When’s the last time you cleaned the inside of your car? If you’re still thinking about it, chances are this specific task is long overdue. Let’s be real, there are a lot of spaces, places, nooks and crannies within a car for dirt and dust to collect––and that’s before we begin to talk about the type of interior your car has. Ahead, we share a compilation of resources for each type of car interior, including products, car cleaning tips and techniques, plus how-to video tutorials. Simply: Look to us as your one stop shop for interior car cleaning…starting…now.
The first step is to open up those car doors and vacuum the seats to remove dirt, debris, food, or other particles from the cracks and crevices of the seat. Once complete, it’s time to diagnose the car for overall cleaning needs as well as specific stain maintenance.
Leather is luxe…and also pricey. You want your seats to last a long time, so not taking care can be detrimental to the longevity of the seats and affect the car’s value. The takeaway with leather is to not use ammonia-based cleaners or bleach on them. The other tip is to not let water seep into the cushions, as it could stain the leather.
Mix ½ cup of olive oil with ¼ cup of vinegar to make your own leather-cleaning mixture. Shake and pour into a spray bottle to avoid separation. This product is best when sprayed lightly, all over. Wait five minutes, wipe clean, and let any remaining moisture air dry. Ta-da!
Products: Let’s take a look at different DIY products for different kinds of stain needs. Remember, only bleach and ammonia-free products for this material!
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Otherwise known as cloth, upholstery is relatively easy to clean if you have one magic ingredient: a brush. Unlike leather(ette) where brushing can crack the material, upholstery needs its cleaning products brushed into it to pull stuck particles of dirt up.
Mix ½ cup of rubbing alcohol, ½ cup of white vinegar, and < 1 cup of water. Shake it up and pour (or spray) it on the upholstery. Let sit for two minutes and then use a microfiber cloth and scrub in a circular motion. Roll down the windows and let the upholstery air dry. Ahhh, nice.
Products: With cloth, it’s important to separate your car’s interior into two categories: the car’s fabric and the car’s floor mats. Let’s take a look at different DIY mixtures for both.
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Whether as a substitute for authentic leather, an older car model’s material of choice, or a lower-cost alternative, leatherette and vinyl car interiors deserve a deep cleaning, too! But being gentle with the material is key.
Mix two teaspoons of liquid dish soap with warm water. Spray the now-foamy liquid over the intended area and use cotton balls rub in a circular motion. Take a damp cloth––be sure it’s lint free––to remove any soap residue. Don’t forget to air dry. Looking good!
Products: Harsh products can dry, break, and tear leatherette and vinyl seats, similar to authentic leather. The best products? Mild dishwashing soap, mild hand soap, and baby hair shampoo.
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Besides your car’s interior material, car air vents are a significant part of your four-wheel drive. The vents fill with dust and blow into your lungs every time you run the air conditioning…so if it’s been awhile, think about what has been going into your lungs––for awhile. Here’s some tips to help keep your vents clean in-between details and deep cleanings.
Keeping up with your car takes time, effort, energy, and resources. It’s important to be mindful of what the interior of your car looks like and how long it’s been since you cleaned it. If you feel as if your interior is dirty beyond repair, then it doesn’t hurt to see how much money you can get for your car––Peddle might surprise you. An instant offer can take a dirty old car off your hands––and put a freshly written check in your hand. It’s almost like magic!