The car is a convenience that is used almost daily. Saves you time to move from one place to another, makes it easy to carry luggage, etc. In order to feel comfortable inside, as well as all other passengers, and in order to maintain its good appearance, it must be cleaned. The cabin is covered with dirt and dust, the upholstery is worn, the ceiling is dirty. It is advisable to clean your vehicle thoroughly at least once a year. This is the minimum – otherwise the more often, the better. Take the time to tackle this task, because it is important not only what you look like, but what kind of car you drive. There are several options for cleaning – with home-made detergents, professional cleaning supplies or specialist cleaning. Well, no need to delay – act! It won’t take you that long – it’s worth taking a few hours.

How to prepare the car for cleaning?

Follow the preparation steps to make it as easy as possible to clean your personal or family vehicle:

• Clean the car between everything in the seats, the front and rear seats and the boot. This will make cleaning much easier.
• Turn off any function in the vehicle, switch off the engine and remove the key. This is a preventative measure against short circuits if some of the cleaning products come into direct contact with any part of the vehicle.
• Remove all the mats in front of each seat and luggage compartment mat. Brush them, remove large debris, and apply vacuum to them and the areas below them.
• Wipe the inside with a damp cloth and then go dry again.
• You are now ready to start dry cleaning your car.

What are the tools you need to prepare for cleaning in advance?

Spray bottle for a finer and evener spray on the surface

• Rags – preferably white and microfiber or other softer tissue that will not cause scratching. Equip yourself with more rubbing and wiping so you don’t have to use dirty towels or wash them too often. Keep in mind that some will be used dry and the other will be wet.
• Suitable brushes – a few pieces softer and firmer for easier scrubbing of soiled areas.
• One or more sponges
• Steam generator – in case you have or have someone to borrow from. Otherwise, a steam generator is a good investment, so consider this.
• Car vacuum cleaner
• Effective cleaning products

Steps To Easily Clean Your Car Ceiling?

• Divide the cultivated area into zones and do not clean the entire ceiling at the same time, as this will make it more difficult.
• Apply the foam or detergent of your choice.
• Wait for a few minutes to act and wipe with a dry white cloth. If there are more dirty areas, wait more time before using a dry cloth.
• If the towel or rags you use are damp, replace them with others that are dry. This is an important factor for accurate ceiling cleaning.
• Follow closely one line when wiping, imagine cleaning a rug. It always starts from one end to the other, the same goes with the ceiling – perform the procedure from the windscreen to the boot or in the opposite direction.
• After passing through each section, the ceiling should be clear. If you are not satisfied with the type, you will need to repeat the procedure.
• Be observant – if the foam runs down the windows or the rest of the car, it should be wiped off immediately. It is not advisable to leave it for longer as it can damage the glass and other surfaces.

Steps for cleaning your car mats

The procedure is almost identical to that of the car ceiling, there is a slight difference in the cultivated area. Small rugs are much more contaminated because they are subjected to almost daily tapping. This requires the use of more aggressive tools and slightly coarser tools. Be sure to treat the problem areas first to make sure you have the desired effect. Different types of brushes are allowed here. Use a detergent that allows treatment of the type of tissue that is on the vehicle. If you do not deal with older and stubborn stains, seek professional cleaning.

What to choose from home or professional vehicle interior cleaners?

There is no absolute ban on what to use and what not, but it is still advisable to focus on tried and tested ingredients and more aggressive cleaning products available on the market. Many people resort to self-blended mixtures – making them more cost-effective and using eco-friendly ingredients. However, the truth is that they are not as effective and will not help you deal with old spots on upholstery, carpets, etc.

 To do this, select professional and eco-friendly cleaning products. In addition to producing better results, they leave a pleasant and fresh aroma afterwards. The other advantage is that you have the opportunity to choose a preparation according to the type of surface to be treated. With some home remedies, you could damage the upholstery to the extent that you need to replace it, which will cost you a lot more than a few reliable detergents.

Homemade bedding and some car trims

Hardly any people would risk causing damage to the car’s upholstery or small rugs, but still, get acquainted with some good home cleaners. Before spraying all rugs, test how the preparation will react to a smaller, less noticeable part:

• Soap Cleaning – A good solution for cleaning plastic and many other different fabrics. Prepare by dissolving in hot water. Foam must be formed. Be careful with the type of soap it may damage the fabric.
• Cleaning with cooking salt – salt is a pretty harmless cleaning option over a number of other ingredients. It also has the advantage of absorbing odours. Cleaning with salt is elementary – sprinkle fine salt on the carpets and allow it to act after it is spread well throughout. Then you need to remove the salt – by vacuuming or tapping.
• Cleaning with shampoo or washing powder – the shampoo is dissolved with water and the powder (1 tablespoon) in 1 litre. water. Put them in a bottle and shake the solution before use. Wait for it to work and then remove the solution from the surface with a clean cloth. For stubborn stains, brush with a small brush.

These are some of the basic home remedies you can try to clean car insoles. Of course, there are other products that may come into use – vinegar, ethyl alcohol, ammonia. Keep in mind that no home remedy can help you with old and copious dirt, such as those available on the market, and especially in speciality stores.