How to Detail Your Car’s Interior

The Right Order and Process

With every chore, workout, or project, I have learned that having a plan makes the whole process easier and faster instead of trying to figure it out along the way. Detailing is no different. In every process I discuss, I will always start with the order in which to execute it. When you know where you’re going, you can focus on where you’re at so you’re not constantly thinking about what’s next.

When it comes to interior detailing, it makes little sense to remove the floor mats only to find personal items, trash, and other clutter still in the way. You’ll also find it’s better not to wipe down the dashboard before vacuuming the carpets, because you’ll just have to go back and do it again after the vacuum kicks up dust from the carpets.

Let’s go over the basic order, so you have a process you can follow every time you detail your interior.

Empty the Trash

When I started detailing for a living, I added a charge for removing any trash and personal items from the interior and trunk area. The less I had to move, the faster I could get to the actual detailing. If you allow items to accumulate in your interior, seeing it clean again may change your mind about letting things pile up in the first place. It’s a lot easier to keep the incidentals out than to allow them to pile up. So remove the trash, socks, toys, and mail from two weeks ago from both the interior cabin area and the trunk. Sort it, trash it, or set it aside.

Once you’ve done that, take out the floor mats and trunk mat (if applicable) and set them off to the side.

Brush It

Before we vacuum, let’s loosen and release any loose dust and dirt hiding in crevices such as air vents, seat rails, in the tight spots, cupholders, between the steering wheel and instrument cluster gauge, door pulls/handles and so on. Use a soft interior brush to handle this task so you don’t inadvertently scratch the surface. If you have leather seats, you can use a suede brush to get the accumulated dust between the seat cushions.

The idea is to move the dirt out of these tight areas and onto surfaces where the vacuum can easily pick it up.

Vacuum

Vacuum loose dirt and dust from carpet, floor mats, and crevices. This way, if you need to use an extractor (like a Bissell or Rug Doctor) for heavier dirt or a deeper cleaning, you won’t be adding extra work to the extractor.

Trim and Surface Cleaning

First, I decide the level of dirt that needs to be cleaned. There are certain areas I call touchpoints that usually need to be addressed first. They include the steering wheel, shift knob, armrests, kick panel, and running board. These touchpoints are the areas that come into contact with your body or footwear most often and, as a result, have the most grime and dirt buildup.

Here’s where a stronger cleaner may be required first. Using a product like Detailers Finest Interior Cleaner, a concentrated detergent cleaner, will easily cut through body oils, suntan lotions, dirt, dust, and rubber scuff marks without harming the surface. You’ll be shocked at how much dirt you’ll find on the towel.

Not every surface needs this level of cleaning, which is why I prefer to spot-clean the heavily soiled areas first rather than use an aggressive cleaner throughout the entire interior.

Afterward, I wipe down all plastic trim surfaces from the dashboard, door panels, center console, armrests, and so on with a light cleaner and protectant such as Interior Cleaner. Not only does it clean the surface, but it also leaves a natural factory finish and keeps it looking clean for weeks.

Leather Cleaning and Care

If you have leather upholstery, you’ll want to keep it clean and conditioned so it doesn’t become dull and crack later in the years. The good news is that it doesn’t require much effort.

First, you’ll want to wipe off any loose dust, including any dust you may have loosened when brushing in our first step. Take a microfiber cloth and lightly spray with Interior Cleaner.

After you’ve wiped it down, you’ll want to condition the leather. Use a one-step conditioner such as Nextzett Leather Care.  Modern automotive leather is typically coated, so avoid heavy conditioning products designed primarily for uncoated leather goods. Those products may leave the seats unnecessarily slick or greasy.

Glass Cleaning

The final step is to clean your glass. We save this for last so we can remove any fingerprints or overspray (from the dashboard cleaner, as an example). Use an ammonia-free glass cleaner (to prevent damage to tinted windows) and a microfiber towel. Spray and wipe, making sure to remove all residue, so it doesn’t haze up and attract dust later (a glass-cleaning microfiber towel excels at removing excess residue for a spot-free finish). Be sure you clean the rearview mirror and rear windows too – areas easily forgotten or bypassed.

Final Inspection

Look over everything to make sure you didn’t miss any spots. Areas easily missed include cup holders (including the rear ones), vents, seat rails, underneath the seats, the rear panel below the rear windshield, and door pulls and handles.

Move the seats forward and backward during this final check. You’ll often find dirt or missed areas that were hidden during the first pass.

Final Thoughts

When you detail the exterior of your car,, you feel good because it looks good. When you detail the interior of your car, you feel good because you live in the space, and when it's clean, it just feels good. No clutter and no dust. No hazy film masking your view of the road ahead.

Maintain it by wiping down the interior every few weeks and keeping the clutter out.  A few minutes of maintenance every couple of weeks can keep you from having to repeat the entire deep-cleaning process later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the correct order to detail a car interior?
Start by removing trash and personal items, then brush loose dust from crevices, vacuum, clean trim and surfaces, clean seats, clean the glass, and finish with a final inspection.

Q: Should you vacuum before cleaning the dashboard?
Yes. Vacuuming first helps prevent dust from being kicked back onto surfaces you have already cleaned.

Q: Should you remove floor mats before detailing the interior?
Yes. Removing the floor mats gives you better access to the carpet underneath and makes it easier to clean the mats separately.

Q: Why should you brush the interior before vacuuming?
Brushing loosens dust and dirt from vents, seams, seat rails, cupholders, and other tight areas so the vacuum can remove it more effectively.

Q: What areas of a car interior get the dirtiest?
Common high-contact areas include the steering wheel, shift knob, armrests, kick panels, door pulls, and running boards.

Q: Do all interior surfaces need a strong cleaner?
No. Stronger cleaners are best reserved for heavily soiled areas. Most interior surfaces only need a mild, interior-safe cleaner.

Q: How should you clean leather car seats?
Remove loose dust first, then use a cleaner and conditioner designed for modern automotive leather rather than heavy products intended for uncoated leather.

Q: Should interior glass be cleaned last?
Yes. Cleaning glass last removes fingerprints, dust, and any overspray left behind during the rest of the interior detailing process.

Q: What kind of glass cleaner should you use inside a car?
Use an ammonia-free automotive glass cleaner, especially if the vehicle has tinted windows.

Q: How often should you clean your car interior?
A light interior wipe-down every few weeks can help prevent dirt and clutter from building up and reduce the need for frequent deep cleaning.