The DIY Car Cleaning Guide: Interiors And Exteriors

Picture this scenario: you pull up into a public parking lot, get out of the car, and immediately bump into a mate who glances at your filthy exteriors and tries at best to hide his reaction. In that moment, you feel instantly feel embarrassed beyond words! All you can think about is what  he is thinking about.

Many individuals have faced these awkward and embarrassing moments, which drove them straight to (or through) the car wash! Of course, you could clean the insides and outside of your car without having to spend a large amount of money.

Cleaning your car’s interiors and exterior has to be done at some point, so, why not let that day be today? To help you out with that, Caroline, professional cleaner at Simply Maid shares with us some of their do-it-yourself car cleaning tips that is used to maintain their car fleet:

Let us begin with the inside of your car. Before you begin, however, you need to remove any trash and personal belongings to ensure that nothing gets in your way while cleaning. We have categorized each component or area of your car interiors to make it easier for you.

1. Seats

• Depending on the material of your seats, use a suitable vacuum head attachment to remove dust, dirt, and debris. Tilt the front seats back as far as they can go and vacuum the narrow space between the bottom of the seat and backrest.
• Again, depending on the material, you need to make or use an appropriate vacuum cleaner to freshen up the seats and spot clean any stains. A mild solution of detergent and water is generally advised. Dampen a clean, white cloth in the solution and gently wipe the seats thoroughly.

2. Floor

• Take the floor mats out and give them a good shake for mud and dirt to fall off.
• Rinse the floor mats under running water and scrub them with water and detergent using a scrub brush. Leave them to air dry.
• Vacuum the carpeting thoroughly by moving the front seats completely forward and back to ensure that you do not miss any spots under the seats.
• If there are any stains on the carpeting, spot clean them using a slightly stronger solution than the one used for your seats.

3. Dashboard, Steering Wheel, Gearshift, And Doors

• An electrostatic duster is advised for wiping these parts of your car to pick up dust efficiently without unsettling any.
• After removing dust and dirt, dampen a clean cloth with a little all-purpose cleaner and wipe over the dash, glove compartment, and doors to remove stubborn stains.
• Do the same for your steering wheel and gearshift.

4. Windows And Windshield

• Use a clean cloth to remove dust and dirt from the glass; pay close attention to corners and rims, as this is where dirt tends to collect.
• Finish off by cleaning the windows and windshield using a specially formulated cleaner for this purpose.

Now, let us get to your cars exterior. It s a fairly simple, straightforward method, but here is a tip; avoid washing your car exteriors in the sun or when it is too hot outside, as this will cause streaks.

1. Wet The Car

• If you are using a hosepipe, spray the car down thoroughly to remove loose dirt.
• If you are using buckets of water, splash the car to wet the exteriors entirely.
• Do not forget to splash the wheels and hubcaps.

2. Clean With Soap

• In a bucket of water, make a mild cleaning solution by adding half a cup of (recommended) car cleaner or regular liquid dish soap and stir it up properly. If it is not sudsy enough, add a little more cleaner/dish soap.
• Dip a car wash mitt or sponge into the bucket and soap the roof of the car thoroughly.
• Rinse the roof off and then soap the bonnet, including the windshield and the trunk of the car. This should also include the rest of the front and back of the car.
• Do the sides of the car next, but avoid soaping the windows. Soap the backs of the side view mirrors.
• Use a cloth soaked in the sudsy solution to clean the tyres and hubcaps.
• Rinse out the mitt/sponge/cloth at intervals to avoid dirtying your cleaning solution and transferring dirt back onto the car.

3. Rinse Off The Soap

• When rinsing of the soap, be sure to pay attention to nooks and crannies, as soap can seep into these spaces.
• Using a hosepipe for this is great for a power rinse.

4. Dry With A Towel

• Do not let your car air dry, as this can cause streaking and water spots.
• Use old towels to soak up water from your car exteriors by gently dabbing it.

5. Clean The Windows And Mirrors

• Once the windows are completely dry, use a specially formulated cleaner to clean them and get them shining again.
• You can also clean the windshield using this cleaner if needed.
• Window cleaner can be used to clean your side view mirrors, as well as your rear view mirror.

If you are looking for more useful cleaning guides, Simply Maid can help you with tons of home related cleaning needs by providing effective tips and 100% satisfactory service. Check out their services and pricing page for more information.

Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

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