Giving your vehicle a good scrub doesn’t just mean the exterior

We’ve all heard the advice to not judge a book by its cover; if we were to adapt that, we’d say not to judge a vehicle’s cleanliness by its exterior alone. A shiny, glossy finish can be visually striking, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you much about the inside of the ride. As we’ve written in the past, your vehicle’s interior makes an impression on passengers, and if it gets too cluttered, it can even present a safety hazard. For those of us who spend a lot of time on the road, a clean interior can also just make for a more pleasant experience at the wheel.

To begin, the first step to cleaning the interior of your vehicle is to de-clutter as much as you can. Once the junk is out, hit the interior with a vacuum — of course, we recommend using ours. From there, you can get to work on the carpets. For stubborn spots or stains, make use of a stain lifter. As with any cleaning product, spot-test in an inconspicuous area before widely applying a cleaner. Once the lifter is in place, scrub it with a plastic-bristle brush to really work it in, then wipe up residue with a cloth. Vacuum once more, voila — clean carpet!

Cleaning a vehicle’s seats can be a little different, depending on the material. The process is still largely similar, but the necessary cleaning supplies may vary. Some cleaners may require special use for maximum efficiency, so pay attention to whatever you’re buying.

Leather seats and interior accents require a specialized leather cleaner. After testing the cleaner, you can apply it either directly to the leather or to a rag to gently scrub. Stubborn stains may require a very soft-bristled brush or similar tool. Don’t forget your steering wheel! The part of the vehicle you touch the most is, as you might expect, usually pretty grimy. Take care of it while you’re cleaning everything else.

Cloth seats may require a more thorough initial vacuuming to pull out dirt and other particles. After that, cloth seats are pretty straightforward, but still require their own distinct cleaner. After applying a cloth cleaner to a seat, you’ll likely have to wipe it down first with a wet cloth, then with a dry cloth. End the cleaning with another good vacuuming.