Whether you're driving around with pets, kids, friends, or just yourself, a clean car interior makes every ride a little happier. And freshening up the inside isn't just about making it nice for your passengers—it also helps keep your car in good shape. Good car care means taking care of both the inside and outside, so learning a few cleaning tricks can go a long way toward protecting your vehicle and preventing any dangers of having a messy car.
What you'll need
To get your car's interior looking even cleaner than the day you got it, it helps to know which products to use. You can actually repurpose a few household items, but cleaners made specifically for cars will often do a better job of deep cleaning while protecting your car’s materials. Here’s some of what you may need to get started:
- Disinfecting wipes
- Ammonia-free window cleaner
- Leather, carpet, and upholstery cleaner
- Microfiber cloth (or several)
- Sponge
- Dish soap
- Car vacuum with attachments and a crevice tool
- Stiff-bristle scrub brush
- Spray bottle
- Bucket
- Duster
- Paper towel
- Water
One thing to keep in mind: some household cleaners have harsh chemicals that can damage surfaces over time, especially leather, plastic, and fabric. If you’re using something from home, try to avoid strong chemicals or dilute them to protect your car. But if you want the best results, we recommend going with products made specifically to clean and protect car interiors.
How to clean your car interior
Now that you’ve got your supplies ready, it’s time to dive in! Whether you're storing your car for winter or you're just tired of seeing the dust and debris around your car, here’s how to clean every nook and cranny of your car:
1. Clean out any trash or debris
Start by bringing a trash bag out to your car and toss out any wrappers, empty cups, old receipts, and other things that belong in the garbage. Check the floor, cup holders, door pockets, and seat pockets for anything that needs to go. Keep a reusable bag with you for stuff that doesn’t belong in the trash—like a stray toy, pet leash, travel cup, or anything else that’s ended up in the car.
2. Remove and clean the floor mats
Once you've cleared out all the trash, go ahead and take out your floor mats. If you’re planning to wash them with water and cleaner, doing this early on gives them time to dry while you work on the rest of the car. Give each mat a good shake outside to knock off crumbs and larger debris, then vacuum to pick up any dirt still clinging on.
For carpeted mats, grab a carpet or upholstery cleaner and follow the product instructions. You can mix a little cleaner with water in a bucket, scrub the mats, rinse them off, and hang them to dry. Some carpeted mats can even be machine-washed, so check the label to see if that’s an option.
For rubber, silicone, or vinyl mats, a hose works well to rinse off loose dirt. For a deeper clean, try a mix of warm water and dish soap with a scrub brush. Be sure to rinse off all the soap, then let them air dry before putting the clean floor mats back in the car.
3. Vacuum the seats and floors
With the floor mats out, it’s time to give the rest of the interior a good vacuum. Go over the front and back seats, the floor, and even the trunk if it needs it. Use the vacuum attachments to reach those tricky spots—like the cupholders, under the pedals, along the door panels, and that gap between the windshield and dashboard.
4. Clean the windows
Start by brushing off any visible dirt from your interior windows, windshield, and the tracks underneath them. Then, spray a glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe them down. Then, wipe everything down with a second clean microfiber cloth, which will help leave the glass streak-free.
5. Wipe down the dashboard
While your vacuum can tackle a lot of dirt and dust, it might be too bulky for those smaller spots on your dashboard. Grab a duster or microfiber cloth to clean your dash and vents—they’re gentle enough to avoid scratching but effective at capturing dust instead of just spreading it around.
Once you’ve dusted, use disinfecting wipes to kill any germs and bacteria that might be hanging out on your dash. Just skip anything with bleach and double-check the labels before using any chemicals in your car.
6. Clean the centre console
Just like your dashboard, it’s essential to clear dust, dirt, and debris from your console, but take extra care around sensitive spots like your gear shift, infotainment panel, and controls. Climate control and radio buttons can be delicate, so be gentle when you’re dusting and disinfecting these areas.
If your car has an infotainment screen, use your ammonia-free window cleaner. Since most screens are plastic, ammonia can damage them, especially if they have anti-glare or anti-fingerprint coatings. You can also lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with distilled water to clean it safely.
7. Wash the car seats
Just vacuuming the seats isn't enough—you need to wash them, too. If you didn't while vacuuming, use a crevice tool to get crumbs and dust out from the seams and between the seats. After that, how you clean depends on your seat type:
For cloth seats
Use an upholstery cleaning machine, or if you’re tackling stubborn stains, try a carpet and upholstery cleaner. Just spray it on, work it into the stain with a cloth or soft brush, and let it sit as directed. Rinse with a damp cloth and blot it dry.
