There are
quite a number of things that you can do to prolong the life and maintain the
beauty of the interior of your vehicle. Most of these things just take some
time and effort and do not cost a lot of money.
First of
all, it is important periodically vacuum your interior. Do not just do your
carpets, as running the vacuum over your seats will never hurt them. Also be
sure to go under and alongside the seats and any other cavities that you can
reach. And always do your trunk area.
As far as
your seats and any other upholstered areas, if it is cloth, after vacuuming, if
the material is soiled, a good upholstery or carpet cleaner can be used. A
product like Resolve foaming cleaner can be used and be sure to follow the
manufacturer’s instructions. The same thing can be done to clean your carpets
and carpeted floor mats. This method may also be used on your headliner if it
is dirty.
You can then, if you so choose, apply a Scotchguard
treatment for ease of future cleaning. If you seating is vinyl or leather, you
could use a mild dish soap and warm water solution with a soft cloth or brush
if more heavily soiled. After cleaning, apply a good quality automotive leather
protectant, but use sparingly so as to not make the leather too slippery or
sticky.
You should
also use that mild soap and water to wipe down the top of your dash and your
door panels and console, but make sure you ring your rag out well and do not
wipe over any switches or electronics. Electronic screens such as radios and
navigation or DVD player screens should be cleaned with an approved electronic spray
screen cleaner.
After wiping down your dash and door panels, apply a
protectant such as Armor-all, but definitely do not use it on your steering
wheel or seats, as it is much too slippery.
To keep
your car smelling fresh, you can use the good old standard, the “Pine Tree” air
fresheners. However, I personally like the small air fresheners that can be
inserted into the dashboard vents.
Spending a
few hours a couple times on these car care tasks a year can really pay off in
keeping your interior looking good, just like the day you bought it. See you
next week.
