How To Detail Your Cars Interior

How To Detail Your Cars Interior

How To Detail Your Cars Interior

Regular vacuuming and dusting of your car's interior is the best way to keep it looking good. Regular interior maintenance is EASY maintenance. However, surface cleaning alone is not enough. Two to three times a year you will need to detail the upholstery to keep it looking its best.

Warning: Before using any product on your car's fabric upholstery, carpet, leather or vinyl, test for color fading by cleaning a small, inconspicuous area. Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric's color or texture.

The interior of this BMW has just been perfectly detailed.  Notice how the leather has a nice, even matte finish. Professional detailers don't leave a car's interior looking wet and slick. The interior should look like it just arrived from the factory.

PROPER INTERIOR DETAILING

With the variety of materials used inside the modern automotive interior, knowing what to detail and how to do it is not always  a straightforward matter.  This section is divided into specific materials and areas of interior detailing.  Read the areas that apply to your vehicle.

CAR VACUUMING

There's no special science to car vacuuming.  You need a good vacuum, a few attachments, and ten to fifteen minutes to get in there and get the job done.

A special car vacuum, such as this Vac 'N Blo Portable Vacuum from Metropolitan Vacuum has all of the right attachments for car detailing.  This car vacuum is under 18" long and only 7" in diameter.  It comes with a 12' power cord, a shoulder strap, a 6' flexible hose, two 20" extensions, a blower nozzle, pik-all nozzle, dust brush, crevice tool, inflator adapter and a 4-piece microcleaning tool kit.

The two most important attachments are the crevice attachment and the dust brush attachment.  Make sure your crevice attachment is plastic, not metal.  A metal attachment or a plastic attachment that's in poor condition may scratch or otherwise damage leather or vinyl upholstery.

Use the crevice tool to reach between and under seats, into tight seams, nooks and crannies, and around seat beads.  Vigorous movement on the carpet helps to bring up sand and grit.

Use the round dust brush attachment to vacuum the console, dash and vents.  You can assist with the dusting by using an interior detailing brush ahead of the vacuum to get deep into vents and cracks.

Here Are The Steps For Proper Vacuuming:

Start your vacuuming job by pulling out the floor mats.  Shake out the mats to remove any loose dirt.  Use a 4" upholstery attachment or the bare hose end to vigorously vacuum the mats. The more you’re able to agitate the carpet, the cleaner you’ll get it.

Work on the rear upholstery and carpet. Push the front seats all the way forward. Use the crevice tool to vacuum the cracks of the seats, and between the seats and carpeted areas. If the seat upholstery is fabric, switch to the 4" upholstery attachment and vacuum the rear seat and the deck under the rear window. Vacuum the rear carpet. Use the crevice tool to vacuum around the seat tracks and under the front seats. Use the round dust brush attachment to vacuum the door panels.

Push the front seats all the way back to work on the front upholstery.  Use the crevice tool to vacuum the cracks of the seats, between the seats and carpeted areas, and around the gas and brake pedals.  Now switch to the 4" upholstery attachment to vacuum the carpet in the foot wells and the seats (if the seats are fabric).  Use the Auto Vent Brush to vacuum the console, vents and door panels.

Tip: When vacuuming carpet, use the palm of your free hand to beat the carpet just in front of your vacuum hose or tool.  As you beat the carpet, dirt that is lodged deep into the carpet will come loose for vacuuming.

CLEANING AND TREATING YOUR DASHBOARD & CONSOLE

We look at the dashboard and console more than any other area of our car's interior.  It makes sense, therefore, that we should give it some special attention.  The dash and the deck under the rear window also take the brunt of damage from sun exposure.  In order to keep your dash from cracking and fading, regular treatment is necessary.

Caring for the dash and console is really pretty easy.  Simply wipe them down with a damp Blue SilverClean Interior Detailing Towel every time you wash your car, and treat them with a vinyl protectant once a month.  To reduce the effects of the sun's UV rays, use products like BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant, 303 Aerospace Protectant or Ultima Interior Guard Plus, which contain protective UV sunscreens. These protectants create a perfect satin finish.

