Do It Yourself: Efficient Interior Cleaning

The surface area may be much smaller than that of your home, but the extent to which everything is used is undoubtedly much greater! At Auto's Verschueren, we attach great importance to a spick and span car interior. Unfortunately, there is no system of service vouchers to finance a professional interior cleaning. That's why we are happy to provide you with some simple tips to do it yourself. Those who regularly give their car's interior a thorough refresh enjoy greater driving comfort and also invest in a longer lifespan and better preservation of their vehicle's value.

First things first

Can you really do everything yourself at home? Unfortunately, we can't promise that. For stubborn stains on fabric, resulting from spilled drinks or other (semi) liquid substances, and for removing dog hair and unpleasant odors, it's best to hire a professional company. However, good news: if you are somewhat cautious with drink cans or cups, (remnants of) food, and dirty clothing, and if you regularly clean the interior thoroughly, you may never need to rely on professional services. It's time to get you started!

Vacuuming

Always start with vacuuming, but don't go about it randomly. First, remove all objects from your car, including the floor mats. The latter are the biggest collectors of dirt in your car, both on the surface and underneath. You can shake them outside and vacuum them separately for the best possible result. A second "obstacle" is your car seats, not only because various residues and small objects seem to "disappear" in them but also because it's difficult to reach the smallest corners with a household vacuum cleaner. You can solve this by using compressed air to blow the dirt from under the seats and then vacuum it up. You might be surprised by what you find!

Fabric

The next step is cleaning the fabric. Some household vacuum cleaners come with a small attachment with a soft bottom, which is ideal for removing dust particles, clothing lint, and (sometimes invisible) skin flakes. If you want to go a step further, you can remove a lot of dirt and neutralize unpleasant odors with a (foaming) product and a sponge at an affordable price. For the hardcore DIYers, there are also spray and extraction cleaners that spray a cleaning product deep into the fabric fibers and then suck it up along with the loosened dirt. Your seats will undoubtedly thank you, but your wallet slightly less.

Dashboard and Plastic

Next, it's time to clean your dashboard and other plastic elements. There are many cleaning products on the market that are suitable for this purpose, some of which also work well as glass cleaners. It is especially important not to use corrosive products and to work with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid strange spots and scratches. You can also find various cleaning wipes that already contain the right product and sometimes even have an antistatic effect, reducing the likelihood of dirt and grease returning to the treated surface.

Glass

It won't surprise you: time for (yet another) new microfiber cloth! Only when your car is completely cleaned, move on to cleaning the windows and rearview mirror. Visibility - and therefore safety - is of utmost importance here, so you should avoid re-soiling them while cleaning other parts. There are plenty of product options available, including ready-to-use wipes.

Odor

If you want to tackle unpleasant odors, you can use a spray or air freshener. However, they only provide a superficial effect. Persistent odors (such as sweat, pets, or tobacco) are best treated by a professional company. With an ozone treatment, even molds, bacteria, and insects like mites and bugs stand no chance! An ozone treatment is the most effective and environmentally friendly way to refresh the interior of your car.

At Auto's Verschueren, we collaborate with CarCoating Willebroek, ensuring that our customers drive away from our parking lot with a fresh - or let's say, almost new - interior!

A brief recap

Let's summarize the steps once again:

• Remove floor mats and other obstacles before starting the vacuuming process.
• Use compressed air to clean underneath your seats effectively.
• Clean your fabric using a vacuum cleaner and a product that suits your preferences and budget.
• Handle your dashboard and plastic elements carefully to avoid damage.
• Clean your windows and rearview mirror as the final step.
• Mask unpleasant odors or have your car treated with ozone.

If you have any questions or want to know more about how we rejuvenate our cars down to the smallest details, feel free to reach out! If your car needs a deep cleaning or ozone treatment, you can also directly contact CarCoating Willebroek.

See you soon! Dirk Verschueren