Super Clean Your Interior

How to Super Clean Your Interior - ChrisFix

As a first time car owner, I wanted to do my due diligence and take care of my car properly. Everyone knows ChrisFix and luckily he has a super clean series were he cleans everything in his cars. Here are the key things I learned from this video. This serves as a quick guide for anyone wanting to super clean their interior without watching the video along with all the extremely helpful tips he gives throughout. 

3 Step Process for the Dashboard:

1. Remove all the dust from the dash

• Vents: Use the microfiber finger brush to clean fins on vents. Brush the vent with a vacuum next to it.

  • Optional: Use a vacuum attachment with flexible straws to clean deep in the vents.

• Rest of the Dash: Use high pile microfiber and mist it outside of the car with water. Wipe down the dash with the misted microfiber to get all dust.

  • If you're inside the car, spray into the microfiber to minimize spraying the other parts of the interior.

  • Use the microfiber to wipe down the infotainment screen. 

  • Use the brush and a vacuum to clean the center console buttons and dials. 

• Steering Wheel and Gauge Bezel: Use a lightly misted microfiber towel with very light pressure and swipe straight across in both directions.

  • Using paper towel or a brush will leave scratch marks on the Gauge Bezel

  • Don't use compressed air because it might get dust inside the Gauge Bezel with no way to clean it from the outside. 

2. Clean the dash

• Dashboard: Spray the Meguiar's Quik interior Detailer Cleaner and spray it into a brush to minimize spray droplets. Saturate the dash and use the brush to really clean the dirt out of the dash. 

  • Brushes are the key to cleaning your dash as they get into all the cracks and crevices. 

  • Don't let the Detailer Cleaner dry because the dirt will just dry on the dash. Use your microfiber cloth to wipe all the cleaner. 

• Infotainment System: Use the brush with Detailer Cleaner and clean the screen. Wipe off the screen with your microfiber and then clean the rest of the vents and buttons. Next, clean all the buttons and dials in the center console with the brush. Don't forget to clean the control knob and dials. 

• Steering Wheel: Use your brush with cleaner and then wipe down your wheel down with your microfiber cloth. 

  • If your Steering Wheel has discoloration it means that dirt has gotten into the leather. Use a microfiber with soapy water to wipe down the wheel and a toothbrush with soapy water to get into the stitching or harder to clean areas. 

    • Don't use a product with shine, slick, or greasy finish because it will make the wheel slippery.

• Turn Signal: Use a microfiber towel with soapy water and lightly wipe down the turn signal being careful not to wipe off the symbols. 

  • Cleaners will remove the turn signal symbols so only use soapy water with light pressure.

• Pedals: Put a towel under the pedals and use a toothbrush with soapy water to clean them. The towel will keep your carpet clean and you can wipe down your pedals after brushing them. 

  • Use a pick to get the rocks and dirt out of the pedal. 

3. Protect the dash

• Protect the Dashboard: Use the Meguiar's Natural Shine Protectant on the dash since it's low gloss. You can use high gloss for the rest of the interior. Spray your low gloss protectant into a brush and work the protectant into the dash so that it can be absorbed by the dash. Don't get any of the protectant on the glass. 

  • Do not use high gloss protectant as it will reflect light into your eyes when the sun is out. 

  • Buff off the protectant with a clean microfiber cloth after applying the protectant.

• Protect the Infotainment System: Use the protectant with the brush and try not to get the protectant on the screen. If you do, buff it out with a microfiber towel.

  • Get any debris lodged in the cracks of the infotainment system with a brush and wipe everything off with a microfiber cloth.

• Center Console: Use the high gloss protectant on the center console. It's fine to use the high gloss since the sun won't reach the center console. 

• Steering Wheel: Lower the steering wheel and use a brush to clean behind the wheel and the vinyl boot. Don't get any on the Steering Wheel or Gauge Bezel. Wipe off the protectant with a microfiber towel.

  • Don't forget to get in between the Steering Wheel and the base. Use a microfiber cloth.

