Detailing your car can make the vehicle looks better almost instantly. Even if you’re accustomed to taking your car to a professional for detailing, there are several things you can do yourself to save money while keeping your car looking its best. Here are a few suggestions.
Vacuuming
To prep the car for vacuuming, take a microfiber cloth and wipe the dust from the seat, dashboard and console. You can also use and air spray cane and Q-tips to get debris from the hard to reach places in the vehicle’s interior. Use the crevice tool of the vacuum to get rid of the loose dirt and dust on the floor and carpets, then remove the carpets to wash them. Apply the cleaner that is best for your carpets and scrub the brush back and forth to get rid of set-in stains. Take off the extra carpet cleaner with a microfiber cloth, rubbing the carpets with the cloth in a semi-circular motion, as if turning a doorknob. Then, vacuum the carpets to give them a presentable finish.
Interior Window Cleaning
To complete this task, you’ll need a microfiber that works for the type of glass your windows are made up of, along with a plush microfiber cloth and glass cleaner. This will remove the chemical film from the window, which is not only great for presentation, but can make you see clearer as well.
Spray a couple of squirts of glass cleaner on the cloth, and rub the inside of the window by wiping in a straight line. You may have to repeat this a few times for the windows to be completely clean. Each time you have to wipe the windows, use a clean section of the cloth. When the windows are clean, use the plush cloth to remove streaks. If you still see scratches or other imperfections, you may have to use glass polish to get the look you want.
Vinyl and Leather Restoration
To restore the leather and vinyl of your car’s interior; you’ll need a small soft brush, a scrubbing pad that is suitable for all surfaces, a microfiber cloth, and an all-purpose cleaner that is made for automobiles. You may also need a spray bottle, a surface protectant and cleaning solution. If you want to use an all-purpose cleaner concentrate, mix the solution with water according to the package instructions before adding it to a spray bottle. You can skip this step if the solution is already pre-mixed.
Spray the solution on the console and dashboard, and use a clean section of the cloth each time you wipe these areas. Spray the cleaner on the seats and other leather parts of the interior, use the small brush to lift any dirt and debris from the surfaces. Finish the job by wiping the interior with a clean microfiber cloth.
Detailing your car at least once a year or every six months is usually recommended, but you’ll have to take your local climate into consideration. If your parking situation at home or work requires you to leave your car outdoors for long periods of time, you may have to detail your vehicle more often. Detailing will also be much easier if you give your car a thorough wash every four weeks or so, and wax it three or four times a year to keep it looking great and to protect the exterior.