A clean car is not only nice to look at, it improves the car's longevity and resale. Cleaning your car means more than just taking out the things you have mistakenly stored there or forgotten to bring inside, but rather actually eliminating dirt, debris and odors. By following the proper cleaning procedures, and doing so on a regular basis, you'll have the inside of your car looking its best every week.
Remove trash. Food wrappers, soda cans and papers tend to pile up quickly if not removed every time you exit your car. Take out the items you regularly need, such as a stroller or gym bag. Everything should be removed from the car before cleaning begins.
Vacuum the car using an extension hose and attachments. Work from the top of the car to the bottom, allowing the dust to fall downward. Using a floor brush attachment, reach under the seats and floor mats and then vacuum the floor mats and trunk. Sprinkle borax generously on carpets that smell. Let stand for one hour. Vacuum. Switch to a smaller attachment and get in between seats and on visors.
Use an air compressor to blow dirt out of small crevices. Move the seats back and forth to reach all areas.
Blot coffee stains with cool water and a paper towel. Spray car carpet solution or glass cleaner on the stain. Soak the area for five minutes and blot. Glass cleaners work best because they don't leave soapy residues.
Apply paint thinner to a clean cotton cloth to eliminate greasy stains. Rub cloth over the stain and then cover the area with salt until the remaining grease is absorbed. Vacuum clean.
Treat gasoline stains with a mixture of 1 tsp. vinegar and 1 tsp. mild dish detergent in a quart of warm water. Dip the cloth into the solution and rub the stain. Let dry. The vinegar removes the odor while the detergent cleans the spot.
Scrape excess crayon markings with a metal spoon. Spray WD-40 on spot and let soak for a few minutes. Use a small, stiff-bristle brush to eliminate markings. Wipe with a paper towel. Spray again and apply a dab of dishwashing detergent. Use the brush again and wipe the stain away with a damp paper towel. Repeat until all crayon markings are gone.
Wet a paper towel to begin removing ink stains. Blot the area to remove excess ink. Do not rub as this will smear the ink and spread the stain. Spray hairspray on the ink stain and let sit for one minute. Gently wipe the area with a clean towel. Repeat as necessary. This may take a few times depending on how large the ink stain is.
Wipe down vinyl seats. Sprinkle baking soda on seat surface and clean using a damp rag. Dip another rag into a mixture of dish-washing detergent and water and then "rinse" the seats by wiping down again. Using baking soda on vinyl is gentler than an oil-based cleaner.
Remove mold, mildew and odor using a citrus cleaner on upholstered seats. Spray directly on fabric. Wait five minutes to penetrate. Take a dry cloth and blot the area by pressing down firmly for 30 seconds. Do not rub. Repeat the blotting process until the area is dry.
Scrub hard surfaces and tight areas, such as a coin storage compartment, with a dampened toothbrush and cotton swab. Spray interior cleaner on the dashboard, moldings, steering wheel and trim. Wipe with a clean cloth.
Spray glass cleaner on one window at a time. Rub cleaner with a cloth from the top to the bottom of the window. Repeat inside on each window until there are no streaks or spots.
