Do you also suffer from crumbs between your car seats, a dusty dashboard or mysterious stains on your upholstery? You are not the only one. Many car owners pay a lot of attention to the outside of their car, but forget about the interior. While that is exactly where you spend every drive! A clean and fresh interior not only enhances your driving pleasure, but also keeps the value of your car at the same level. In this blog, I will give you practical tips on how to properly maintain the interior of your car.
Why regular interior maintenance is important
The interior of your car is exposed to dust, dirt and all kinds of liquids on a daily basis. Think mud under your shoes, coffee stains and greasy fingerprints on the dashboard. To clean different surfaces, you can a special interior cleaner use, which is suitable for multiple materials. Dirt and bacteria accumulate, which is not only annoying for your nasal membranes, but also for your airways. Dust and allergens can cause breathing problems, especially in people who are sensitive. Moreover, dirt eventually corrodes materials. Leather chairs can discolour and plastic parts can become dull. Regular maintenance prevents this and keeps your car looking good for longer. A clean interior also helps maintain the value of your car. If you ever want to sell your car, a fresh interior makes a good impression on potential buyers.
Vacuuming: the basis of interior cleaning
Vacuuming is the first step towards a clean car interior. Ideally, do this weekly, or at least every fortnight. Dust and crumbs mainly collect between the seats, under the floor mats and in the cracks of the back seat. First take out the floor mats and pat them out well. Then thoroughly vacuum every nook and cranny of your car. Use different attachments for your hoover. A narrow brush is useful for air vents and small cracks, while a wider brush is suitable for the seats and floor. Don't forget the boot, where dirt also accumulates. Regular vacuuming will already keep most of the dirt out. It is a simple job that makes a lot of difference.
Keeping upholstery clean
Your car's upholstery requires special attention. Whether you have fabric or leather seats, both need their own approach. With fabric upholstery, it is important to tackle stains immediately. The longer a stain stays in, the harder it will be to get it out. Dab the stain gently with a damp cloth and use a car upholstery cleaner for stubborn stains. Do not rub too hard as you will only push the dirt deeper into the fabric. Leather upholstery requires a different approach. Leather is more sensitive to water and should be cleaned with gentle, appropriate products. Use a microfibre cloth and always work carefully. After cleaning, you can treat leather with a conditioner to keep it supple. Want to prevent stains? Then you can work preventively with a protective spray that repels liquids.
Dashboard and plastic parts care
The dashboard and other plastic parts attract a lot of dust. Wipe them regularly with a dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents, as they can damage or dull the plastic. Be especially careful with displays and buttons. These are sensitive and can be damaged by too much moisture or rubbing too hard. Therefore, always work carefully and use a soft cloth. Plastic in the car can be discoloured by sunlight. A product with UV protection helps to counteract this and keeps your dashboard looking nice for longer. Spray it on a cloth and spread it evenly over the surface. This will keep your dashboard looking neat and prevent it from cracking due to drying out.
Cleaning windows inside
The inside of your car windows is often forgotten, but deserves as much attention as the outside. Deposits and haze collect on the inside due to wash-outs from the dashboard and other plastic parts. This can impair your visibility, especially when the sun is low or oncoming traffic with bright headlights. Clean the windows with a suitable glass cleaner and a clean microfibre cloth. Spray the cleaner on the cloth and not directly on the window, this way you avoid staining the dashboard. Polish in circular motions and work from top to bottom. Clear windows are not only more pleasant, but also safer. You can better see where you are driving and run less risk of unexpected situations.
Care tips for a fresh interior
Besides regular cleaning, here are a few handy tips to keep your interior fresh. Ventilate your car regularly by opening the windows, especially after a trip where you have carried a lot. Try to be careful with food and drink in the car. Crumbs and spilt liquids are the biggest culprits. Clean your floor mats separately, outside the car. Pat them out, vacuum them and wash them with soap and water if necessary. Plan a thorough cleaning at least once a year in which you tackle every nook and cranny. Does your car not smell fresh? Then use an odour remover instead of an air freshener. That only masks odours, while an odour remover tackles the source. These tips will help you keep your car's interior in top condition. A clean interior makes every drive that little bit more enjoyable!
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