Few of us actively enjoy cleaning out cars. Given the choice between driving in a clean car and one that smells like the chips you spilt two months ago though, isn’t that hard of a choice. Now, with the British summer coming to an end, it’s time to start cleaning out your car.
What does basic, pre-road trip car maintenance look like? Let’s break the work it takes to clean out your car interior. If you take this process step by step, you’ll find that any long drives you have yet to take become a little more pleasant.
Tools you’ll need
Before you get started, make sure you have the following tools nearby:
A vacuum cleaner
Extension hose
Vacuum attachments
Water hose
Chemical cleaners
Polishing rags
Vent brushes
Console first
You want to start your car cleaning adventure with your car’s console. By starting here, you can knock dust and dirt onto the floor mats, which you’ll then be able to clean off later.
Dust tends to permeate car consoles. To rid the nooks and crannies of your console of dust and other unwanted filth, you’ll need to make use of a chemical cleaner, a rag, and a brush.
Start by using your cleaning rag to brush the dust away from your buttons and vents. You can use an old toothbrush to get into the vents or other hard-to-reach spots.
Once you’re satisfied with your initial job, spray down the console with a non-toxic, non-bleaching chemical cleaner. You should then use a clean rag to wipe up the console and any dirt the cleaner may have loosened.
Car seats
If you go driving with kids and pets, you know that your seats are among the dirtiest spots in your car. Different types of seats will respond to different types of cleaners. You can, however, use your vacuum on all types of car upholstery.
Before you use any chemical cleaners, make sure you give each of your seats a once-over with your vacuum and an applicable brush nozzle.
If you still notice stains or other debris on your seats, you’ll want to research the kind of cleaners that your seats will best respond to. The most common types of materials used to make car seats comfortable include leather, vinyl and cloth.
You can clean leather seats with a microfiber towel and leather conditioners.
Vinyl responds well to most general chemical cleaners, but make sure yours doesn’t include bleach among its ingredients.
Dirty cloth seats will require carpet shampoo to clean.
Car windows
You should also clean your windshield when sprucing the inside of your car. You can use a generic glass cleaner and rag to remove any streaks or strains on the inside of your windshield.
However, if your windows are tinted, don’t use a generic cleaner right away. Instead, use water and soap, or call your dealer to verify what kinds of cleaners are safe to use.
Floor mats
After you’ve cleaned off everything else in your car, you’ll need to clear off the floor mats that have, thus far, dutifully gathered the dust and dirt you’ve removed from the rest of your vehicle.
First, take any garbage or stored belongings out of your car. Then, remove the floor mats from your car. In an open area, shake them off to remove any stuck dirt or debris.
Once you’ve shaken them, you’ll need to use your vacuum cleaner’s brushes to clean the carpeting inside of your car. You can use narrower brushes to reach the far corners of your car, and you should! These corners are likely to harbour garbage that you might otherwise miss.
When you’ve finished vacuuming the interior of your car, move on to your floor mats. While shaking them will remove the vast majority of the dirt, you should also spray the mats down to remove any mud or debris that would have stuck on them in bad weather.
Use a hose and appropriate nozzle to spray down your mats. Then, leave them to dry completely. Once they’re dry to the touch, you can place them back into your car and prepare for any road trips you want to take.
Removing car odours
Even after you’ve finished cleaning out your car, you may find that certain smells still linger. If you’re noticing a persistent, unwanted scent in your car, you’ll want to invest in an odour eliminator. These come in gel and spray forms. You can use either to your advantage, though if you frequently travel with a pet, it’s best to use the spray.
Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean that your UK road trips have to stop. Take the last few days of sunshine to clean out your car and the drives you take in autumn will be all the more enjoyable.