How unwelcoming is stepping into a car full of spots and scratches? You don’t want your vehicle to be one of those, right? While cleaning a car’s interior seems simple, you must have the proper knowledge and technique to do it right. Don’t worry! It’s not rocket science—avoid a few common mistakes and boom! Your car will shine as if it has just come out of the showroom, even after years of purchase.
Using Wrong Cleaners
Most car owners like the idea of using their dishwashing liquid for car interior cleaning. It’s handy, and you might wonder what could go wrong. Well, interior surfaces are much more sensitive than utensils; therefore, a harsh chemical can make your car look ragged. The ammonia and bleach in household detergents or cleaning liquids may cause issues like discoloration of upholstery and damage to tinted windows.
Directly Wiping the Surfaces
Wiping the surfaces with a wet cloth may give an instant glow and great satisfaction. However, it’s not very practical if it’s not preceded by vacuuming. What will happen if you wipe the dirt and food particles from a sofa without picking them up first? The tiny particles will get stuck into the creases, rendering thorough cleaning rather difficult or impossible. Therefore, vacuuming the surface to eliminate any particles before wiping it is the way to go.
Using Too Much Water
Remember that your car’s interior needs cleaning – not washing. Unlike the exterior, the interior takes time to dry out, and excess water delays the drying process even more. The result? You’ll see mold embellishing your car now and then. What’s worse is that the water may get into the electric components of your vehicle, causing them to malfunction. Use a damp cloth for cleaning rather than throwing it in buckets of water.
Using Paper Towels
It is a massive misconception that paper towels work great for mirrors. They have coarser fibers, and even a little pressure may result in ugly scratches. However, the solution is simple. You can use microfiber towels for cleaning your car, as they are great with wet and dry surfaces. They are lint-free, highly absorbent, easier to handle, and hypoallergenic – what more can one ask for?
Cleaning in Circular Motion
Wiping the cleanser or dirt off the car in a circular motion might damage your car’s surfaces without letting you realize it. Dirt gets caught between the cloth and the surface when you move it in a circular motion. It may leave your vehicle’s sensitive surfaces with small “swirl marks.” A side-to-side or up-to-down motion helps eliminate this issue.
Ignoring the Manufacturer’s Instruction
Never ignore the manufacturer’s instructions in the user manual since it might contain information about effective cleaning techniques and materials. Look for any caution stated for the process and instructions for cleaning different parts. Do your best to abide by it to make your car’s interior last longer.
Not Cleaning the Tight Places or Crevices
No matter how much time you spend cleaning your car’s seats and mirrors, it won’t thank you with contaminated crevices. Dust and allergens trapped in tight spaces like air vents, small compartments, crevices, and even under the seats harbor an unpleasant smell in your car. Clogging of air vents may encourage moisture buildup, resulting in bacteria growth that may eventually eat out your car’s strength. An old toothbrush or damp cotton swabs help thoroughly clean seemingly inaccessible spots.
Not Test Cleaning a Small Area
Sometimes, you may end up with faded upholstery, even with the best car cleaning products. You never know when a bad day decides to hit you, so it’s always a good idea to test the new cleaning product on a small area to rule out any risk.
Skipping Lubrication
Your car’s interior is susceptible to the deposition of edibles and insect poop. If not cleaned immediately, it hardens and might leave scratches if you use a tool to scrape it off. However, you can ensure the softening of such deposits by applying lubricant over it, which helps with scratch-free and smooth wiping.
Cleaning in Direct Sunlight
The cleaning product will dry on the surface of your car’s material quickly after application if it’s under direct sunlight. Result? Streaks, smudges, and residues! In fact, too much heat, on its own, is detrimental to your car’s surface. Park your vehicle in a shaded place so the cleaning products get enough time to do their work before you wipe it off.
Using the Cleaning Accessories Inappropriately
Having a car cleaning toolbox or detailing kit is cool, but it’ll cause trouble if you aren’t familiar with the purpose of each piece of equipment. Use these accessories appropriately so that you don’t end up damaging the material that is prone to scuffs and scratches.
Washing the Roof
Cleaning the car’s roof might be pretty challenging. Washing it thoroughly with water undoubtedly gives it a cleaner look in no time, but it won’t take much time before it comes loose. Yes, water damages the adhesive material inside the headliner if it’s not waterproof. You can never be sure of the quality despite the claims. Thus, avoid washing it with excess water if you don’t want it sagging inside rather than regretting it later. Dabbing and wiping it with a damp towel serves the purpose.
Not Drying the Surfaces After Cleaning
Use a dry, absorbing cloth to absorb excess moisture off your car interior’s surfaces. Besides the mold growth, we have already talked about not drying your car’s interior after cleaning invites water spots, unpleasant smells, rust, and corrosion.
Using Rough Towels to Dry
Your worst nightmare after cleaning the car must be to have to do it all over again. But how can such a situation arise? Well, it may come after you if you are using the same towels for cleaning, washing, and drying the car’s surfaces. The dirt or grime from the wiping might still be there even if you have rinsed the towels. It can leave the dirt streaks behind. Use a separate and clean microfiber towel to get the desired results.
Not Using Wax After Cleaning
You don’t want your car to look as dirty as before cleaning just a day after you’re done with the job. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the surfaces with some sealant. The UV-repellent sprays and sealant waxes help with this. However, apply a small amount of wax to the surfaces with a brush rather than directly pouring it to avoid dark streaks and spots.
Clean Your Car’s Interior Correctly
In the case of car cleaning, DON’TS are more important to remember than DO’s because the damage is often irreversible. Knowing the impact of these common errors helps you track what went wrong, even if you are getting your car serviced and cleaned by a professional car cleaning service.
More From Driver’s Drift
15 Cars With a Reputation for Insanely High Repair Costs
16 Costly Mistakes You Make When Talking to Car Salespeople
16 Things You Should Keep in Your Car Trunk (You Never Know When They’ll Come in Handy)
13 Warning Signs Your Transmission Is About to Fail
Zainab Noor is a motoring journalist. Childhood rides in Nissan Almera fueled her love for cars. After graduating from AIOU in 2021, she steered her passion into freelance writing. You can find Zainab on LinkedIn.
