A car’s interior surfaces can suffer from excess wear and tear without proper care. It also impacts the resale value of your vehicle.
Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces in the car, such as the steering wheel, door panels, and cupholders, is a crucial aspect of detailing. For more information visit Perth Car Detailing.
Detailers use odor-elimination chemicals to leave the interior of your car fresh and clean. Other procedures include headlight restoration, which helps improve visibility and safety.
- Vacuum
If you want to get serious about detailing your car, consider investing in a high-end vacuum cleaner with various attachments for tight spaces and hard-to-reach areas. These special attachments typically feature soft bristles that are safe for delicate surfaces, such as the dashboard and air vents.
Start by vacuuming the seats, carpets, and floor mats. Make sure you remove the seat covers first, then use the crevice tool to clean the edges of the seats, including the seams. You can also use the crevice tool to vacuum hidden corners and difficult-to-reach spots, such as between the back seats.
Vacuuming removes loose dirt and debris, making the next steps much easier. It’s also a great way to eliminate odors and make your car feel fresh and clean again.
After vacuuming, use a dusting brush to loosen dirt and other debris from the dashboard, center console, door panels, cupholders, and other hard-to-reach areas. You can then vacuum the area again to remove any loose debris. This step is essential to prevent greasy buildup and stains on these surfaces, as well as to keep the air in your vehicle clean.
- Clean Upholstery
Whether you have cloth or leather seats, regular cleaning is essential to keep your car looking and smelling fresh. It can remove stains, prevent future stains, and help extend the life of your upholstery. Vacuuming and shampooing are standard, and the use of spray-on and foam-cleaning chemicals is also common.
If you have a grease stain from the drive-thru coffee shop, table salt will be a mild abrasive on cloth seats. Sprinkle it over the seat and let it sit for a few minutes before rubbing it with a clean towel. It will dissolve the grease and leave a light powder behind, which can be vacuumed away.
Some cleaning products leave behind residue that can attract future soils and re-stain your seat. Instead, use a cleaning product like Power Out Upholstery Cleaner. It dries to a powder, absorbing the soil rather than leaving it behind and making it easier to remove the dirt next time you need to wash your seats. It also eliminates odors and leaves your vehicle with a fresh scent.
- Clean Seatbelts
As you know, seat belts can get dirty over time. They often have food or drink spills, dirt, and other grime from passengers riding in the back, and even the occasional accident.
Cleaning seat belts is more involved than just using a vacuum, but it can still be done relatively quickly and easily with the right tools. First, unbuckle the belt and pull it out of its holder. You’ll want to take special care not to yank it hard, as this could damage the more delicate system that holds the belt in place.
Next, you’ll need to grab a clamp and some cleaner to keep the belt from retracting while you clean it. It’s best to use something stronger than a paperclip, so the kind of clip used for stacks of paper or the ChicClip that people often use to hold bags of potato chips works well. Once the belt has been cleaned, it should dry completely before reinstalling and rewinding it into the system.
- Clean Leather
A professional detailing service will have premium tools and supplies that make it easier to clean the seats and other leather areas of the vehicle. These products may include a special cleaner that is compatible with different leather colors and textures, as well as a soft-bristled brush to help remove tough stains.
It’s important to follow the instructions on the product before using it. Some products require that you apply them with a microfiber towel or applicator pad rather than directly to the seat material, which helps avoid overspray and protects the fabric. It’s also recommended to test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous seat area before applying it to a whole surface.
In addition to the interior, a thorough car detailing process includes headlight restoration, which makes your headlights brighter and clearer for improved visibility. It also has chrome polishing and door jamb cleaning, which can help your vehicle look brand new. These finishing touches make a big difference in how your vehicle looks and feels, which is why they’re often included in the price of a full detail.
- Clean Dashboard
The dashboard can be one of the dirtiest parts of your car. First, vacuum it to get rid of any loose debris. Then, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth or rag soaked in a cleaner for your vehicle’s interior surfaces. Different surfaces require different cleaning solutions, so do a spot test before using any product on your dash.
Besides cleaning the dashboard, you should also clean any other plastic interior parts and screens like the radio, outfit shift, steering wheel, and vents. If you have difficulty cleaning these areas, use a soft-bristled brush and a vacuum cleaner with a long hose attachment to reach tight crevices and corners.
Lastly, wipe down the steering wheel and gear shift knobs with disinfecting wipes to kill germs and bacteria. Do this daily to keep these high-touch surfaces in good condition. You can also apply a protective coating to your dash to help it resist water, sun damage, and fading. A few coats of wax every so often can go a long way in keeping your dash looking new.
- Clean Door Panels
Door panels can get dirty quickly, so it’s important to keep them clean. Use a cleaner formulated for plastic, vinyl, or leather surfaces to wipe them down, and clean hard-to-reach areas like storage pockets and armrests. Before using a cleaning solution, spot-test it on an inconspicuous panel area to ensure it won’t discolor the material. After you’ve cleaned the panel, dry it with a microfiber cloth or leave it open to air-dry any lingering moisture.
Remember to check the door drains and wipe down the rubber doorjambs, too. These are some of the first things that people see when they enter your car, so they need to be clean and free of debris.
- Clean Steering Wheel
Your steering wheel is one of the most commonly touched parts of your car. As a result, it can quickly accumulate dirt and grime that makes it sticky to the touch or look dirty and discolored. It can also become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.
Thankfully, the steering wheel can be cleaned using cleaning solutions that are easy on leather and tough on germs. It’s important to follow the recommended application methods and drying techniques to avoid damage or streaking.
To clean a leather steering wheel, first, use a leather cleaner to loosen the stuck-on dirt. Then, use a clean cloth to wipe away the dirt and residue. After you’re done, use a non-sticky leather protectant to prevent the dirt and grime from coming back.
If your steering wheel is made of perforated leather, you can apply a protective layer of oil to keep it soft and flexible. Dab a little protectant or oil onto a clean cloth and gently rub the surface of the steering wheel, using a circular motion to bluff out slight scratches.
- Clean Cupholders
A regular vacuum cleaner isn’t strong enough to get into nooks and crannies, but detailers have access to powerful equipment that can. For instance, a steam cleaner breaks down oil and dried spills quickly and easily. In addition, it disinfects surfaces frequently touched by passengers, including the steering wheel and door panels.
Stubborn stains can be removed through detailed cleaning procedures, such as shampooing and conditioning the upholstery and leather seats. These services eliminate foul odors, improving the overall air quality of the vehicle. Finally, detailers clean the windows and mirrors to remove any smudges or streaks that may reduce visibility while driving.
In addition to improving the appearance and comfort of the vehicle, car interior detailing can also help preserve the resale value. Regular maintenance by a professional car detailer will ensure your vehicle’s interior looks new and attracts buyers when it is time to sell. Contact a local auto detailing service for more information about their rates and services. Then, you can choose the package that best meets your needs and budget.