As you rack-up the miles travelling from place to place, it doesn’t take long for little bits of dust and dirt to accumulate in your car’s interior.
From family days out to the occasional drive-thru, it’s easy to see where it all comes from, so why is it so hard to get rid of it once it’s there?
Having a clean interior creates an environment that’s much more pleasurable to drive in – which is good news for your passengers, and great news for you. So pick up those sweet wrappers and whip-out that duster, now’s the time to bolster that upholstery.
Start with the big, end with the small
Before you start addressing any small pockets of dust that have gathered around your vehicle, start by grabbing a bin liner and throwing any bigger items – such as empty water bottles, crisp packets or used pay and display tickets – into the bin.
Once you’ve done this, gather the following essentials: a hoover, a duster, a toothbrush, a bottle of glass cleaner, some paper towels and some interior polish. If you’re in need of anything, browse our car cleaning products here.
Suck it up
Nobody likes climbing all over a vehicle’s interior, but if you’re going to get the hoover nozzle into every nook and cranny, there’s no better way to go about things – just make sure you’re wearing clean shoes!
Start at the very front (we’re talking air-conditioning vents here) and work your way back, ensuring you cover every inch of your car’s interior, roof lining included.
Tricky spots
Every car has a certain area that’s almost impossible to clean. In the majority of vehicles, areas around the door handle or the seat rails are particularly troublesome – they often require a specialist tool, aka a toothbrush, in order to clean them.
Using a toothbrush to clean your car may sound like nonsense, but once you’ve given it a go, you’ll never look back. Just make sure you don’t go putting it back in the bathroom when you’ve finished!
Time to shine
Windows are notoriously tricky to clean – but it makes sense to give them a quick going over before you start thinking of applying the interior polish.
When it comes to windows, investing in a proper glass cleaner – such as the smear-busting Sonax Xtreme – can make all the difference. A squeegee makes for a savvy investment too, offering you a tool you can use to both clean your windows and de-ice your car when the temperature drops.
Apply the glass cleaner, squeegee away the residue and then use some elbow grease to wipe the glass clean with a paper towel.
After you’ve done this (both inside and out), apply some interior polish to a duster before applying it across your car’s dash. You might also want to apply some to your steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake too – although we’d recommend giving it a few hours to dry off before going anywhere. Nobody enjoys driving with sticky fingers!
Interested in reading more about everyday maintenance? Be sure to check out the rest of our blog it has some great guides and top tips designed to help you get the most out of your car.