How to Clean a Car Interior in 10 Steps

The first step in cleaning your car is to bring out all removable items from the car so they don’t become a hindrance when working later. Inspect the glove box, seat pockets, center storage, beneath the seats, floor carpets, and basically every inch of your car for dirt, food crumbs, pillows, misplaced accessories, and other stuff that should not be there.

Segregate the rubbish from useful stuff like pillows, chargers, cords, etc. After cleaning, you’ll need to put those valuable components back into your car. Once you’re done, pull out the mats with care, ensuring smaller dirt particles like sand and food grain don’t fall on the carpet below.

If you have fabric mats, vacuum and scrub them properly with a mild solution of your auto cleaner or car wash soap. For rubber mats, rinse them with running water and apply the auto cleaner. Then, scrub the mat with a brush and re-rinse it with water. A car wash soap will also do the trick.

Whatever mat you have, wipe them with a microfiber cloth after the scrubbing or hang them to run out and dry. Just be careful not to expose them to direct sunlight for extended periods, as they may fade.

Slowly and meticulously vacuum every bit of the floor while moving your seats as far back and forth as possible to reach those areas that are usually out of sight. Do the same with the chairs, making sure to get the folds between the seats and backrests to remove as much dirt as possible.

Aside from the floor and car seats, you will likely find dust particles on your dashboard, steering wheel, side pockets, door handles, air vents, radio, cup holders, and center storage. A damp microfiber towel is sufficient to clean places like the dashboard and door handles. But for storage locations and cup holders, get ahold of a brush and sweep them while vacuuming. This will help to loosen the dirt so the vacuum can suck them in easily.

Your next step is to wash the door sills and trunk. Most detailers use steam cleaners to clean door frames and thresholds before wiping them with a dry microfiber cloth. Your all-purpose auto cleaner or car wash soap are good alternatives. Simply spray it and wipe the area you sprayed with a microfiber towel.

After cleaning the bottom, move to the top. Spray your auto cleaner on a soft-bristled brush, spread it gently over an area of the roof lining of your car, and wipe with a dry microfiber cloth. Repeat this process till you cover the whole area.

Neither spray chemicals directly onto the headlining nor wipe it with a heavily soaked microfiber cloth. This should preserve the integrity of the glue that bonds the lining material to the car roof.

Spray the all-purpose auto cleaner on your car seat (for fabric seats) and spread it carefully with an upholstery cleaning brush. This can also be done with a nylon brush—just ensure the bristles are not too stiff. For leather seats, apply your leather cleaner to your brush or microfiber cloth and spread gently on the surface. For both types of seats, after the brushing, wipe them clean with a dry microfiber cloth to eradicate excess detergent.

Cleaning your seats is usually enough, but you can go the extra mile by protecting them. Depending on the seat cover, spread a dedicated upholstery or leather impregnation product over the entire seat surface using a microfiber cloth and leave it to dry. This will help maintain your seats’ integrity and protect them from UV rays, dirt, and mechanical damage.

Tip: If your steering wheel has a leather covering, include it in this step.

This includes the door covering and their pockets, the gear selector area, and the dashboard. Dip a microfiber cloth in water and squeeze until it’s just damp. Use this to clean the relevant areas. Use soapy water for particularly dirty areas.

You can also use a cabin care product. Most are suitable for multiple surfaces, including plastics, dashboards, and lacquered surfaces. To use this product, spray it on a microfiber cloth, spread it on the relevant surface, and wipe any remnants with a clean towel.

If you’ve not already dedicated time to cleaning your car windows, include that in this routine. However, your focus will be on the inside instead of cleaning both sides. Again, microfiber cloth soaked in soapy water and wrung dry should be enough.

But if you want shiny windows without streaks, a dedicated glass cleaner is your best bet. They’re easy to use and do not leave any marks behind. If you have one, spray it on your microfiber cloth, rub the glass thoroughly, and polish it using the dry side of the cloth.

Windshields are a bit more challenging to clean due to their size and slanted orientation. While you can use a microfiber cloth, an extendable car wash brush is an easier alternative.

Tip: It’s easier to clean the inside of your windshield from the passenger seat as there’s no obstruction from the steering wheel.

The only thing better than a clean car interior is a clean interior that smells nice. A car air freshener or diffuser is a cheap way to achieve a uniform scent in your car and elevate the overall riding experience.

If the air freshener is in a spray can, sprinkle it on top of your mats. When you turn on your AC, the air circulation will do all the diffusion. This should also prevent direct contact with the rog underneath or splashing into vents.