The easiest way to treat the dash and console is to use a foam applicator pad. Spray your vinyl protectant directly on the applicator, not on the dash or console, and wipe it in thoroughly. This will prevent overspray on your glass and upholstery. Don't forget to protect the steering wheel, turn signal levers and the shift boot. Allow the vinyl protectant to soak in for 3 to 5 minutes, and then buff the dash and console dry with a Blue SilverClean Interior Detailing Towels.

If you're doing a complete interior detail, you should also dust and clean out the vents and grillwork. There are a variety of tools that work in vents and grilles. Use the Interior Concours Brush and compressed air. If you don't have compressed air, you can use the blow cycle on your vacuum. For heavily soiled interior surfaces, use Optimum Power Clean All Purpose Cleaner before agitating with the Mat & Carpet Scrub Brush. If you have a Dual Action Polisher, you can use a Carpet & Upholstery Brushes for Dual Action Polishers.

If your vents are disgustingly dirty, use a cotton swab or foam swab to clean out the dirt.  A good vinyl cleaner and protectant works well on a foam swab to clean and beautify vents and speaker grilles.

On consoles with a lot of nooks and crannies, it's best to use a soft bristled brush followed by a towel to clean and protect.  This same method works well around buttons and controls on the dash.  Aerosol products like McKee's 37 Trim Detailer also work well in detailing areas and spots where your towel and finger can't reach.

CLEANING AND TREATING DOOR PANELS & JAMBS

Door panels are often made of several materials, including fabric, vinyl, carpet and leather. Vinyl can be scrubbed to remove shoe scuffs. General-purpose cleaners, like 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner, or interior vinyl and plastic cleaners, like CarPro Inside Leather & Interior Cleaner, or Ultima Interior Shampoo Gel easily remove black scuff marks from these areas.

Thoroughly clean around door handles, pulls and window cranks, using a soft detail brush and interior cleaner. Be sure to clean and dry the speaker grilles and the wells on armrests, too. If the door panels have storage pockets, use your sponge or wash mitt to clean in these areas, as they tend to collect a lot of dirt and crud. Next, use your sponge or wash mitt and interior cleaner to clean all the way around the door frame and the doorsill. When you're finished, dry the door completely with a clean drying towel.

If your door panel is leather or vinyl, be sure to treat it with a leather or vinyl protectant. Fabric door panels can be treated with a fabric protectant, like 303 Fabric Guard, to reduce staining and fading. Even if lightly soiled, it's always a good idea to use an interior cleaner like Kenotek Interior Cleaner first, this way the panels are prepped for a protective coating. Keep in mind, you can use leather cleaners on vinyl, but I would not use a vinyl specific cleaner on leather. Combo products like Pinnacle Leather &Vinyl Cleaner are safe on both surfaces.

DETAILING VINYL AND PLASTIC PARTS

Vinyl and plastic are the most durable interior materials, but they do need frequent cleaning. Unlike cloth, the surfaces of vinyl and plastic generate static, which tends to attract dust. As a result, vinyl and plastic become grimy. The good news is, vinyl and plastic are the easiest surfaces to clean.

DO NOT use regular household soap and water on your vinyl and plastic surfaces. Detergent will permanently remove the sheen from vinyl and plastic. Choose a cleaner made specifically for interior surfaces. One of my personal favorite is Britemax Interior Cleaner Multi-Surface Cleaner, which is a quick spray-and-wipe solution that does not require rinsing. It's also safe on all interior surfaces. For dirtier panels, some agitation may be required to loosen grime.

Follow these easy steps for the perfect vinyl interior:

  • Spray vinyl, plastic and imitation leather surfaces with Britemax Interior Cleaner Multi-Surface Cleaner or your favorite cleaner.
  • Work the cleaning solution into seams, edges and seat backs with a sponge or cleaning cloth.  If you have stubborn dirt, use an upholstery scrub brush.  If necessary, use an soft bristle brush to get into the small crevices.
  • If your cleaner requires rinsing, wash the vinyl and plastic  thoroughly with fresh water and a clean microfiber detailing towel.
  • Dry the upholstery with a clean, dry Griots Garage PFM Terry Weave Drying Towel.
  • Allow the vinyl and plastic to dry, and then apply your favorite vinyl dressing to restore protection and sheen. Forum member favorites include BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant and Wolfgang Vinyl & Rubber Protectant.

