Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Matthew Lloyd
Shampooing a car’s interior can take some elbow grease and time, but it has proven to produce good results. On the other hand, steam cleaners are convenient and often achieve deep-cleaning results with less effort. The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference, budget, and desired result.
How To Shampoo A Car Interior?
Shampooing a car interior is essential to maintaining your vehicle’s cleanliness and look. It’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to deep clean a car interior compared to steam cleaning.
- To shampoo your car interior, vacuum all surfaces, including carpets and upholstery.
- Once you have vacuumed, use a brush or scrubber to loosen caked-on dirt and debris that may be embedded in the fabric or carpet fibers. Then, using a spray bottle filled with warm water and detergent, lightly mist interior surfaces such as seat cushions, dashboards, armrests, and headliners.
- Work from top to bottom in small sections at a time, ensuring not to oversaturate any surface.
- Use a microfiber cloth to agitate the soapy mixture while scrubbing away dirt until it lifts off the surface.
- Use another dry microfiber cloth to wipe away excess detergent before allowing everything to air dry thoroughly before putting things back together inside your vehicle.
Pros Of Shampooing Car
Less Expensive:
One advantage is that shampooing is often less expensive than steam cleaning. Steam cleaners require additional equipment, which can be costly to purchase or rent. In addition, steamers often use higher temperatures and more water than shampoos, resulting in higher energy costs per job.
Reduce Odors:
The shampoo contains detergents and deodorizers that deep clean fabrics and remove lingering smells like cigarette smoke or pet odors trapped in carpet fibers or fabric upholstery.
Leaves No Residue:
The shampoo leaves no residue on surfaces that could damage your vehicle’s interior over time due to high concentrations of heat and moisture from the steam cleaner’s method of operation. This makes shampooing ideal for those looking for a long-term solution to keep their car’s interior clean and free from dirt, stains, dust, or other airborne particles.
Cons Of Shampooing Car:
Much Time-Consuming:
It is necessary to vacuum the car’s interior before shampooing and scrub each surface with a special cleaning solution. This takes patience and effort, which many people do not have or are willing to dedicate. Shampooing also requires drying time afterward so that no mildew builds up in the material, adding to the time it takes for a thorough job.
Result in water damage:
If too much moisture is left on surfaces, mold and mildew could form on fabrics such as carpets or upholstery over time. Additionally, water damage could result from too much pressure while scrubbing certain materials, such as leather seats, causing them to crack or tear easily.
How To Steam Clean A Car Interior?
Steam cleaners use hot water injected into the carpet’s fibers or upholstery to loosen dirt, debris, and stains. It also kills germs, bacteria, and dust mites that can be embedded in the fabric.
- You will need a steam cleaner with a hose attachment to clean a car interior correctly.
- Vacuum any loose dirt from the surface before steaming it to avoid damaging the fabric when it comes in contact with water.
- Begin by setting up your steam cleaner to adjust properly for pressure and heat settings on the desired surface.
- Move slowly around the interior, twice if necessary, covering all the crevices and any heavily soiled areas.
- Once finished, allow your vehicle to air dry completely before using it again.
Pros of Steam Cleaning
Require Less Water:
One of the main advantages of steam cleaning is that it uses a fraction of the amount of water that shampooing does, which can benefit individuals living in areas with strict water restrictions.
Kill Germs And Bacteria:
Additionally, steam vapor kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs on contact, making it one of the most sanitary ways to clean a car interior. Steam also has penetrating solid power, which allows it to work its way deep into the fabric and gently remove embedded dirt and debris.
Cons of steam cleaning a car:
Requires Special Equipment:
Steam cleaning requires specialized equipment, which may not be readily available or affordable for everyone.
Damage To The Interior:
If done incorrectly, it can damage delicate surfaces inside a vehicle, such as leather upholstery or plastic trim pieces, due to extremely high temperatures used during steaming.
Leave An Unpleasant Odor:
Steam cleaning may leave an unpleasant odor afterward since all advanced cleaning solutions generally contain organic compounds with some scent.
Which Is Better? Shampooing Or Steam Cleaning?
Shampooing a car is typically the most common way to clean a car’s interior. It uses an upholstery cleaner, usually designed for cars, and should be applied with a brush or sponge. This method allows you to get into all the nooks and crannies of your car and remove dirt, dust, and other debris.
Does Steam Clean Damage Car Paint?
Steam cleaners produce hot temperatures of 140-220 degrees Fahrenheit which can damage car paint if the steam cleaner is not used correctly. Maintaining a distance of at least 12 inches from the surface is essential to avoid damaging the paint job.
How Do I Clean My Car Without Damaging The Paint?
For an effective and safely clean, rinse off the car first with cold water and then use an automotive shampoo specifically designed for cars. Use a soft sponge or brush to work in the shampoo, paying attention to any tough spots that may need extra scrubbing. Afterward, thoroughly rinse everything off with a hose or pressure washer before drying with a microfiber cloth or chamois.
Conclusion:
Both shampooing and steam cleaning are excellent ways to keep your car interior clean. Both methods have unique advantages, so it’s important to consider which will be the most efficient for you. Shampooing a car is a great option to quickly get rid of dirt and debris, while steam cleaning is ideal for deep cleaning and removing strong odors from fabric surfaces. However, both of these methods can be expensive and require specialized equipment.
