It's mid-February, and if your vehicle is anything like mine, its interior is in need of a solid cleaning. Now, this post is for those who still like to DIY your car cleaning. However, for about $30 you can have it professionally done at any car dealer--I've done it before, and it's a great service. But I would put that off till Spring when you know snow, salt, and ice won't be jimmying their way into your vehicle.
1. Slide seats forward and clean out the junk underneath: This is a brutal job—definitely enemy territory. Lord only knows what’s under there: bowl of half-eaten cereal, baby’s diaper, take-out refuse. Also clean out those door pockets.
2. Vacuum: After clearing all that stuff out, vacuum the seats, remove the mats and vacuum the carpet underneath. If you have a brush feature on your vacuum, use it on the dashboard control panel of your car.
3. Get Serious: Use a Carpet Cleaning Machine: If you look under your rubber mats and the carpet is in rough shape, you might want to consider renting a carpet cleaning machine for both the carpets and cloth seats, if applicable.
4. Use a Microfibre Cloth for Surfaces: Wipe down the dashboard and in and around the doors, plastic armrests, etc—anywhere it is dusty.
5. Clean Inside of Windows: Use either a window-cleaner, a natural, non-chemical product is recommended, or make your own with one-part vinegar and three-parts water in a spray bottle. Use a rag or paper towel to remove streaks. And remember: open the window to reveal the top edge and get that whole area clean—it’s one of those things you just can’t hide when you’ve drawn down the window on that commute home.
6. Brush Out Air Vents: These louvers are a real magnet for dust, and a vacuum with brush attachment won’t get at it all. Take an inexpensive paintbrush and a light shot of Pledge furniture polish. Work the brush in and through the crevices to collect the dust. Wipe the brush off with a rag and move on to the next one.
7. Scrape Off Annoying Stickers: Have your or someone else’s kids gone sticker crazy in the back windows of your car? High-quality stickers will pull off if you can get under a corner and work it carefully through at a 90-degree angle. Others will leave grimy residue and demand more attention. Use a plastic putty knife and some Goo Gone to get rid of it.
8. Remove Odor: There are countless products on the market to get rid of those nasty odors in your vehicle. Choose one you like, and put it to use. Just because you have a dog or a child, doesn’t mean your car should smell like it.
9. Take it Out for a Spin: Enjoy your clean car. Get it out for a spin—it’ll feel great. Just remember to lay some newsprint down on the floor to keep it spotless—at least for one day…
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