Apply a dressing like BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant to all vinyl and plastic surfaces to protect and beautify. It is important to use a product containing UV protection to prevent fading and severe damage. Wipe off excess dressing. The finish should have a nice clean look.

For premium protection, use Pinnacle Vinyl & Rubber Protectant. This amazing product offers amazing protection and a satin finish to vinyl and plastic.

A quick word about vinyl dressings: they're not all the same. Choose a dressing that gives you the look you want (flat to shiny). Wolfgang Cockpit Trim Sealant creates a matte finish, whereas McKee's 37 Interior Surface Protectant creates an attractive satin finish.  Ultima Interior Guard Plus has the unique characteristic of taking on the original surface finish. So, when applied to a matte finish, Ultima Interior Guard Plus looks flat and applied to a glossy finish, like wood trim, Ultima Interior Guard Plus takes on a high gloss finish. Another thing to consider is protection from the sun. All of the products mentioned above offer great UV light protection.

CLEANING CARPETS AND FLOOR MATS

Most automotive carpets are very durable and will withstand repeated shampooing without signs of damage or wear. Carpet cleaning is not fast or easy. You should expect to spend 2 to 3 hours shampooing the front and rear carpet and mats in a sedan or SUV, a little less time for a truck or two-seater.

Before shampooing, the carpet and floor mats must be thoroughly vacuumed. To do a complete job, it may be necessary to remove the front seats, which requires the correct size Allen or socket wrench.

Follow these easy steps:

  • Spray spots and heavily soiled areas with a good spot remover. I recommend a product like Wolfgang Spot Eliminator or Dakota Fabric Foam Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner.
  • Fill a bucket with 2 gallons of warm water.
  • Lightly spray a section of carpet (no more than 2 square feet at a time) with your carpet and upholstery cleaner. Use an upholstery brush or a sponge in a circular motion to agitate the upholstery. Dip your brush in water to keep it wet, but apply as little water as possible.
  • Wipe away the suds with a sponge or a damp detailing towel.
  • Empty your bucket of soapy water and refill with clean, warm water.
  • Rinse your carpet with clean water by wiping with a damp terry cloth towel.  Rinse the soap from your towel often and wring it out.  Use as little water as possible, but rinse thoroughly.
  • Vacuum your carpet to extract the remaining rinse water.
  • If you're not working on a warm, sunny day, use a hair dryer to complete the drying process.  Be careful not to scorch the carpet by holding the dryer too close.
  • Allow the carpet to dry overnight before using.

To keep your carpet and floor mats looking great, use a fabric protectant like 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. It's really cheap insurance against spills and stains.

CAR INTERIOR DETAILING SUMMARY

Most of us spend 8 to 15 hours a week inside our cars, so it makes sense that we should keep them neat and tidy. Yet finding the time to detail the inside of the car is difficult with our busy schedules. If you take just five minutes each time you wash your car to remove the trash, shake out the mats, and wipe down the dash, console and seats, you can stay on top of this detailing chore. Then when it comes time for a full interior detail, the task will not seem quite so daunting.

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  • Griots Garage PFM Terry Weave Drying Towel

    Griots Garage PFM Terry Weave Drying Towel

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    This towel is a rock star. The PFM stands for Pure Freakin' Magic. Its innovative long-loop weave gives you the speed and convenience of one-pass drying and the capacity of one towel, one vehicle performance. Just lay it flat, drag it across your car,...
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    BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant

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    The perfect protectant for your interior! BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant is the only product you need to maintain the look and feel of leather and soft vinyl upholstery. This 100% water based protectant uses micro-engineered polymers that are readily...
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    BLACKFIRE Interior Cleaner - 32 oz.

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    Leave no surface soiled BLACKFIRE Interior Cleaner is a versatile, water-based cleaner for fabrics, carpet, plastic, metal, and wood! It is designed to be both gentle and effective, and it contains no harmful ingredients. BLACKFIRE Interior Cleaner...
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    303 Fabric Guard

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    303 Fabric Guard is the ultimate fabric protectant! It restores lost water repellency and stain repellency to factory levels. Use 303 Fabric Guard on auto upholstery and carpet and outdoor fabrics, plus sensitive materials, like silk and leather! 303...
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