Interior Cleaning Tips and Tricks

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 05/19/2017 at 10:47 • Filed to: None

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Share yours.

I keep a Ziploc baggy of Swiffer sheets in each of our cars. They’re great for doing a quick wipe of the dash area for dust and dirt.

Non-scented baby wipes are great for cleaning door sills after a wash.

Ash78, voting early and often > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 10:52

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Microfiber for the interior — gets all the dust/pollen out and works for years without being washed (as long as you ’ re just dusting). Also cleans windows without the need for liquid.

But the most effective thing I’ve found is to drop the kids off with my parents for a few hours. It’s like turning the car into a dayspa.

crowmolly > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 10:55

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A raw chicken breast works like an all-natural Magic Eraser.

Jcarr > crowmolly 05/19/2017 at 10:57

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I tried this once, but I got the runs something terrible. Must have been doing it wrong.

crowmolly > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 10:58

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If you have a German car you need to use pork loin.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > crowmolly 05/19/2017 at 10:59

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#lifehacks

Tim > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 10:59

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Sometimes I’ll get the old Landcruiser up to ludicrous speed (85MPH) and then I’ll turn the air on HIGH. It blows enough dirt from the system to kill a small animal. Everything is now covered in dirt, but I sorta cleaned out the vent passage ways.... does that count?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:00

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1. Don’t have kids

2. Don’t get a dog. If you do get a dog, make sure it is hairless and small enough to put in a tupperware container.

Tripper > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:10

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I like good microfiber towels and Meguiars quick interior detailer for the inside. For thing’s like vents/switches/trays/consoles I usually take them out and wash them.

Jcarr > crowmolly 05/19/2017 at 11:10

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What about Japanese? Kobe beef?

Jcarr > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/19/2017 at 11:12

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1. Too late, although I think I’ve trained him to be pretty clean so far.

2. I’m resisting with all my might, but I’ll have to cave to my wife eventually.

Rico > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:14

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Fold a MF cloth over a credit card, spray the cloth with interior detailer and use it to clean the vents side to side. Much quicker than using one of those brushes or qtips. Move the fold as it gets dirty.

benjrblant > Tim 05/19/2017 at 11:21

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The parking lot at work is dirt. CO being dry as hell and all, every time the a/c fan kicks on it’s like getting a cloud of dust to the face.

Svend > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:21

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I don’t really enjoy doing interiors but start with a good vacuuming, then go onto plastics and seats but finish off with a final vacuum. Some dirt tends to work lose with a wipe that falls onto the seats or carpets that need vacuumed.

If you decide to clean the interior before washing the exterior, don’t dress the interior till after the exterior is done as water can get in or splashed back into the cabin when pressure washing the door shuts and boot shuts.

Always wash the wheels before washing the car. The wheels are a particularly grubby area which can splash back onto the cleaned vehicle.

Also if you can stretch your wallet to it. Get a separate bucket for washing the wheels.

Always clean from top to bottom.

Start with the roof, then do all the windows and pillars, then all the upper areas (above the rubbing strip on the doors), then the lower valances.

The idea behind it is that the dirtiest areas are at the bottom and cleanest at the top. By doing it this way you aren’t drawing up any dirt that may be in your mitt and you don’t have wash going over areas you’ve cleaned.

When cleaning seats, bring them all the way forward and fully recline the seat backs to get right in with the vacuum.

If you’ve a lot of dirt down the side of the seat bolsters, use a detailing brush to loosen the dirt before vacuuming so when you come to use the vacuum nozzle you don’t stretch the fabric/leather or damage the stitching.

Urambo Tauro > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:22

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Carefully use toothpicks and/or stiff-bristle toothbrushes for that hard-caked crud that finds its way into little crevices. Case in point, this airbag that I had to remove recently to fix my horn circuit.

The fine lettering along the bottom was particularly cruddy, so I let it soak in interior cleaner for a minute or two, before picking/scrubbing it out. (Looks like a previous owner got bored with a ballpoint pen or something. I hadn’t even noticed that darker blue in “truck” until I sprayed it.)

Toothpicks work especially well against hard plastics, like for picking out the shift pattern on some shift knobs, but you gotta be a little extra careful on soft surfaces like this airbag.

gawdzillla > crowmolly 05/19/2017 at 11:29

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came here for this, not disappointed

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:30

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We ended up with a 75 lb husky. He is an awesome dog but he sheds 12 months a year so the back of the car is covered in dog hair.

AfromanGTO > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:41

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I got in trouble for this with one of my exs. Brand new make up brushes are awesome for cleaning out small crevices, around buttons, between panels, and vents. Plus they are cheap too. Make sure you ask numerous times if it is ok to have one. Even if she says that isn’t hers, but it turns out it is because she forgot she bought a brand new one at the store, because it is hers and she’ll be mad. Although later you can just put it back in her make-up bag in her purse, and she thinks you didn’t clean the car with it. lol

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 11:49

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Don’t clean your interior

Jcarr > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 05/19/2017 at 11:53

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CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/19/2017 at 12:02

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Or just buy a brush at cvs

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Svend 05/19/2017 at 12:12

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What if you don’t have a BMW 5 series? I’m going to start cleaning my mazda this weekend it’s a mess. Covered in road tar. They chip sealed our road and the seal ozzed up and got stuck to the rocker pannels of both our cars.

arl > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 12:19

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Microfiber and Aerospace 303. Wolfgang spot remover, if needed.

Svend > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/19/2017 at 12:24

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Lol. It was the first graphic I could find that I could quickly alter.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 14:26

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Yellowtail

crowmolly > Jcarr 05/19/2017 at 14:45

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Dolphin

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/29/2017 at 12:55

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These were those fancy makeup places that have their own stores. It was made of the highest quality cruelty free materials. lol

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 12:34

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UUUUGGGG, fine get the same thing marked up at Sephora.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 12:43

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I will use it, but not get it myself. LOL!

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 12:55

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Well I have lol. But it’s hard cause then I want to buy things there... I mean... not for me HA HA HA... What are you looking at? Go away!

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 13:13

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You live in SoCal.... And the male rompers/onesies are coming from there. lol

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 14:21

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Fuck you and the rompers. Just cause I think makeup is fun doesn’t mean I would wear glorified coveralls.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 15:57

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I had buddies who would wear makeup to cover up hangovers and blackeyes. They aren’t glorified coveralls, they are adult onesies. lol

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 16:35

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No a onesie covers feet and may have a butt flap. These are like summer time coveralls cause short pants and sleeves.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 17:05

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The sad part is Dickies has been making these for years, and now companies are selling them for over a hundred bucks.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 17:21

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Lol, yeah but those aren’t fancy prints etc.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 19:07

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So you’ve been looking at them huh? lol

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 19:08

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Forced FB ads unfortunately 

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 19:10

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FYI you can turn ads off in settings. ;)

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 19:13

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I don’t think in the app settings and I rarely use the computer to FB

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 19:21

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Don’t use the app. Be like me, and use it only in the web button on the phone. Then switch to desktop mode to respond to messages. hahahaha

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 05/30/2017 at 19:28

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No thanks. The convenience is too great and I just can’t be bothered to care that much.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/30/2017 at 19:49

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You can keep your convenience. I’ll take the extra 3 seconds to open up the internet app on my phone. lol