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​The Beginner's Guide To Interior Detailing

​The Beginner's Guide To Interior Detailing

Posted by Max R on 30th Jul 2021

How is it possible that something so simple can seem so daunting? For me, a full detail of my interior is mentally tougher to start and finish than a complete exterior detail. Many of you will do a similar level of “maintenance” as myself (vacuum, plastics wipe-down, leather conditioning). However, you can do a full interior detail with not much more effort. Below, you’ll find a complete beginner's guide to interior detailing to help you maintain a clean interior on your daily driver.

Carpets & Floor Mats

Even if you have next to no knowledge of detailing, you probably vacuum your carpets. It’s easy, straightforward, and convenient if you take your car to a car wash. However, if you can do it at home, the results can be much greater. You can use any household vacuum, so long as it has a few different attachments.

Using the dust brush, you’re able to pull up any deep debris in the carpet and floor mats. A dog hair brush can also aid in pulling up deep hairs. If you’re adamant about vacuuming frequently, this process can take only a couple passes over the same area. However, if you’re waiting longer between vacuum’s or if your car see’s a lot of use, you may need to spend more time. Using the thin, crevice attachment can help you dig between the seats, center console, and any other tight spaces that the dust brush can’t reach.

Removing more than dust and dirt can be easy too. For instance, if you have an accident with food or drink, you can use interior shampoo to lift the stain. You can use a hand brush or use power tools with the appropriate attachment to make things a bit easier. Just don’t let the stain sit for too long!

Dash & Center Console Plastics

For your dash and center console, regularly wiping any visible plastics with a microfiber towel and all-purpose cleaner will help keep them dust-free and fresh. Applying a vinyl/plastic protectant afterwards can help protect from all the sunlight and heat the dash experiences throughout the day.

Don’t forget to regularly wipe down your steering wheel either. The steering wheel is something that is used heavily every time you drive, so making sure it’s free of oil and dead skin is key in keeping your interior sharp. If you’ve never wiped down your steering wheel, you’ll be surprised at the color of the cloth afterwards.

Getting in the tight spots can be tricky but having the right tools for the job can make things easy. A set of Fine Cleaning Brushes are gentle and effective on whatever surfaces you are working on.

Keeping your glass clean shouldn't be difficult either, with regular maintenance wipes taking off the majority of any contaminants. Keeping your glass clean and clear with glass cleaner can help by improving visibility and reducing glare from the sun or oncoming traffic. So while you're wiping down your dash, be sure to remember to give you're windshield a pass too!

Leather Seats

For the majority of us Volvo owners, we have beautiful leather seats. While luxurious and comfortable, leather can be harder to keep up with and maintain. Keeping it clean and conditioned is essential to if you want the leather to be as soft and shiny as when it came off the showroom floor. That’s why it’s so essential to use a high-quality product that won’t dry out your leather, but rather remove any dirt and leave behind rejuvenating oils. Pure:est’s L1 Leather Clean and Protection does both, cleaning and protecting your leather, while leaving behind a calming fresh-leather scent.

Odors

Removing odors can be a difficult task as the origins of these smells can be difficult to find. If you know where the smell is coming from, you can likely remove it with a thorough cleansing with an odor remover. Then, a fresh interior spray to make for an inviting smell the next time you enter the car. However, if it’s more severe and you don’t know where the smell is coming from, ozone treatments can help. Ozone treatments will kill bacteria and odors to remove any abnormal smells. Before you go this route, make sure there aren’t any small animals that have entered your car’s ventilation system. These animals can set up nests, leave behind organic waste, and even die, producing horrible smells or worse, ruining your car’s electronics. Check your cabin air filter first to make sure there isn’t anything caught in it as it’s a much easier fix than anything deeper in the system.

Being mindful of these four key areas to interior detailing will ensure that your interior stays sharp for your enjoyment, your passenger's enjoyment, and the longevity of your car. Frequency of maintenance will massively reduce time spent cleaning if done enough. For instance, you may only be spending 20-25 minutes a week if you regularly vacuum, condition, and clean all surfaces whereas it may take upwards of 45 minutes if you do this less frequently.

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