Nothing like a new, clean automobile that smells great. We all like gleaming clean glass and a gleaming dashboard. However, filth and dust cause surfaces to lose their luster and seem dull with time.
While some of us maintain our automobiles on a regular basis, we don’t always take the time to clean the inside. We’ve put up a few instructions for cleaning and protecting your car’s inside.
8 STEPS TO CLEAN AND SANITISE THE INTERIOR OF YOUR CAR
- Remove the garbage.
- Clean the ventilation system of your vehicle.
- Clear the windshield.
- High-quality touchpoints
- Window cleaning
- Wash the seats and doors.
- Carpets should be vacuumed and cleaned.
- Bacteria and viruses must be eliminated.
STEP 1: GET RID OF THE GARBAGE
Before you begin vacuuming the carpets or washing the dashboard, remove any trash or undesired things from your vehicle.
Pro tip: get a couple of separate bags for recyclables and miscellaneous trash so you don’t have to sort it afterwards.
STEP 2: CLEAN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IN YOUR CAR.
Blasting the dust out of your ventilation system is always a good idea. Especially if you haven’t driven your automobile in a long. To do so, shut all of the air vents and start the engine. Set your fan to maximum power and open each vent one at a time. This will remove any dirt or dust that has been lodged in the system.
To reach dust in air vents, use a flat screwdriver with a towel wrapped around the end.
CLEAN THE DASHBOARD IN STEP 3
Dashboards acquire dust and fingerprints, giving in a faded appearance. Although there are several dashboard cleaning solutions available, a soap and water solution and a rag will suffice. Other home cleaning chemicals and scrubbing sponges should be avoided since they might harm the surface.
If you want to safeguard your dashboard, use specialized cleaning solutions that include natural and chemical ingredients that form a protective layer and keep your dash appearing clean for longer.
Because it is often touched, the infotainment screen might be a little more sophisticated. To clean the screen, use screen wipes or a towel soaked in soap and water. Dry it with a clean towel. Harsh chemicals should not be used on the infotainment screen since they may harm the anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings. Using a microfiber cloth decreases the possibility of screen damage.
The switches on an automobile may include fragile electrical components, so keep moisture out of them. Also, the translucent plastic that covers the instrument dials is prone to scratches, so take care not to touch it.
Before vacuuming, always clean your dashboard since any dust and dirt you wipe off will fall on the floor. Working from top to bottom, much like cleaning the outside, ensures that the dirt you remove does not come into touch with clean surfaces.
Pro tip: To remove dust from difficult-to-reach spots such as vents, use a soft paintbrush or a fresh make-up brush.
CLEAN HIGH TOUCHPOINTS IN STEP 4
The surfaces that you contact the most are the ones that are most prone to infection. This includes the steering wheel, gearstick, dash buttons, center console touchscreen and buttons, sun visor, and cup holders.
Cleaning wipes or a soft cloth and your preferred cleaner are the best method to clean them. Microfiber should be used on all dashboard surfaces. Microfibre materials repel dirt and debris, unlike paper towels and napkins may retain small bits of dirt in their fibers, which may harm plastic and vinyl surfaces when wiped off. To prevent mistakenly spraying on the windshield, spray cleaning products onto a cloth rather than straight onto the dashboard.
Pro tip: Avoid using any products on the steering wheel or pedals since they might become slippery.
CLEAN THE WINDOWS IN STEP 5
Washing the interior of the car’s glass is nearly as vital as cleaning the exterior. When it’s sunny, marks like dust, stains, and fingerprints may limit sight and cause harmful glare. You may anticipate a clean finish with no streaks and good visibility if you use a quality cleaning product.
To clean the interior of the windows, spray some glass cleaner on a soft cloth and wipe it over the glass in a figure-eight motion.
Washing the windows after cleaning the dashboard is preferable since dirt and debris may rapidly migrate to glass surfaces while cleaning the center console.
CLEAN THE SEATS AND DOORS IN STEP 6
The seats and furnishings in the cabin are susceptible to a lot of wear and tear, as well as filth and stains. To remove dried-on filth, use home upholstery cleaning chemicals and a brush. Use an intense cleaning method to remove stains and odors from interior textiles to work through tougher stains.
Use specific cleansers to remove dirt and stains from leather surfaces before applying leather protection lotion. Using a leather cleaning will preserve the surface and aid in the prevention of wear.
To preserve the fiber of your upholstered seats, use a soft bristle vacuuming brush.
STEP 7: CLEAN AND VACUUM THE CARPETS
After you’ve worked your way down to the carpets, vacuum up all the dust and grime. A standard vacuum cleaner works great. You may, however, purchase a portable vacuum with specialized heads and attachments that can assist with dry and wet cleaning. To prevent the inconvenience of taking the home vacuum outdoors, it may be worth investing in a portable vacuum to use in the vehicle.
To remove tough ground-in debris, vacuum the carpet with a gentle brush head tool and a lifting motion. Scrubbing should be avoided since it might harm the carpet’s fibers.
After vacuuming and removing any dirt and debris from the carpets, apply carpet cleaning chemicals to refresh the fibers. Remove tough filth with a rubber brush to leave your carpets feeling and smelling clean.
Pro tip: Remove the vehicle mats and boot liner as well, since dirt and debris may accumulate underneath them.
STEP 8: ELIMINATE BACTERIA AND VIRUSES
No matter how clean and tidy your automobile is on a daily basis, it is always a good idea to give it a thorough cleaning to remove germs, bacteria, and viruses.
Soap is the most potent antiviral agent, and we are reminded of its potency every time we wash our hands. The same reason why soap is good against viruses is because it may wipe away oils. Soap may sever this outer lipid coating, deactivating viruses and killing bacteria. A soap and warm water mix produces suds and bubbles, preventing viruses from adhering to surfaces and enhancing soap’s sanitizing effectiveness. Soap has no negative effects on dashboards, windows, or fabric or leather vehicle seats. Just be careful not to clean your vehicle seats too vigorously or you risk harming them due to friction.
While most common home disinfectants are effective, some, such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, benzene, thinners, or other strong and abrasive cleansers, are not suitable for use on a car. These chemical products may harm the upholstery and interior surfaces of your car. Alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol are more effective against the coronavirus and may be used safely in your car.
Alcohol is a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent. A solution of 60 to 90 percent isopropyl alcohol can destroy the coronavirus in seconds by denaturing the proteins that make up the virus components.
Alcohol is often used to clean automotive interior parts, and it can be used to safely clean most surfaces without harming them. However, if you have leather vehicle seats, you should avoid using alcohol since it might damage the finish.
Disinfectant wipes or sprays are very efficient in removing viral contamination from almost any surface. They are safe to use on automobile interior surfaces, but be careful not to miss any spots! These disinfectants are only effective in the areas where they are used.
Disinfectant sprays are excellent for cleaning surfaces that cannot be wiped off, such as carpet or upholstery. A spray may be used to cover vast areas and can be utilized both indoors and outdoors. Normally, you should wait for the spray to dry before utilizing the cleaned area, but if you are using it on delicate surfaces, you may wipe it off with a paper towel.
If you like your vehicle, remember to maintain its inside as well. Getting this properly will allow you to recreate and retain the cabin’s original ambience.
