7 Steps to A Cleaner Car
Step 1: Get Rid Of Trash
Before anything else, ensure that you remove all trash and unnecessary items from all interior spaces.
In order to save time, use a few different bags for different recyclables to sort your trash right there, as you remove it from your car.
Step 2: Remove Dust From The Ventilation Ducts
If you haven’t used your car in a while, removing the dust from the air ducts can be a great idea. With all air vents closed, turn on the engine and set the fan to the highest speed. Next, open the air vents, one at a time, until you dust them all. This will dismantle and eliminate a lot of the dust and debris in the ventilation system.
For higher effectiveness, wrap a soft cloth around the tip of a flat screwdriver and use it to wipe off dust in air vents.
Step 3: Dust And Clean The Dashboard
The dashboard is one of the dirtiest surfaces in your car, as it tends to accumulate a lot of dust and fingerprints. Clean it with a soft cloth and soapy water. There’s no need for you to use a special dashboard cleaning solution, if you don’t want to. Anyway, one thing to keep in mind is to avoid using a sponge or harsh chemicals, as they may damage the finish of the surface.
Dedicated dashboard cleaning products can help protecting your dashboard, thanks to their ability to build a protective film that prevents dust and debris from settling. These solutions are more expensive than simple soapy water, but they can make your dashboard look great for a longer time.
While cleaning the dashboard, pay special attention to the infotainment screen, as that’s a true magnet for fingerprints and greasy stains. Use screen wipes or soapy water to clean it, and then wipe it carefully with a soft, dry cloth. Don’t use harsh cleaning products, as they can damage the protection coatings of the screen.
Also, avoid getting moisture inside the switches in your car, as too much dampness may damage the electronic components inside these switches. Furthermore, use a microfiber cloth to wipe the clear plastic that protects the instrument dials, in order to avoid scratching it.
You should clean the dashboard before vacuuming, as dust and debris would fall on the floor. Working from top to bottom is the way to go, in order to prevent dirt from falling onto surfaces you’re already cleaned.
For best results, consider using a new make-up brush or any other type of soft brush to clean the vents and other difficult to reach areas.
Step 4: Clean High Surfaces You Touch The Most
These surfaces include the steering wheel, the infotainment screen, the sun visor, the cup holders, the dashboard buttons and vents, and the gear-stick.
To clean these surfaces, it’s best to use cleaning wipes or a soft microfiber cloth and a gentle cleaning substance. Microfiber clothes are much better than paper towels or wipes, because they don’t trap tiny pieces of dirt that might scratch delicate plastic surfaces. If you use cleaning substances, spray them onto the cloth rather than directly onto the surface to clean. This is how you can prevent tiny cleanser particles from landing on your windscreen.
Using cleaning products on the steering wheel or pedals is a bad idea, as this might make them slippery according to here. In order to prevent such dangerous situations, clean the pedals and the steering wheel with a soft cloth dampened in plain water.
Step 5: Clean Your Windows On The Inside
Keeping the car windows clean on the inside is extremely important. All those smears, fingerprints and dust particles may affect your visibility and create dangerous glare. When cleaning such glass surfaces, always use a high-quality window cleaning product and ensure you don’t leave any streaks.
To clean glass surfaces, spray some window cleaner on a soft microfiber cloth and apply it to the window with circular motions. Repeat until you remove all dirt and streaks that might interfere with your visibility while driving.
It’s a good idea to clean the dashboard first, in order to prevent dirt and dust from transferring onto the glass surfaces.
Step 6: Clean The Doors And The Seats
The seats are subject to a lot of wear and tear. They are also prone to getting a lot of stains. In order to remove dirt and grime from your car seats, you can use an upholstery cleaning product and a soft brush or a sponge. Stubborn stains will require a special stain removing product.
Cleaning leather seats requires special cleaning products and leather protection treatments.
Avoid rubbing the upholstery too hard. Always use a soft bristle brush to prevent fiber damage. If you aren’t sure you can do this yourself, you may want to take your car to a professional upholstery cleaner according to Yourcarparts.
Step 7: Clean The Floor Mats
This is the right time to vacuum up all dirt and debris. You can use any type of vacuum cleaner for that. Nevertheless, investing in a handheld vacuum cleaner to use in the car will allow you to avoid putting up with carrying your regular household cleaner to the car. If you can afford it, it’s best to buy a portable vacuum cleaner with specialized accessories and with dry and wet cleaning.
While vacuuming, avoid scrubbing the carpets, as this could damage them. The best way to protect carpets in your car is to have well fitted car mats, take a look at the custom range.
After vacuuming, you can use some carpet cleaning products to remove stains and to freshen up the fibers. A rubber brush is an effective tool to remove even stubborn dirt and to make those carpets look like new.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
