Tips for Cleaning Your Car’s Interior

It is recommended to check your owner’s manual before selecting products to clean your car’s interior as many products are not recommended for certain types of fabric and interior components.  Before using any product it is also a good idea to test each one on a small inconspicuous area to make sure that fading or damage does not occur.

A paint brush and a toothbrush are nice substitutes for purchasing expensive cleaning tools for hard to reach spots.  Try brushing the dirt up into the air with the paint brush while you hold the vacuum as near as possible to the area to suck up the dirt and debris as it flies up into the air.  For getting dirt out of places that your vacuum cleaner cannot reach, try reversing the air flow so that air is blowing out to blow the dirt to an area where you can easily pick it up with the vacuum.  Don’t get too aggressive with the brush, carpet fabrics are not always that well made (even in high end vehicles) and may tear or fray fairly easily

Use dry ice or a commercial gum removal product to get gum out of the exterior and mild soap and water to clean the seat belt fabric.  Wipe the dashboard down with warm water and clean the windows either with a commercial window cleaner, or a mixture of 20 parts water and 1 part vinegar.  This mixture can also be used to remove odors (like spilled milk) that are otherwise difficult to eliminate.

Avoid  using any type of abrasive cleanser, particularly on the plastic protective covering over the instruments on the dash board, they are very easily scratched.

To clean upholstery, it is recommended to use a safe water based commercial cleaner that is color fast and will not cause fading.  An all natural product without harsh or irritating ingredients is  safe for you as well as your car.

Use these tips and you will be guaranteed to keep your vehicle you purchased from St. Louis Auto Stop’s used car dealers in like new condition.