A clean interior is the best road-trip buddy

You’ve got your route planned and your car tuned up. Whether you’re hitting the road for a week-long trip or just making your regular commute, a clean interior makes your vehicle all the more comfortable for the miles ahead.

It’s easy to get your cabin in ship-shape. Here are a few quick tips to make it even easier.

• Toss the junk. You declutter your home to keep it comfy and presentable, so it only makes sense that you’d do the same with your vehicle. Get yourself a trash bag and clean up, stashing necessary items in the glovebox, seat-back pouches or the trunk. Not only will clearing out make you feel lighter, but a clean cabin is a safer cabin in the event of a crash.
• Cut the grime. The hard surfaces of your console need some tender care to look their best. Find yourself a gentle solvent, an auto-specific product, or even just a damp rag and wipe down your center console, dashboard, steering wheel and shifter. A simple Q-tip can help you swab out hard-to-reach crevices.
• Protect your seating. This step can be different depending on the makeup of your interior. Like all leather goods, leather seating requires a little extra care to stay durable and looking its best. You can use either specialty auto products or a designated leather cleaner to keep things looking fresh. An important added step for leather is to condition it at least once or twice a year to get its longest life. Cloth seating can be a little easier to care for in some respects, though it is more prone to staining that can be removed with most commercial cleaners. Start by vacuuming the interior of your car, starting with the ceiling and working your way into the seats. Once you’ve done that, you can use either a carpet cleaner or a solvent specifically approved for your vehicle to get a deeper clean.

Just squaring away these basics will give you more peace of mind when you get behind the wheel. If you come to Scrubby’s, you can wash the exterior while you’re at it and go home with a showroom-clean car!