If your vacuum cleaner has a small brush attachment, it can help remove hair and other debris from the floor mat. Special brushes for pet hair can also be helpful.

Vacuum the floor mats thoroughly before returning them to the vehicle. If your vehicle is equipped with all-weather mats, we recommend spraying them with a hose and brushing them to remove dirt and other debris. Let them dry before reinstalling them.

To finish the job, make sure you haven't missed anything, pay attention to stains - some may require professional help to remove. And finally, install an air freshener, if you use one.

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