How to Clean Gloss Surfaces: 

• Treat these surfaces like painted surfaces: Use Meguiar's Waterless Wash & Wax and apply it to a microfiber towel. Wipe down the glossy surfaces and then use a clean dry microfiber towel to buff off the Waterless Wash & Wax. 

  • Don't forget the door panel glossy surfaces. 

Door Panels:

1. Clean: Vacuum the dirt out of the cloth and the upper and lower door pockets. Use Meguiar's Quik Detailer Cleaner with a brush to get into all the textured surfaces. Use the brush on the window switches and remove rubber inserts in the door pocket for cleaning if you have them. Wipe down the door panels with a microfiber towel.

• Use a carpet cleaner on fabric surfaces if your doors have them. Use a vacuum to suck the carpet cleaner and dirt out of the fabric. Rub the fabric with a microfiber cloth to absorb any of the remaining liquid and dirt. 

• Use a brush with cleaner to get into the speakers, wipe it down with a microfiber towel, and then vacuum anything remaining in the speaker holes. 

2. Protect: Use Meguiar's Supreme Shine Protectant sprayed into a brush and get complete coverage of the panels for an even finish. 

• Don't get the Protectant on any fabric or windows. Make sure the windows are rolled down. Buff out the protectant with a microfiber towel. 

• Don't forget the rubber inserts. Brush some protectant on them and wipe them down with a microfiber towel. 

• For the Speakers, use the brush to get the protectant into the holes and then wipe them down with a microfiber towel. 

3. Painted Door Jam/Sill Cleaning: Use the Waterless Wash & Wax sprayed into a microfiber towel and wipe away the dirt to get a beautiful finish. Don't forget the rubber wire loom. Clean the dirt off the rubber by wiping it down with a towel and then use a brush with protectant. Wipe it down with a microfiber towel afterwards. 

• If you have debris imbedded into the paint of your door jam, use some Wash & Wax use a clay bar to rub out the debris. Wipe it down with a microfiber towel after cleaning. 

4. Plastic Door Sill Cleaning: Use a toothbrush with soapy water to clean the plastic of the door sill and then use protectant in a brush to protect the plastic. 

Center Console: 

1. Remove and Clean All Rubber Inserts: Use a Steam Cleaner to clean the rubber inserts. The steam will also sanitize the inserts. Use soapy water with a toothbrush to get the final debris out. Blast the inserts with the Steam Cleaner for a final cleaning. Use the protectant with a brush to protect the inserts and wipe them down with a microfiber cloth. 

• Don't forget to clean out the actual center console with the Steam Cleaner before placing all the rubber inserts back in their place. 

2. Clean and Protect the Exterior: Use Meguiar's Quik Detailer Cleaner with a brush to clean the Center Console exterior. Once again, use protectant with a brush to protect the center console and wipe everything down with a microfiber towel. 

Shift Knob: 

Don't forget to Clean the shift knob boot/plastic. You can move the shift knob from top to bottom and clean anything with gunk. Use the cleaner and protectant and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. 

Windows: 

Important to pay attention to: Use a cleaner that is safe for tint. Use fresh clean glass towels. Use a high pile buffing towel.

1. Reconnect the battery and roll up the windows. Use one glass towel for cleaning, another glass towel for drying, and a soft microfiber towel for buffing. 

• Don't spray directly onto the glass to avoid getting droplets on the clean door panels. 

• Spray glass cleaner onto your cleaning towel and wipe down the glass with the towel. Go horizontally and then vertically. Use your drying towel going horizontally and then vertically. Lastly, use the buffing towel for a cleaning. 

• Do both sides of the glass. Don't forget the top of the glass. You need to roll your windows down to get them. Clean, Dry, and Buff. 

2. Windshield: Have your body outside the car and extend your arm into the car to reach the entire window. 

• Optional: You can use a cleaner with a swivel to reach further and have an easier time reaching the deeper parts in front of your dash. 

3. Rear View Mirror: Don't forget to clean the rear view mirror!

4. Rear Window: Follow the same 3 step process: Clean, Dry, Buff. Only wipe in the horizontal direction following the heating element lines and don't use too much pressure. This is to avoid damage to the heating element.