Tips and information on cleaning the interior of the car
Crumbs in the cracks of the car seats, dirt on the upholstery, greasy windows and dull-looking fittings, with the right tools and equipment you can quickly give the interior of your vehicle the character of a new car again. So you and your passengers feel more comfortable and your car makes an all-round neat impression. This pays off the next time a vehicle is changed at the latest, when a used car buyer looks at the car. Because if your car is in good condition, it is likely to make more money when it is resold. Therefore, you should follow these tips for regular interior cleaning:
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Avoid waste: Empty packaging and leftover food really have no place in the car. The best thing to do is to dispose of such rubbish immediately after every trip to prevent things from collecting on your seats and on the floor.
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Basic cleaning: Coarse dirt on floor mats and in the trunk as well as crumbs, grass or flakes of dust on seats and in cracks, the first thing on the agenda is basic cleaning with vacuuming. You can do this with an extension cord to the house socket with a normal vacuum cleaner or with a powerful device, as it can be used free of charge at many car washes.
Cleaning different surfaces in the interior of the car
Fabric, leather, plastic and wood – very different materials are used in the interior of the car, for example for seats and trim. And you have to take this into account when caring for it. Otherwise you can damage surfaces while cleaning with the wrong cleaning agents. The following guide will help you clean the interior of your car quickly, effectively and gently:
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Plastic surfaces: Plastic fittings and door panels attract dust and should be cleaned regularly to keep the air inside the car cleaner. To clean, you can use warm water with a neutral detergent or washing-up liquid as well as a sponge and a soft cloth.
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Glass surfaces: Over time, the air conditioning and blower leave a thin film of lubricant on the windows and especially on the windshield. Before you have the feeling of driving in fog, you should clean the car windows. To do this, take warm water with a splash of vinegar or a glass cleaner from the spray bottle and a chamois leather or lint-free cloth.
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Fabric seats: If stains remain after the basic cleaning with the vacuum cleaner, you can continue treating the fabric covers of the car seats after vacuuming. With spray foam for upholstery care, many stains can be removed without rubbing. However, pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions on the exposure time and the amount to be used. A tip for removing chewing gum residue: Spray the area with ice spray so that the chewing gum is easier to scrape off the fabric.
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Leather seats: For regular care, the leather covers can be wiped off with a slightly dampened soft cloth. Caution is advised with some microfiber cloths, the use of which can lead to fine scratches in the material of the car seats. Since leather dries out over time and loses its suppleness, you should apply a special leather care product at longer intervals. This contains oils that prevent the leather from cracking. Always follow the car manufacturer’s leather care instructions and read the operating instructions on the packaging of the care product used. Otherwise discoloration or staining of the leather can occur. If in doubt, it is advisable to first test a product on an inconspicuous part of the seat.
Clean the interior of the car before selling it
If a used car gives a neat impression at first glance, then you have a better chance of being able to sell the car quickly for a good price. The preparation of the interior helps, which creates a new look and removes odors from dogs or nicotine, for example. You’ve got used to them, but potential buyers may react negatively to them. If you want to present your used vehicle as fresh and new as possible, these tips for vehicle preparation will help:
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Cockpit spray: Whether it is gray haze or bleached areas, especially dark plastic surfaces in the cockpit change due to the effects of sunlight. Special cockpit sprays give the dashboard a new look and make it shine again.
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Odors: A scented tree, room spray or home remedies such as a can of ground coffee perfume the interior of the car, but not everyone likes the chosen scent. It is more sustainable to eliminate the cause of odors from nicotine and cigarette smoke or from dog hair in the car. This works, for example, with ozone cleaning in special systems in which odor-binding ozone gas is fed into the vehicle.
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Professional vehicle cleaning: If you want to save yourself the hassle of cleaning the car interior and have all the work done in one step, you can entrust the car to a specialist for professional vehicle preparation. He takes over the complete interior cleaning and paint preparation as well as underbody and engine washing. In addition, scratches and dents in the body can be removed. The costs depend on the selected scope of the preparation, and for a complete care with interior and exterior cleaning, prices are calculated from around 350 euros.