Smell that? What’s that you sat on? Yeah, that’s your car.
Often, our vehicles get all the use without any TLC. We get it—who has time to clean up the mess in the backseat? Our vehicle’s interior is the first to get neglected, but when it is properly maintained, not only is it more enjoyable to drive for you and your passengers, but it also enhances the longevity of your vehicle’s life and its resale potential.
Here are our expert recommendations to keep your vehicle’s interior as clean as the day you bought it.
Achieve The New Car Smell
The first thing any passenger will notice when you open your car’s door is the smell. There can be many causes of odor in a car, including dropped or rotting food, trapped moisture, mold, mildew, or spillage, and the list can go on. But how do you remove an odor? Here are a few at-home tips if a simple air out and air freshener won’t cut it:
White Vinegar and Water for Hard Surfaces
Vinegar is great for cleaning due to its acidic properties. Mixed with water, it can be a powerful cleaner for sticky or stubborn messes on hard surfaces. If your odor is due to a spilled substance or a sticky residue on a hard surface like the dashboard, door panels, steering wheel, glove compartment, etc., white vinegar and water should do the trick. For more stubborn odors caused by mildew or tobacco smoke, the cleaning requires a little more intensive treatment.
Charcoal and Baking Soda
Charcoal and baking soda are known for their absorbent properties, making them a great tool in combating vehicle odors. When using charcoal, simply leave some activated charcoal in an open bag in your car; the porous charcoal will absorb anything floating around in the air. Baking soda is effective in removing odors from cloth interiors or other fabric surfaces. When using baking soda, sprinkle a thin layer over trouble spots or evenly over your fabric surfaces. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then vacuum it all out. For more stubborn messes, we recommend using baking soda over charcoal to target dirty areas of your vehicle’s surface.
Replace Cabin Filter and Deodorize AC System
Cabin filters serve to filter the air inside your vehicle and are typically found behind the glove box. When you run the air conditioning, your vehicle’s air passes through the cabin filter before cooling off your interior. The general recommendation is to replace your cabin air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles, which would be about 1-3 years for the average driver. While this is not usually the cause of odor in your vehicle, the cabin filter does play a significant role in keeping the air you breathe fresh.
The Ultimate Clean
Your interior is where you spend your time, and the last thing you want is to find the remains of last week’s drive-through lunch in the backseat. One study even revealed that your car could be dirtier than a public bathroom. That’s right, they found the average car’s steering wheel had over four times more bacteria per square centimeter (629 CFU) than a public toilet seat.
An interior detailing service restores your vehicle’s seats, dash and all other interior parts to like-new condition. What sets an interior detailer apart from vacuum stations or DIY cleanings is their specialized tools, cleaning solutions, meticulous attention to detail, and expertise, which allows them to clean surfaces better and make tailored recommendations for your vehicle. Our Crystal Clean technicians will do all of the following during an interior detailing service:
- Shampoo and hot water extract all carpets, floor mats, and seats
- Remove dirt and stains from headliner
- Detail all cracks, crevices, and panels
- Wash windows, mirrors, and sunroof
- Freshen and rejuvenate leather seats
- Clean and wipe out glove box and center console
- Vacuum spare tire compartment and trunk
After our extensive interior detailing package, your vehicle will feel, smell, and shine like new.
Book an interior detail today: https://crystalcleanautodetailing.com/auto-detailing/
Extra TLC
The wear and tear of your vehicle may not be as simple as an interior detail… but don’t worry, we have the answer to that too. Maintaining a fresh interior involves eliminating eye sores or signs of age, such as scratches, tears, or discoloration. The secret is you don’t need to spend all that money replacing your interior upholstery or leather seats when we offer interior repair and restoration services. Our expert technicians tackle large interiors to restore upholstery, plastic surfaces, leather, and even steering wheels to ensure your interior is not only clean but well-maintained, adding longevity and resale potential.
