Owning a car is like owning a pet. There are many responsibilities associated with it. After all, whether it’s new or used, classic or modern, it’s critical to keep your vehicle in prime condition. This is true for personal sedans, family SUVs, and work pickup trucks. Of course, you should regularly maintain your vehicle to keep it ready for on-road travel. Doing this involves cleaning it, too. It’s easy to clean the exterior, but many owners neglect their vehicles’ interiors. Fortunately, we share some of the most important tips to keep a clean car interior here. These tips are cost-efficient, easy to do, and take little time. Use this guide as a refresher to ensure your interior remains spotless and tidy before your next drive.
Take Out the Trash
First, take out the trash. No one wants a cluttered interior filled with empty cans, bottles, pizza boxes, fast-food wrappers, and other junk. Not only does trash look ugly, but it’s also gross. Bugs and other pests feed off leftover food scraps, which is the last thing you want in your vehicle. Additionally, it also makes driving dangerous. Too much clutter impairs visibility, and a random bottle or box may limit your foot mobility making it harder to hit the brake, decelerate, or accelerate. Throw away and recycle any items you don’t need in the car to make more room around its floor.
Buy Cleaning Supplies
Next, buy some vehicle interior cleaning supplies. You don’t always need a professional car detail. Basic supplies can go a long way in making your car clean and free of germs. Some essential items to consider are all-surface wipes, upholstery shampoos, upholstery brushes, and air fresheners. Follow the directions for the upholstery shampoo, and using the upholstery brush, scrub thoroughly. Then, wipe down the dash, transmission stick, and other surfaces with the all-surface wipes. After all this, dry everything with a microfiber cloth. You’ll see that even simple maintenance tasks like this go a long way in improving your car’s interior.
Install Floor Mats
Another important tip is to install floor mats. There are two different types of floor mats to consider: carpet and rubber. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Carpet floor mats are cheaper and fit almost any vehicle with ease. They come in multitudes of colors and textures to match your OEM floor. Rubber floor mats withstand harsher conditions better. They come in handy when there’s snow, mud, or slush outside; they’re perfect for inclement weather conditions, given their durability. Whichever you choose, you’ll notice a big difference in cleanliness. Just remember to remove and clean out your floor mats periodically.
Vacuum
Most gas stations have some form of self-service vacuuming station. Vacuuming your interior is one of the most important tips to keep a car interior clean. The high-powered suction removes any hard-to-reach crevices where crumbs, dirt, and other debris accumulate. Vacuum every part of the interior, including the trunk. Check every vent and crack to ensure a thorough cleaning. If you find any stains or tough spots, use a carpet cleaner to remove them. Follow the instructions listed on the bottle to do so.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