For leather seats
Use a mild soap or leather cleaner and work it into the leather with a soft, damp cloth. Rinse with another damp cloth, then buff dry. Finally, apply a leather protectant to keep future stains at bay.
For vinyl seats
Spray an all-purpose cleaner on any trouble spots and wipe dry with a soft microfiber cloth.
8. Wash the seat belts
Don’t overlook the seat belts! They’re high-touch areas, so it’s a good idea to clean them, too. Use an upholstery cleaner on the fabric straps to tackle grime and any stains. Then, wipe down the metal fasteners and clasps with a damp microfiber cloth. If they're especially sticky from tiny human fingers, add a few drops of dish soap.
9. Remove pet hair
If you have a dog that joins you on your travels, you know the struggle of dealing with pet hair. Chances are good that the vacuum didn't remove all of it. If so, look into getting a rubber-dipped glove. All you have to do is brush your gloved hand over the hair, and it sticks right to the glove. It's super easy! To keep your car’s interior safe from future pet messes, consider using a waterproof seat protector.
10. Clean the steering wheel, door panels, and cup holders
Now, let's clean your cupholders, door panels, and steering wheel. These areas collect dust and germs, so it’s worth giving them a little extra attention. If your cupholders are removable, take them out and wash them in warm, soapy water. A sponge or soft brush works great for scrubbing away any sticky residue. For your door panels and steering wheel—both high-touch areas—use disinfecting wipes to get rid of germs.
11. Freshen up
If your car has an unwanted smell, try freshening it up with baking soda and an air freshener. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and cloth seats, let it sit overnight, and then vacuum it up the next day.
To keep odours under control, place some baking soda or activated charcoal in a sealed plastic container, cut a few slits in the lid, and slide it under a seat. Swap it out every couple of months to keep things fresh. For stubborn smells, you can always try a commercial upholstery odour remover.
For strong, stubborn odours like mould, it’s best to take your car to a professional detailer. Organic stains that have soaked into the seat cushions can turn into a mouldy problem that no amount of surface cleaning or DIY tricks can fix.
How often should you clean your car interior?
How often you clean your car’s interior really depends on your lifestyle and driving habits. If you often have messy passengers like kids or pets, you’ll probably need to clean more regularly. But as a general rule, aim for a deep clean at least twice a year and a light cleaning once a month. For example, give your car a good spring cleaning to wash away winter’s mud and road salt, and then again at the end of fall as part of your winter car maintenance.
Also, some areas might need a little more attention. Wipe down the inside of your windows and windshield monthly (or as needed) to keep visibility sharp. Disinfect high-touch surfaces more often, especially during cold and flu season. Clean up food and drink spills as soon as they happen to keep bacteria and bugs out of your vehicle. And clear any trash or debris from the driver’s floorboard and dashboard if it’s getting in the way of the vehicle controls.
Tips to help you keep your car interior clean longer
Keeping your car clean can sometimes feel like a never-ending job. To make each cleaning easier, try these tips to keep things in order:
- Avoid eating in the car, especially messy foods or sticky treats.
- Use a small container or an in-car trash can to keep litter under control.
- Line your cup holders with silicone baking cups to reduce sticky buildup.
- Get an over-the-seat organizer for travel essentials, snacks, and entertainment for kids or passengers.
- Keep an electrostatic duster, lint roller, and microfiber/soft cloth in the glove compartment or console for quick touch-ups when you’re waiting in the car.
- Use backseat pet covers, and keep a rubber glove or lint roller handy to remove fur from seats or carpet.
- If you’ve got kids, try kick mats to protect the backs of your seats from muddy footprints.
- Apply a leather conditioner or fabric protector to seats to help repel spills and make stains easier to clean.
Don't forget your car insurance
Good car care can go a long way toward protecting your vehicle, and so does having the right car insurance coverage. While some types of insurance are mandatory, like third-party liability and accident benefits coverage, there are other optional coverages, like collision and comprehensive coverage, that can really make a difference if you find yourself needing to file an auto insurance claim.
Contact BrokerLink today!
Having proper coverage is essential, and BrokerLink is here to help. Our insurance brokerage will advocate for you by helping you get personalized quotes and an accurate estimate for car insurance. If you want to learn more about auto insurance, reach out to your local BrokerLink insurance advisor. You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.
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