Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Matthew Lloyd
Keeping your car interior clean and disinfected is crucial for maintaining a healthy and safe environment, especially during these times. Regular cleaning can help prevent the spread of germs, bacteria, and viruses. However, many people are unsure how to properly clean their car interior without damaging it. Here are some tips on effectively cleaning and disinfecting your car interior.
Steps To Clean And Disinfect Your Car Interior:
Gather Supplies:
You will need rubber gloves, paper towels, microfiber cloths, a vacuum cleaner with attachments, a multi-surface cleaner or disinfectant spray, and a leather conditioner if your car has leather seats.
Start With The Steering Wheel:
Clean the steering wheel by removing debris or dust with a soft-bristled brush. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the surface for leather surfaces, then gently scrub away any dirt or stains. Avoid using harsh chemicals that could damage the leather.
Use an all-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and grime from plastic or rubber steering wheels. Spray the cleaner onto a microfiber cloth rather than directly onto the steering wheel to prevent overspray onto other surfaces. Scrub gently in circular motions until clean, then rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
Disinfect Door Handles And Buttons:
Pay close attention to high-touch areas, such as door handles and buttons. These are places where germs can easily spread, so it’s essential to ensure they’re properly cleaned and disinfected.
Use a water and bleach solution or an alcohol-based disinfectant spray to disinfect these areas. Wear gloves when applying either solution, as both can be harsh. Apply the solution generously on a clean cloth or paper towel, then wipe the surfaces thoroughly. Make sure you get into all the crevices around door handles and buttons.
Wipe Down The Infotainment System:
Turn off the car and disconnect any cables or devices attached to the system. Use a microfiber cloth dampened with a disinfectant to wipe down the touch screen and buttons, ensuring you get into all the crevices.
Avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals that could scratch or damage the screen. Use a specialized screen cleaner designed for electronics if there are stubborn stains or grime buildup. Let it air dry before reattaching cables or turning on the car.
Clean The Cup Holders:
Remove any loose debris, such as crumbs or small items, using a vacuum or a damp cloth to clean cup holders. Use an all-purpose cleaner or a mixture of warm water and dish soap to wipe down the inside of the cup holder. Use a toothbrush to scrub away any stubborn grime in hard-to-reach corners.
Consider using a specialized cleaner for tough stains and odors for automotive interiors. These cleaners are formulated to break down grease, oil, and other common vehicle stains. After cleaning the cup holder thoroughly, rinse it with water and dry it with a clean cloth.
Clean The Seats:
Remove loose debris with a vacuum cleaner or brush attachment to clean your seats effectively. Be sure to get into all the crevices and seams to remove any trapped dirt.
Use a specialized upholstery cleaner designed for fabric surfaces. Apply the cleaner generously to each seat using a soft-bristled brush or sponge. Allow the cleaner to sit for several minutes to penetrate deeply into the fabric fibers before scrubbing gently in circular motions. Rinse off thoroughly with warm water and allow the seats to air dry completely before using them again.
Use a mild soap solution instead of an upholstery cleaner for leather or vinyl seats. Apply with a damp cloth and work it into the surface of the seat until all dirt is removed. Rinse off thoroughly with another damp cloth and dry with a clean towel immediately after cleaning each area so that moisture does not seep into cracks or crevices where mold or bacteria may grow over time.
Clean The Floor:
Begin by removing all items from the floor and seat covers. Use a handheld vacuum to remove loose debris like crumbs or pet hair from the carpet and seats. Use a crevice tool attachment on your vacuum cleaner for hard-to-reach areas, such as under seats or between cushions. After that, apply an upholstery cleaner to any stains on carpets and mats according to its instructions. Disinfect the floors and mats with a spray containing at least 70% alcohol.
What Is The Best Thing To Clean A Car Interior With?
The best thing to clean a car interior is a microfiber cloth and a mild all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant spray. Microfiber cloths are gentle on surfaces and trap dirt and dust effectively. All-purpose cleaners are versatile and can be used on various surfaces without causing damage. For disinfecting purposes, it’s essential to use an EPA-approved disinfectant spray that kills germs effectively.
Is It Ok To Use Disinfectant Wipes On The Car Interior?
It is generally safe to use disinfectant wipes on hard surfaces like plastic, metal, or glass inside the car. These include the dashboard, steering wheel, gear shift knob, door handles, and window switches. However, avoiding disinfectant wipes on leather seats or other delicate surfaces is important as they may cause discoloration or damage.
What Is Best To Clean The Car Dashboard?
A specialized cleaner designed for this purpose is one of the most popular options for cleaning the car dashboard. These cleaners typically come in spray form and can be easily applied to the dashboard surface before wiping away with a cloth. Be sure to choose a safe cleaner for your specific dashboard material, whether vinyl, leather, or another type.
How Do You Disinfect Fabric Car Seats?
To disinfect your fabric car seats, you will need cleaning supplies such as a vacuum cleaner, upholstery cleaner, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide solution, and a microfiber cloth.
Start by removing any loose debris from the surface of the seat using a vacuum cleaner. Then use an upholstery cleaner to wash the seats thoroughly while following the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning, spray rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide solution on your microfiber cloth and wipe down all surfaces of your car seat. These solutions act as disinfectants that kill germs on contact. Allow it to air dry for some minutes before sitting on it again.
What Should I Not Use To Clean My Car Interior?
Ammonia-based cleaners: Ammonia is a highly alkaline substance that can cause discoloration and damage to the car’s interior, especially leather and vinyl surfaces. It is commonly found in glass cleaners, so using them on other car parts may be unsafe.
Bleach or hydrogen peroxide: Although effective disinfectants, bleach and hydrogen peroxide can be too harsh for most car interiors as they break down fabrics and leave unsightly stains.
Rough scrubbing brushes: Rough brushes or abrasive cleaning pads can scratch delicate surfaces like leather seats or dashboard screens, leading to permanent damage that cannot be repaired easily.
Harsh chemicals: Chemicals such as acetone, turpentine, or paint thinner should never be used on your car’s interior as they can strip off protective coatings and cause discoloration.
Multi-purpose household cleaners: These products are designed for general house cleaning tasks but may contain harmful ingredients that could harm your vehicle’s interior.
Paper towels or tissues: Avoid using paper towels or tissues when wiping down surfaces inside your car. These products tend to leave traces behind and create static electricity, attracting dust particles back onto the surface again quickly.
Conclusion:
Keeping your car’s interior clean and disinfected is a simple but essential task that can help keep you healthy and ensure your vehicle stays in good condition. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively remove dirt, grime, and germs from every interior surface of your car.
