The Do's and Don'ts of Detailing Your Interior

Now that the outside of your car looks great,it's time to tackle the interior. A thorough deep-cleaning should be done at least twice a year. If you live in a place with heavy winters, it's a good idea to schedule your detailing for fall and spring. Of course, depending on how many children and pets you have, you may want to deep-clean more often.

Don't: Work in a Hot Car

Remember the heat penalty? It's worse for interiors because they can get so much hotter than exteriors, as anyone who's forgotten to park in the shade on a hot day knows. No need to burn yourself on the dashboard. Plus, cleaning products generally perform better in a cool environment away from direct sunlight. Do your detail work first thing in the morning, right after sunset or in a shady spot.

Do: Declutter

Start by removing everything from your car that doesn't belong there (garbage, pieces of mail, crayons, chew toys, etc.), including items in the trunk. Loose objects and clutter can make driving hazardous. Plus, ridding your car of these things will make it easier to clean, eliminate any lingering smells and generally just lighten your load.

Don't: Clean Your Floor Mats While They Are Installed

Once your car is decluttered and all trash has been removed, take out the floor mats. Give them a good shake to knock dirt loose. For hard vinyl or rubber mats, rinse them with water, then follow up with a good cleaner. We like Enzyme All-Purpose Concentrated Interior Cleaner. It eliminates odors caused by dampness, mildew, mold, food and organic matter and cleans deep down. Allow floor mats to dry - replacing them will be your last step.

Do: Dust Before You Vacuum

Using a high-quality microfiber towel, wipe every surface starting at the ceiling and working your way down. The microfiber will trap any loose dirt and dust and save you time when you vacuum. 

Brush out your vents. Use a small detail brush to clean out those spaces where dust and dirt accumulate. 

Make sure to get between and around center console buttons and dials. These are popular places for crumbs to gather and a little time here will pay big dividends in the end. Be sure to use an ammonia-free plastic cleaner for any dials, buttons and screens in your car.

Take a microfiber towel, spray it with an all-purpose surface cleaner and wrap it around a ruler or paint stick. You've just made a dashboard-cleaning supertool that can even reach the narrow frontier where the dash meets the windshield.

Vacuum out cup holders--or, if possible, remove them--to give them a thorough cleaning. You don't always want your car smelling like that latte that spilled last week.

Open all doors (including the hatchback, if you have one) and  vacuum out the pockets. Then wipe them down with a surface cleaner.

Clean the windows, including the windshield and rear window, inside and out. Roll your side windows down about halfway to you can clean the top inch on both sides. Make sure to use a clean, high quality, lint-free cloth. Rotate and/or swap out the cloth frequently to avoid redistributing any dirt and leaving streaks.

Do: Protect Your Interior Surfaces

Have lots of friends and family sharing your ride? Use a disinfectant cleaner first on all those high-touch surfaces. You can then apply a protectant to your dashboard, doors, and window trim to resist sun damage.

IMPORTANT: Skip the steering wheel, floor mats and pedals.

You don't want slippery surfaces there. 

Do: Treat Your Upholstery Right

When all hard surfaces are clean, move on to the seats. Start with a pet hair brush if needed. Vacuum thoroughly - get down between the cushions. Next, spot-treat any stains with a good spot remover. Shampoo seats and seat belts, and let dry completely.

Remember to use only as much product as needed. Fabric that has been over-soaked can mildew or mold. 

The last area to clean is the carpeting. Start by vacuuming all carpeted areas. Slide the front seats forward and backward as needed to reach underneath them. Remember to get the deck behind the back seats, if you have one. Vacuum carpeted floor mats.

Don't: Forget the Trunk

Now it's time to clean out that trunk with a nice front-to-back vacuuming pattern, followed by removing any spots in the carpeting. While you're there, open up the compartment where the spare tire is stored. Scoop out any debris that has collected (dead leaves seem to especially love vacationing there.) Spot-treat carpet stains and follow up with a carpet shampoo if needed.

SIDE QUEST! This is a great time to check the tire pressure on your spare - you never know when it might be needed.

Do: Add the Finishing Touches

Once your carpets are clean and dry, replace the floor mats. Finish the job with an odor neutralizer or a new air freshener so everyone will know you brought your car back to factory-floor condition.

Do: Go for a Drive to Enjoy Your Clean Car!