HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CAR INTERIOR IN 4 EASY STEPS

In this article you will learn:

How to clean the inside of your car in 15 minutes or less

Which products to use to save time on interior cleaning

The most efficient way to clean your car interior

Cleaning the inside of your car can take a whopping 1-2 hours of your day. Between your long commute and an endless list of to-dos, finding the time to set aside can be difficult. Luckily, you don’t need to pour hours into maintaining your interior every time you clean. Between the occasional deep cleaning sessions, all you need is 15 minutes and the right products and tools to refresh every surface inside your car in 4 easy steps!

What You Need to Know

For this speedy cleaning routine, you’ll need a detailing solution that is safe to use on multiple surfaces inside your car. Not only will this help you save time on interior cleaning, but you’ll also save the money you would have spent on a separate dashboard, window and car seat cleaner.

We recommend an interior detailing spray like Hybrid Solutions Steak-free Mist to remove light dirt and stains from any nonporous surface inside your car, including your windows and tech screens. This newest addition to our Hybrid Solutions line features a special Flairosol trigger that gives you more control over your spray for easy, more efficient cleaning! You can also use a multipurpose cleaning spray like the Multipurpose Cleaner & Disinfectant to keep surfaces sanitized for a full 24 hours with only one application.

These cleaners will help you quickly remove light stains, dust and fingerprints from your windows, dashboard, plastic trim, leather car seats and vinyl upholstery. However, they won’t address heavier stains and soils embedded in your floor mats, carpet and cloth-covered interior. You’ll need to set aside more time to treat these difficult soils using a heavy-duty stain remover or a powerful carpet shampoo.

Now that you have your preferred cleaning solution, follow these easy steps to freshen up the inside of your car in no time!

Step 1: Vacuum Loose Dirt and Debris

Start by removing your floor mats and seat covers and disposing of any leftover trash inside your car: used napkins, empty water bottles, fast food containers, etc. Once you’ve cleared out the inside of your car, use a portable vacuum to suck up any loose dirt and crumbs from your car seats, carpet and upholstery.

Vacuuming first prevents you from transferring loose soils to freshly cleaned surfaces inside your car or potentially scratching your delicate plastic or leather interior. Be sure to use the handheld upholstery attachment to reach those tight corners and edges!

Step 2: Remove Dirt and Stains from Interior Surfaces

Next, you’ll want to use your interior detailing spray to remove dirt, light stains and dust buildup from your dashboard, door panels, consoles, rubber trim, leather car seats and vinyl-covered interior. You can always use paper towels if that’s what you have on hand, but we strongly recommend investing in a microfiber towel for all your interior detailing needs. Not only is microfiber gentler on your delicate interior, but it's also more durable and efficient.

Start from the top of your dashboard and work your way down to avoid transferring dirt and grime to areas inside your car that you’ve already cleaned. Then wipe down your consoles, cupholders and steering column, as well as your door panels, rubber or plastic trim until all dirt and soils have been removed. Use an extra concentration of product to break down light stains or soils stuck to your plastic, leather or vinyl interior.

Pro Tip: Use a small detailing brush to remove dirt and dust buildup from hard-to-reach spaces inside your car, such as your air vents and instrument cluster.

remove dirt and stains from interior surfaces

Step 3: Protect the Inside of Your Car

Now that you’ve cleaned every interior surface, it’s time to apply protectant and conditioner to add that extra pop of gloss and make it easier to maintain your showroom finish.

Interior protectants feature special polymers that shield plastic, leather and vinyl surfaces from harsh UV rays to prevent them from cracking or fading in the sun. We recommend giving your leather car seats and upholstery a quick spritz of Hybrid Solutions Leather Mist to keep your leather interior plush and protected.

Step 4: Wipe Down Your Windows and Auto Glass

Finally, you’ll want to give your windows, mirrors and tech screens a final wipe down using the same interior detailer and a fresh, microfiber towel for improved clarity and visibility on the road.

And just like that, you've given your messy car interior a much-needed facelift!

Following these steps every so often is a great way to keep the inside of your car in tip-top shape. Now you can get sit back, turn on a podcast during that busy commute and enjoy the ride.