So how to do complete interior detail? When I say interior detail, I don’t mean a simple vacuum job in your car’s interior, but a total deep clean task.
If you love your car, you must know how to properly maintain your car especially with regards to cleaning. And if you are not yet aware of the various areas that requires cleaning attention in your car, then you can read this blog post first.
So driving isn’t the only concern if you want to own a vehicle, you also need to know basic car maintenance. And in this blog, I’ll show you how you can do easy interior detail for your car. Here’s how!
Interior Detail – Tools You Need
A simple car interior cleaning only requires some rags and vacuum. While light cleaning can make a difference, it will not going to provide a “deep” clean result.
So you’ll need more tools to get the job done. And like the picture above suggests, you will need the following tools.
- Car vacuum
- Car steamer
- Bissel carpet vacuum
- Microfibre cloths
- Pressure washer
- Cordless drill
- Drill brush scrub pads
- Wrench (optional)
- Detail brush
- Cleaning products
- Carpet cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Interior protectant
- Car freshener
- Multi-purpose cleaner
Interior Detail – Step-by-Step Guide
Okay, first thing to do is to remove all your stuff inside your car – bottle, coins, shoes, papers, rags, matting, food leftovers, anything that you can remove by hand.
This way, you can start cleaning the interior without any objects that may hinder your job.
Ceiling Carpet Cleaning
After that, the most logical area to start is on top of your car, the ceiling. You can clean the ceiling in two ways – remove the entire ceiling carpet which can be very difficult and challenging, or simply clean the carpet as is without removing it.
I suggest you don’t remove the ceiling to fasten your cleaning time!
Now use your multi-purpose cleaner soap (in a spray bottle), your cordless drill and scrub pads. Spray some carpet cleaner in one area of your ceiling at a time, then use your cordless drill to deep clean the carpet.
Then use your carpet vacuum to suck all the water in the ceiling. Take your time until you’re done cleaning the entire ceiling.
For hard plastics on the ceiling like sun visor at the front, grab handles and AC vents, use your car steamer to soften those hard to remove stains and dirt. Then spray some multi-purpose cleaner and brush them with detail brush for complete, deep clean!
On the Door, Dashboard and Body Plastic Panels
Once you’re done cleaning the top ceiling part, then the next area is the middle part which are the door, dash and body plastic panels.
For these parts, start with body plastic panels, then door trims, then clean the dashboard last.
You’ll need multi-purpose cleaner, steamer, detail brush and microfibre cloth to clean all the plastic body panels of your car. If you have an SUV, then you have a big area to clean for sure.
Spray some multi-purpose cleaner on your body panels and use the detail brush to remove stains and dirt. Wipe off the excess soap with microfibre cloth. Then use your steamer to deep clean the surface.
For your door panels, first use your vacuum to suck all debris to those hard to reach areas and use your detail brush to fasten up the job.
Then use your multi-purpose cleaner and spray some on your door trim, then use a separate detail brush to clean the leathers and plastic parts. Wipe off the excess soap with a microfibre cloth.
Again, use your steamer to clean the door panels thoroughly. Then wipe off the excess water with microfibre cloth.
Be careful on the electrical parts of your door panels such as the window and lock buttons. They might get wet if you are not careful enough.
Same goes with your dashboard areas. Vacuum first the AC vents, wipe off excess dusts and dirt by spraying some multi-purpose cleaner and microfibre cloth. Then use the steamer for deep clean action.
Car Seats Deep Cleaning
If you have a leather wrapped car seats, then you have an easy cleaning route compared to those who have fabric seats.
For leather seat cleaning, use your microfibre cloth and spray some multi-purpose cleaner. Evenly clean the seats with your microfibre cloth until all the dusts and dirt are gone.
Then use your car steamer and a special soft fabric scrubber to prevent scratching your leather seats. Wipe off excess hot water with your microfibre cloth. Repeat this process on all car seats.
If you have fabric seats, then it will require you more time to finish deep cleaning your seats.
First, use your multi-purpose cleaner and spray large amounts on every parts of your car seats. Then use your cordless drill with brush pads to thoroughly clean the exterior area of your fabric seats.
After that, use your carpet vacuum to suck excess water and soap that is trapped inside the fabric. You’ll be surprise how clean your seat will be after this treatment. Repeat these steps to all your car seats.
It will require you an extra hour or two before they will be completely dry.
Floor Carpet Cleaning
To deep clean your floor carpet which I believe is the dirtiest part of your interior, you’ll need to remove your car seats first. So cleaning the carpets depends on your own strategy. But the best way as I’ve said is to remove the seats so you’ll have more room to work on.
You’ll need to remove the bolts that holds each car seats in your car. They are only screwed down to your flooring so now worries on this part. But if yours have motors in them, just unplug the connector to remove the seats.
Again, you have two ways to clean the floor carpet. You can either remove the entire carpet or clean them as is. I suggest you go the easy route by not removing them because you already have the tools to deep clean the carpet.
First is to vacuum the carpet thoroughly. You need to clean the carpet up to the last debris that you can see.
After that, spray a lot of carpet cleaner on the carpet and clean them with your cordless drill with brush pads. Use the carpet vacuum to suck excess soap and water that are trapped in the carpet. Do these steps to your entire flooring.
Floor Matt Cleaning
To deep clean your car floor matts, you’ll need pressure washer, carpet cleaner, cordless drill with brush pads, and carpet vacuum. This method cleaning method is very effective especially if your matts are very dirty.
First off, place your matts in an even surface near a water drain. Use your pressure washer to push the dirt, mud and other debris out of your matts. Then spray some carpet cleaner and brush using your cordless drill with pads.
Remove the soap with your pressure washer and dry using your vacuum carpet. Repeat these steps on all your floor matts.
Rubber, Leather and Plastic Restoration
To help restore plastic parts, rubber and leather areas in your interior, you’ll need interior cleaner or protectant (depend on what different brand calls it) which will help restore them back to their original state.
Make sure to only use cleaners or protectants that are not too slippery as it can affect your handling of the steering wheel.
Just spray little amount to your microfibre cloth and wipe your entire interior that are rubber, leather and plastic.
Glass Interior Cleaning
For the interior of your glass, simply use an auto glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth to clean the entire glass areas of your car interior.
Make sure that you dry them using a separate microfibre cloth to get a smooth, fine finish.
Lastly, spray some interior freshener to make your car smell fresh all the time!
Summary
There you have it! Sure this method looks easy, but don’t fool yourself as interior detail requires a lot of patience and also poses some challenges.
Of course, the end results is amazing and you’ll love your car more once you do a deep clean of your car interior.
Here is the video where I did an interior detail of my SUV. The video is in Tagalog but has English subtitle. Enjoy!
