Detail Your Car Interior

• Step 1 Vacuum the interior

  Remove the floor mats and shake them out. Wash rubber mats with soap and water, and vacuum carpet ones. Vacuum the floor and under the seats. Use a soft brush attachment to vacuum seats, the dash, the instrument panel, the vents and the rear-window shelf.

• Step 2 Clean the windows

  Use a window cleaner that doesn’t contain ammonia or vinegar, both of which can remove aftermarket window tints. Wipe dry and buff with newspapers.

• Step 3 Spot clean carpet and upholstery

  Spray upholstery cleaner onto stains on the carpet and seat upholstery, using a cleaner specifically designed for that type of upholstery. Let the cleaner work as long as recommended on the label and then brush with a carpet brush (available at auto supply stores). Blot dry with a clean rag or microfiber towel.

  Vacuum to remove the loosened dirt and to fluff the carpet. Repeat the process as needed.

• Step 4 Wipe the remaining surfaces

  Using a clean rag or microfiber towel dampened with water or a cleaner designed for car interiors, wipe the dash, rear-window shelf, door panels, steering column and any remaining surfaces.

• Step 5 Go for the little stuff

  Dust louvered vents and other hard-to-clean areas with cotton swabs, and with a paint brush, toothbrush, or a brush made specifically for car detailing. Remove the dust in the seams between surfaces with a blast from a can of compressed air similar to that used for cleaning computer keyboards.

• Step 6 Apply a protectant

  Protect vinyl with a water-based protectant. If you have leather seats, make sure the protectant is designed for leather, too. Spray the protectant onto a clean rag, and wipe the surfaces to protect them and give them a shine. If the floor mats are rubber, spray them, too. Use a protectant that isn’t slippery, especially on floor mats and seats. Don’t apply any protectant to the steering wheel.

• Step 7 Control odors

  If the car smells bad, use a fogger-type odor eliminator that fills the car with an odor-neutralizing mist, rather than an air freshener, which only masks the odor. Follow the directions on the label.

  If the car’s air conditioning smells musty, spray an air-conditioner treatment into the vents, following the directions on the label.

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