Detailing - interior cleaning

[taz777]

I'm really into detailing cars as a hobby so I though I'd share some experiences of products that I use. I tend to seek out products that are easy and quick to use.

For this thread I'm focusing on interior detailing - carpet mats, dashboard, door cards, inside surfaces of windows, steering wheel, gear knob, centre tunnel, etc.

I generally break down interior detailing into four parts and in this order:

1. Carpet mats/floor area/pedals;

2. Interior trim (door cards, dashboard, steering wheel, etc);

3. Interior glass surfaces;

4. Leather seats.

Here's the process and products I tend to use:

Carpet Mats
Remove the mats and vacuum clean them. Vacuum the carpets then refit the mats. Wipe down the pedals with an all-purpose cleaner (I use a heavily-diluted Bilt Hamber Surfex HD degreaser as an all-purpose cleaner).

Interior Trim
My current favourite product for cleaning the interior trim is AutoBrite Premium Interior Pink Sheen trim dressing. This effortlessly cleans all of the hard surfaces in the cabin, including satnav screens and the instrument binnacle plastics. Just spray on and wipe off.

Interior Glass
I just use Autoglym Fast Glass spray - less is more - just spray on lightly and buff with an MF cloth or polishing cloth.

Leather Seats
I've used LTT leather care products in the past but have been using Dr Leather Advanced Formula Leather Cleaner Spray lately. Spray it onto seats liberally, use a very soft brush or a thick cleaning cloth to agitate it, leave for a couple of minutes and wipe to a matt finish with a clean MF cloth. You can also spray some on to an MF cloth to give the steering wheel leather a good clean, as well as the gear-knob gaiter.

At the end of the interior cleaning, I spray Chemical Guys Black Frost air freshener lightly onto the carpet mats. It's a lovely fragrance - a bit like a musky after shave.

It'd be interesting to see what others use for interior cleaning.

[Sasha94]

Current routine is usually mats out, dry vac, sort any fabric stains out with Auto Finesse Total, wipe over the leather seats with a damp cloth as they have been protected with GTechniq I1 and considering they are the blond leather they are staying quite tidy because of it, when I deep cleaned the leather when I got it I used Gliptone Liquid Leather and a brush for the heavy cleaning and Dr Leather Wipes to finish. All plastics cleaned with a very very weak APC then dressed with GTechniq C6 Matte Dash and the fabrics in my car have been done with GTechniq I1. Then I stripe the mats and put them back in

Air Freshener wise I have an Auto Finesse Classic Sweet Shop freshener hanging off the rear view.

I only did a full and comprehensive detail on my mini V the other week and it is filthy already!! The joys of 140 miles a day in a black car and a very pale interior with a family and a Dog!!

[wimorrison]

I don't know how the local Romanian car wash does it - all I know is I give them £20 and the car comes back spotless inside and out

The even managed to clean the landrover and the horse-box making them sparkly and shiny!

[taz777]

LOL. Hydrochloric acid and some spit, methinks!

[The Thong]

I use Autobrite products totally. I'm out most Saturdays cleaning the car, it's almost an obsession now. I use Luxury Suds Wash (this is not an Autobrite advert, honest). I use Elegance detailer followed by a coat of Brilliance to seal the paintwork. I use purple rain alloy cleaner every few weeks to get the metal contamination out and a tyre gloss after. I did gloss coat the car with Hellshine Abyss which really enriched the colour.
Outside the Autobrite stable I like using Turtle Wax products, they're easy to use and do what it says on the tin.

[happy diver]

For sixty quid the local Vietnamese crew presure blast the mats to oblivion
and more firmly weld the cars perspiration and urine fragrance into the cloth
with so many gallons of suffocating floral stench masker, that you are only
able to drive it home with your head in another car.

Fortunately with the addition of mould into the mix, the floral stench masker
dissipates after a couple of weeks leaving a scent of dirt, that thankfully
softens to the taste after a couple of weeks more
returning the now pleasantly familiar previous aromas.

and the exterior and glass look great

[purplebargeken]

The local hand car wash crew do a reasonable job for a fiver. I then go to work on the car when I get home. I tend to use the Carplan Demon products, especially the Demon Machine Wash and Demon Shine. They do a good job and are well priced.

I also use the Supernatural range of products, Poorboys and Nattys stuff as well.

However, after many years of cleaning cars 9for a hobby) I also use Cif for cleaning interior plastic and vinyl trim and external chrome. Don't snigger as it actually works.

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by purplebargeken

The local hand car wash crew do a reasonable job for a fiver. I then go to work on the car when I get home. I tend to use the Carplan Demon products, especially the Demon Machine Wash and Demon Shine. They do a good job and are well priced.

I also use the Supernatural range of products, Poorboys and Nattys stuff as well.

However, after many years of cleaning cars 9for a hobby) I also use Cif for cleaning interior plastic and vinyl trim and external chrome. Don't snigger as it actually works.

I service medical equipment.... I use Mr Muscle on the stubborn stuff

[Bantambuddy]

I gave all my interior trim a few coats of 303 aerospace protectant and 12 months later it still only needs a quick dust with the vac and a buff with an mf cloth to bring it back pristine. Carpets were initially treated with diamondbrite sealer so just need vacuuming Leather has Dr Leather wipes for cleaning and Lexol leather conditioner and finally for glass vinegar and a paper towel

[taz777]

How good are the Dr Leather wipes? I've got the spray cleaner which isn't difficult to use but the wipes could be an interesting product for a quick spruce up of the seats.