With spring just around the corner, this is the perfect time to thoroughly clean your car’s interior to refresh and revitalise it. Because there’s arguably no better feeling than climbing into a clean and tidy car.
But where does one start with detailing their vehicle? Don’t worry, we’ll provide you with essential tips and techniques to ensure your car is spring fresh.
Remove and Declutter
No car is entirely litter free – a takeaway coffee here, a garage pie there, and everything in between.
To start your spring cleaning journey, begin by removing all unnecessary items from your car’s interior, including trash, personal belongings, and any items that you no longer need in the car.
By decluttering your car, you’ll create a clean canvas for yourself and make it easier to access all areas.
Vacuum and Dust
The next part of your journey of creating a spring fresh car is to start by vacuuming the entire interior, paying special attention to the carpet, seats, and floor mats. Using the right attachments, you’ll want to be able to reach into crevices, under seats, and in between cushions.
If you’re still struggling to get the vacuum into difficult-to-reach areas, scrub with an old toothbrush while hovering the vacuum as close as possible.
After vacuuming, dust off the dashboard, console, vents, and other surfaces using a soft microfiber cloth or a brush.
Clean and Condition the Upholstery
Depending on the type of upholstery in your car, the method of cleaning and conditioning your upholstery will differ.
Fabric Upholstery:
Use a suitable fabric cleaner or upholstery shampoo and follow the instructions. Gently scrub any stains or spots and rinse thoroughly. And always allow the upholstery to dry completely.
Leather Upholstery:
Use a leather cleaner specifically designed for automotive use. Apply it to a soft cloth and gently clean the seats, steering wheel, and other leather surfaces. Follow up with a leather conditioner to keep the leather supple and prevent cracking.
In both cases, the products you use should have detailed instructions on how to use them. If they don’t, select another product.
Wipe Down Surfaces
Now that the upholstery is fresh, it’s time to clean all surfaces, including the dashboard, door panels, center console, and steering wheel, with a mild all-purpose cleaner or interior detailing spray.
Use a microfiber cloth or a soft sponge to clean your surfaces effectively. Be diligent in wiping away dirt and grime, and take special care when cleaning buttons, switches, and control panels, ensuring they receive a thorough cleaning, leaving them free of dust and fingerprints. Also, remove any excessive grime that can build up on the indicator and window wiper arms.
Clean the Windows and Mirrors
To achieve crystal-clear visibility, ensure to clean the interior side of the windows and mirrors, using a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth or newspaper to avoid streaking.
You need to do the corners and edges to ensure a thorough clean. And just a simple heads-up about not forgetting to clean the rearview mirror and side mirrors as well.
Freshen Up the Air
While using all these products in your car will leave it smelling super fresh, to eliminate those strong odours, you will want to consider the following:
- Vacuuming and shampooing your carpets and upholstery to remove trapped odours (which if you followed our instructions would have been done).
- If the smell is still lingering, use an odour-neutralising spray or a fabric freshener specifically designed for automotive use. Lightly mist the seats and carpets to eliminate any lingering odours.
- If this misting hasn’t helped, consider using car air fresheners or sachets designed to fit in your vehicle’s vents or hang from the rearview mirror. Choose a scent that you find pleasing but not overpowering.
Remember: Clean your vehicle regularly as this will help preserve the condition and value of your vehicle.
So, roll up your sleeves, gather your cleaning supplies, and give your car the attention it deserves for the best spring clean!
Once this has been done, your car will be super fresh for the season ahead. But what if your car’s battery isn’t, say, “Fresh”?
Spring Fresh Car But Not The Freshest Battery: What Should You Do?
If your vehicle is struggling to start due to its battery, you can visit any SABAT Battery Xpress or any of our battery stockists for the freshest batteries.
