Useful Tips on car interior cleaning

Most car owners spend a significant amount of time in their cars. The hustle of travel carries along its fair share of activity and this makes the interior of your car get dirty at some point. Regular cleaning is necessary, and this is not just for the exterior but also for the interior of your car. Cleaning the interior of your car is not a matter of dusting or wiping off dirt from your car. Different areas will require different methods of cleaning. Always have in handy the appropriate cleaning agents and tools for every part your car interior.

Cleaning car seats

Car seats are used on a most regular basis and therefore, it is important to make sure that they are ever clean. Usually, they are made of different material and this will require different types of products for cleaning them. It is advisable to check the car manufacturer’s instructions regarding the cleaning and maintenance of car seat fabric first. Whatever cleaning products you may use, be sure to look keenly at the instructions of use. Before you begin cleaning your car seats, get rid of all the clutter in the car and vacuum it to remove any debris or loose dirt. A small hand-held vacuum cleaner or just a normal household vacuum cleaner would do the job. If you are cleaning fabric upholstery, then you can even use fabric cleaners or even ordinary laundry detergents to get the dirt off the fabric car seats. It is good to make sure that you do not use a very wet cloth to prevent musty smells and dampness. Cleaning leather seats is probably a different affair, as leather is a very delicate material that requires special cleaning products. You can look for leather cleaners and conditioners in local household stores within your area.

Cleaning the floor and the mats

When working on the floor of your car, it is good to remove the mats first. With a vacuum cleaner, vacuum the floor, focusing on small patches for a thorough job. Using with the detergent or upholstery cleaner, spray on the carpet as evenly as possible as you rub. For extremely dirty areas, use a soft brush like those attached to vacuum cleaners. Once the carpet is clean, ensure you use a clean dry cloth to wipe. Dry the carpet out as soon as possible and try not to use very wet cloths to avoid dampness and moldy smells. Floor mats made from vinyl or plastic should not be cleaned using ammonia based products as it causes them to dry out.

Cleaning the dashboard

When cleaning the dashboard, ensure you begin by vacuuming the dashboard to remove any traces of dust or dirt lying on the surface. You need UV resistant cleaning fluid in order to keep the dashboard protected from harmful sunlight. You can then clean off the fluid with a soft fibred cloth. Make sure you do not use cleaning agents containing silicone, as they tend to cause the surface to dry out and crack. You can also use a small amount of laundry detergent just to remove the stains. To finish off, apply some polish to keep the surface of your dashboard looking shiny then buff.

Cleaning car windows

When cleaning the car windows, make sure you do it using a car window cleaning spray and a wiping cloth. A high quality microfiber cloth is most suitable for the job. The car windshield should be cleaned with utmost attention. Be careful when you clean the car windows not to leave streaks, as they are unsightly and may hinder visibility. Wax on the windows would make your car look grim, so avoid it at all cost. Extra precaution must be taken when cleaning tinted windows do as not to damage the film. Do not use products that contain ammonia on tinted windows, but if you have to, use soapy water with it. You can use spray glass cleaners in order to keep the ugly streaks at bay. Use the proper cleaning techniques. Do not forget to clean the rear view mirror of your car in a similar fashion.

Cleaning the air conditioning system and cabin air filter

Make sure when cleaning your car that you do not forget to clean the air conditioning system, as it frequently collects a lot of dust, dirt and bacteria. You can try some air conditioning odor treatments on your air conditioning system in case you get to experience a musty smell coming from it. You also need to check the air conditioning drain tube for clogging occasionally. The cabin air filter is also another place where dirt and bacteria hide to contaminate fresh air. It is advisable that you change your cabin filters at least once every year.

Cleaning products for your interior

Different parts of your car interior will require different car interior cleaning products because they are made of different materials. What will work for the upholstery fabric will probably not work for the dashboard.Ammonia based cleaning agents should be avoided by all means for rubber, vinyl, plastic and leather surfaces as it tends to make them dry out. It should also not be used for interior surfaces due to its harmful fumes. Using water only, though safe, is not enough especially when removing tough stains. Microfiber towels keep your surfaces lint-free, and do not allow the formation of streaks.

Precautionary measures when cleaning

There a few precautionary measures you can take when cleaning the car interior. Vacuuming is an important first step before you get to embark on any cleaning endeavor. Getting the loose dirt off with make sure that you do not get to scratch surfaces during the actual cleaning while wiping. It is also important to make sure that you do not clean your car on a hot or sunny day. This is because the moisture dries out quite quickly, forming streaks on the surfaces. You can also spray your carpet with stain repellants to keep your carpet from permanent staining while keeping your carpet looking new. Some car mats are made of fabric, rubber or vinyl and the instructions vary for each on how to clean. Car interior cleaning agents that are rubber and vinyl friendly will be different from those that are fabric friendly. It is good to use each for its specified purpose.