Keeping the inside of your vehicle clean is just as important as keeping the outside clean. Having a dirty vehicle filled with trash and clutter can impair your driving, cause permanent aesthetic damage such as stains, and even invite bugs and rodents into your vehicle.
Cleaning your vehicle seems like an easy enough task, but there are always ways to improve. So, whether you’re looking at your vehicle with no idea where to start, or you just want some tips for achieving a pristine interior, here are the top steps for cleaning your vehicle.
Empty Your Vehicle
You can’t even begin to clean the interior of your vehicle if you can’t see it! The first thing you need to do is remove all the clutter. This includes personal items, trash, and anything else that may get in the way of a good deep cleaning. This will allow you to assess any damage as well as create a game plan for what you’re going to do next.
Clean your center console
This is probably one of the dirtiest parts of your vehicle. Dirt, pollen, dust – it seems that everything seems to collect right here.
Working from the cleanest spots to the dirtiest spots is ideal for ensuring the prevention of spreading the grime and grunge around. You can use a damp rag or special vehicle cleaning wipes, and, if you really want a pristine vehicle, you can use a cotton swab or pad to clean the hard to reach places such as your air vents and those tight corners.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to wipe down your doors, dashboard, and radio. You can do this the same way as everything else, paying extra attention to the details like knobs and buttons.
Clean the interior windows
If you have pets or children, then this step is definitely one you can’t skip. This step is fairly easy, however. To clean your interior windows, dampen a microfiber cloth with a window cleaner and just gently wipe the surface of each window.
Clean the seats
This is the main part of cleaning your vehicle, so make sure to take your time. If you have leather seats, vacuum them to remove any dirt and debris. After that is done, you can just wipe the seats down.
If you have fabric seats, make sure no stains are present. If there are stains, you can use a commercial stain remover or make your own to remove them. After that, you can vacuum just as you would with leather seats.
Final Thoughts
While it’s easy enough to clean and maintain the inside of your vehicle, you might find more difficulties with the outside. In the case of chip paint or body damage, it’s best to contact a professional. If you’re in the Sonoma County area and find you have some damage that needs to be addressed in your vehicle, give Downtown Autobody a call and schedule an appointment today!
