Cleaning the interior and upholstery is a simple task, but it needs to be done at certain intervals. And for certain types of stains or dirt, there are a few tricks that will help you refresh the interior without damaging the fabric of the seats. Below you can find out how to clean the interior of a car with your own hands.
Degrees of contamination of the car interior
If you do not maintain order in the interior on a regular basis, sooner or later various contaminants will appear. Over time, they eat into the carpeting. There are 3 degrees of car contamination:
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- Mild . No very noticeable stains in the interior. The ceiling is in normal condition, its color has not changed due to wear.
- Average . There are small stains on the upholstery, the interior is smoky, there is visible dirt on the carpet.
- Strong . There are a lot of stains inside, an unpleasant smell, carpets cannot be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.
Based on the degree of contamination, you need to know how to clean the car interior with improvised means.
How to choose a cleaning product and equipment?
What is the best way to clean a car interior? If you already have a decent vacuum cleaner and cleaning products, then all that remains is to add various towels, brushes, rags and sponges. What you need for cleaning:
- A vacuum cleaner with an extension hose will get to the most inaccessible corners . A steam cleaner may also come in handy.
- Chemical cleaners . You will need products for cleaning vinyl, plastic surfaces, as well as upholstery and carpeting.
- Wiping and polishing materials . For serious detail work, you will need a wide range of towels and rags – from terry cloth to lint-free thin polishing rags. You will also need a microfiber cloth.
- Brushes and applicators . Brushes of various sizes are indispensable for cleaning dust from vents and other hard-to-reach places. Depending on the cleaning product, you may need a brush, sponge, or cloth with stiff bristles.
How to clean a leather car interior:
- microfiber towel;
- suede;
- with a soft bristle brush;
- water;
- leather cleaner;
- leather conditioner.
How to clean car upholstery with your own hands:
- Duct tape : A trick for removing dust and dirt. The tape does not stick, crumble or leave a sticky residue.
- Brushes : You can brush the fabric from the top to the bottom and in the same direction. You can use different sized brushes and even old toothbrushes for hard to reach parts.
When cleaning car upholstery, it is important to consider the type of material it is made of. The greatest care should be taken when interacting with leather and Alcantara upholstery. They require special care when cleaning and applying certain products.
How to clean the car interior yourself?
How to clean a car interior at home – step-by-step instructions:
- Remove any large, solid debris that may be found in the upholstery, such as crumbs, paper. It is important to pay attention to seams and folds, as this is where the greatest amount of dirt accumulates.
- Wipe off dust with a soft brush, gently running it over the upholstery so as not to damage the fabric. If the upholstery is leather, you can also wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap to remove stains. After this, it is enough to dry off excess water or soap with a dry cloth.
- Then apply a special upholstery product with a brush. After application, remove the residue with a damp microfiber cloth and dry with another dry cloth of the same material.
Useful tips
How to wash the interior of your car with your own hands using simple recommendations:
- The first step is to remove dirt from the surface. To do this, use a powerful vacuum cleaner to vacuum the upholstery.
- It is best to remove stains on hot days because the upholstery will dry quickly after cleaning.
- When using stain removers, it is important to read the instructions on the packaging carefully to ensure that they will not discolor or damage the upholstery material.
- If you are unlucky enough to have chewing gum on your car upholstery, you can use ice and a scraper. It is also recommended to spray the gum with an aerosol or go over it with an ice cube to cool it down and then scrape it off.
- What is the best way to clean milk stains from a car interior? It is enough to use boiling water, a disinfectant, and a universal cleaner. The first thing to do is to treat the stain with a cleaner, then wet the cloth with the mixture and lather it generously. Finally, treat the affected area with a disinfectant.
- Chocolate stains on upholstery are among the most difficult to remove. How to clean chocolate stains from a car interior at home? To remove it, you can use hot water, glass cleaner or stain remover, a vacuum cleaner and a brush. The first step is to clean the stain. You need to add a little hot water, without rubbing, to soften the stain. You will also need to use a little glass cleaner or stain remover.
- How to clean a fabric car interior if you need to remove a blood stain from the upholstery? For this, you can use dry foam mixed with salt water or a mild detergent. If the stain has dried, you can add a little glycerin to the mixture.
- How to clean the ceiling of a car? You will need cold water, ice cubes and a cleaning agent. You need to cool the stain, try to absorb it little by little with a damp cloth. Then apply the cleaning agent.
