How to Clean the Interior of Your Car

Taking your car to a place where they will vacuum the interior for you costs money so why not just grab some paper towels and your vacuum cleaner, set aside a little time, and do it yourself? It is an easy chore and surprisingly rewarding.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Gather all the necessary supplies and equipment. You will need a vacuum cleaner with hose and attachments, an electrical extension cord (for vacuum if needed), a garden hose (if plastic floor mats), paper towels or lint-free rags, window cleaner, and vinyl cleaner/protector.
2. 
   2
   Empty your vehicle of all your belongings, trash, and recyclables.
3. 
   3
   Take out any floor mats and lay them aside.
4. 
   4
   Vacuum the floorboards, under the seats, around the pedals, the upholstery, rear deck, and top of the dashboard. Use the brush attachment on the seats, rear deck, and dash and a crevice tool to get between and beside seats and around the trim. Make sure to get in any cracks or crevices.
5. 
   5
   Shake, beat, and/or vacuum the floor mats if they are carpet. If your vehicle has plastic floor mats, vacuum them and, if they are really mucky, hose them down with a garden hose, then let them let dry. Return the mats to the car.
6. 
   6
   Spray some vinyl cleaner/protector onto a cloth and wipe methodically over the vinyl surfaces in the car. Start at the top front and work down, then back. When one part of the rag gets dirty, switch to a different part of the rag and when the entire rag gets dirty, switch to a clean cloth.
7. 
   7
   Buff the surfaces. With a clean, soft cloth, buff the vinyl you have just treated.
8. 
   8
   Spray a little window cleaner on a cloth and methodically clean the dashboard and all plastic parts and surfaces. Again, make sure to keep a clean cloth on the surfaces or you will just be redistributing the dirt and grime. Work from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest, leaving the grunge for last. Only use this product on plastic, metal, glass, and other relatively non-porous surfaces, not on cloth seats!
9. 
   9
   Wipe away dust, gunk, and excess cleaner with a rag or paper towel.
10. 
    10
    Clean the windows. Wet a cloth with the cleaner of your choice — commercial window cleaner or warm ammonia water.

    • Make sure the cleaner meets the recommendations for your tinted windows before starting.
    • Go over the inside of one window at a time with the cleaner, using a circular pattern. Once the entire window is wet and the dirt and oils lifted, polish with a firm circular motion.
    • Buff with crumpled newspapers (or paper towels) until all streaks are gone, being particularly careful to get in the corners and around the edges. If you cannot eliminate all streaks, there is still oil, grease, or smoke residue on the window. Apply the cleaner and buff a second time.
    • Proceed to the next window or mirror.
11. 
    11
    Clean the seats of your car. Your car interior may be leather, fabric, or plastic. Leather seats must be conditioned as well as cleaned or they will crack and dry out. Check your car's manual to check for approved cleaners to use on your upholstery.

    • If you have fabric upholstery, try using carpet cleaner on the seats.
    • To clean leather seats, use a soft brush and an appropriate cleaner. Once dry, condition with a water-based, pH neutral conditioner.
12. 
    12
    Replace any items you wish to keep in the car.
13. 
    13
    Detail the car using an old toothbrush for that extra touch.
     
     
     

    Tips

    • The more often you do a quick clean, the easier it will be and the less time it will take.
    • Plastic floor mats are great if you tend to have a lot of mud/water/snow around that you'll track into your car. Just remove them every now and then and shake or hose them clean.
    • When finished, spray the interior of the car with some air freshener for a clean scent.
    • If you have a vacuum that is powered, it's as easy as just plugging in an electrical extension cord. Use some caution as with anything electrical.
    • If you live in a climate where there are snowy winters and don't have a garage, you'll probably want to do thorough cleanings in late Fall and in Spring.

    
    

    Things You'll Need

    • Vacuum cleaner with hose and attachments
    • Extension cord (if needed)
    • Garden hose (if plastic floor mats)
    • Rags
    • Paper towels or newspapers
    • Window cleaner that is compatible with your tinted windows
    • Vinyl cleaner/protector
    • Leather conditioner (optional)
    • Carpet cleaner (optional)