Cleaning the vinyl parts of your car's interior may seem like a daunting task. These areas attract grime from normal use, body oils and foreign goo from child-sized hands. Inappropriate cleansers rarely leave the dashboard, doors and glove compartment looking like new. Even worse, some cleansers leave an overall lackluster appearance or cause cracks, destroying the vinyl. Luckily, vinyl can be restored with a bit of work and can be protected from future stains in the process.
Clean the glass surfaces of your car first. Glass cleaner over-spray will dry out vinyl surfaces and cause cracks due to the additives alcohol and ammonia. Protect the automotive glass from over-spray of the vinyl cleanser. Many vinyl cleansers contain a petroleum additive that leave behind an oil film on glass. Newspapers taped in place will protect the glass and prevent a perpetuating, this-then-that cycle.
Dust off vinyl surfaces with a dusting cloth or damp, lint-free, cotton cloth. Removing dust prevents it from being pushed it into the pores during the cleaning step. Set aside the dusting cloth for a thorough cleaning before reuse.
Spot treat heavy stains and unidentifiable muck with full-strength vinyl cleanser. Mix the cleanser with water into a spray bottle, using the manufacturer's instructions. Spray onto the vinyl surfaces and wipe vigorously with a microfiber cloth. Use a toothbrush or cotton swabs for cracks and crevices.
Rinse the vinyl with a spray bottle of water and a lint-free cloth. Follow up with a second lint-free cloth to dry the surface. Your goal is to remove all dirt before applying a protective barrier. Skipping this step may leave the surface with a murky or milky appearance.
Pour protectant onto a microfiber cloth and buff it onto the vinyl. Avoid spray-on products, or pouring the product directly on the vinyl, as this will leave an uneven finish. Let the product set in for the required length of time. Wipe off any residue with the clean microfiber cloths.
