Deep cleaning of the car interior: fresh interior - driving pleasure!
No matter how shiny your newly polished car is - with a dirty, sticky and smelly interior, driving is no picnic. Making a real effort to upgrade the interior of a car can be a lot of fun. Read in this short manual about car interior detailing!
Far from ideal workspace
The reason for the endless delay in detailing the interior of the car lies in uncomfortable spatial conditions. The interior of the car is narrow, with uncomfortable partitions, made of different materials and with many corners in which dirt can accumulate . It all seems so useless - sooner or later, even the coolest car will definitely turn into a waste barge, which is better not to get into. The right thing to do is to act in a structured and systematic way in the fight against dirt.
Do not forget: many roads lead to Rome
The steps below serve as an example for you to vary and modify to your liking.
Vehicle interior detailing - Get ready
For a deep study of the interior of the car, you will need:
| – bright, dry and clean room - some tools - a vacuum cleaner with a power of at least 1500, and preferably 2000 W – Vacuum cleaner attachments, crevice nozzle, upholstery nozzle and horsehair bristle nozzle. - wipes, ideally microfiber wipes - cleaner plastic - sealant for plastic - glass cleaner - optional skin cleaner - soft hand brush - optional tornador with compressor - table |
For optimal coarse cleaning: clean and disassemble
The first step is a complete cleaning of the car: the glove compartment and side pockets are emptied, all loose items are removed from the dashboard shelf . After getting rid of all the trash, proceed to disassembly.
This may seem like a drastic step; yet removing seats for rough cleaning has the meaning. When the seats are stowed, extra space is created to access small corners normally hidden by the driver's and passenger's seats. Place the seats on a table so that they are at a comfortable height for a thorough separate cleaning later.
Car interior detail: Rough vacuuming
With the seats removed and placed on the table, start vacuuming with the standard attachment. Then use a crevice cleaner to thoroughly clean all corners.
Initially, footwell floor mats are left in place for a first vacuum inspection. . Until the most terrible dirt is removed, the carpets are removed.
Now vacuum the area under the rugs. All door pockets and storage compartments are thoroughly cleaned with a crevice tool.
After crevice tool, apply horsehair bristle tool . This accessory is ideal for cleaning all switches and handles on doors and dashboard. Horse hair prevents scratches on thin plastic.
Ultimately, all floor mats and floor mats are deep cleaned: The pet hair remover removes even the most stubborn felts from carpets.
When the interior is ready, it's time for the seats . Removing them allows for easy cleaning. Stretch the pleats to remove hidden dust traps.
Tip: if the foot mat is beyond repair, making a new one is very easy. Remove the old rug and use it as a template for the new piece. Cheap but adequate leftover carpets can be purchased for a few shillings at every home improvement store. Simply cut out a new piece of carpet with a Stanley knife and it will fit perfectly.
Systematic plastic care
The plastic of the car interior is subject to high temperature differences. . In particular, the dashboard shelf catches lots of UV radiation from sunlight .
In addition, a lot of dust is generated during daily use, from Why does the plastic surface become duller and dimmer? . This is where a plastic cleaner comes in handy. . Apply a few drops to a fiber cloth, apply the cleaner to the plastic surface and let it soak in for a few seconds.
After this cleaning agent is wiped off. After cleaning, a vinyl care product is applied . Dull gray, turning into rich black, is sure to infect everyone with the interior cleaning virus.
The results are phenomenal: with a few flicks of the wrist, what looked like an unloved used car turns into a real eye-catcher that you love to drive for hours .
Tip: Plastic parts include all rubber gaskets on doors and windows!
Car interior detailing: Glass washing inside
As a result, the windows are washed . Be careful not to stain freshly cleaned panels. Ideally, all plastic panels are closed. In most cases, it is sufficient to place a piece of cloth under the spray nozzle .
In newer vehicles, getting to all the little corners of the inner windshield can be a challenge. Accessory trade offers retractable window cleaner . Be sure to use it if you really want to clean your entire windshield.
Soon Forgotten: Columns and Headliners
Headlining and pillar covers often get dirty when loading and unloading the vehicle . The way these elements are attached sometimes makes cleaning difficult. Sonax offers several interior care solutions . An even wider selection can be found in the accessories trade.
Spray the stains and let the detergent soak in . The stain can now be removed with a hand brush.
Now comes the important part: by treating only dirty spots on the lining or rack cover, you will get a brighter spot . Therefore, it is important to spray the detergent on the entire surface and thoroughly clean it with a brush. This will result in an even and clean result.
Professional devices: tornador and steam cleaner for car interior detailing
Primarily: a steam cleaner is not optimal for cleaning the interior of your car. It can be used for windows, ceiling and carpet. Under no circumstances should it be used on the dashboard. Jets of steam penetrating the switches are sure to cause malfunctions in the circuit.
The tornador is standard equipment for professional car washers. . This special tool works with a compressed air compressor, which must be purchased or rented separately.
However, the tornador attachment can give impressive results. removing dirt from all surfaces. Tornador, used in combination with a detergent, guarantees the most satisfactory and fastest results. Is it worth the investment, you need to think.
Combating odors
What is the use of a beautiful car if it stinks unbearably? In the case of persistent odors, finding the cause is the only option.
The most common causes of bad breath in the cabin are:
| – penetrating moisture causing the process of decay – decay animals or food debris in the ventilation duct - Poor air conditioning. |
The reasons for moisture penetration are:
| - drain hole in the bottom of the body - clogged drain hatch - window and door rubber bands flow. |
The only option is to search until you find the source. In the case of a drain hole in the bottom of the car, the unpleasant odor is often eliminated by replacing the carpeting.
Air conditioning maintenance should be left in the garage where the fluid level in the system can be adjusted.
If the salon continues to smell unpleasant, despite the elimination of all possible causes, there is the last weapon: ozone treatment . Ozone is a trivalent oxygen that radically affects organic matter, dissolving them.
In the garage, ozone treatment costs 30-50 euros . The result is a fresh, pleasant-smelling car that you love to drive.
