There’s nothing quite like getting a new car. Amidst the many benefits of a new-car purchase, one of the best things about it is the fresh new interior and that new car smell. What if we told you that you could get all of that without blowing a hole in your bank balance? Here’s our tips on how to clean your car interior so that it looks brand new.

First things first, let’s declutter

We’re all culprits for throwing things to the backseat of the car, never to be seen again.

However, if you want to give your car the elbow-grease fuelled, deep clean it deserves then this is the first place to start. Bag up the empty bottles, empty CD cases and anything else that may have piled up in your car over the months and years.

In fact, you should take everything out of your car during the cleaning process to ensure you hit every nook and cranny. This’ll give you a chance to organise those items that must stay when you put them back, too.

Clean the inside console

Once you have a junk-free car, next thing to do is to pull out the marigolds and get hands on.

You should be cleaning your console regularly to ensure there is no build up of grime and dirt. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to do so! We’d recommend using a wet rag and some standard household cleaner to wipe down all the surfaces. They’ll be gleaming in no time at all.

Another top tip, courtesy of Dronsfields, would be to use an old toothbrush to get deep in to those crevices such as behind door handles and around the volume knobs on your radio.

Clean the windows

Far too many people’s car window cleaning routine extends to a quick wipe down whilst washing and not much else. For a visibly cleaner car, and an exterior that looks like new however, you’ll be wanting to go a little farther than this.

An old (dry) rag and some household window cleaner will do the trick in no time at all. Or, if you’re more of a DIY-kinda-person then why not try creating your own? Try mixing:

  • 2 cups of water (distilled or filtered is recommended so that it doesn’t leave a residue)
  • 2 tablespoons of vinegar
  • 10 drops of essential oil (lemon is great for masking the smell of the vinegar)

This easy-to-make concoction is sure to land you with streak-free, gleaming car windows in no time at all.

Clean the seats and upholstery

One of the best ways to get that ‘new car feel’ is to give your seats and upholstery a good, deep clean.

Start by taking all the mats out of the car and rolling the seats back so you’re sure to hit every spot. Then, begin vacuuming. Make sure you vacuum your car from top to bottom, including the inner ceilings. Though vacuuming alone is a failsafe way of securing a looks-like-new interior, you may also want to freshen up your car even more by heeding the following tip:

Mix one cup of lukewarm water with a 1/4 teaspoon of liquid detergent and a few drops of essential oils. Rub this in to the carpets, seats and ceiling of your car interior before vacuuming and leave for 5 minutes.

If you have leather seats then it goes without saying that vacuuming them perhaps isn’t the best way to go about it. Instead, give them a good old fashioned wipe down with some trusty leather cleaner to have them sparkling in no time.

You should also give your car mats a vacuum whilst you’re at it, heeding the aforementioned ‘freshen-up’ tip.

Finishing touches

After the deep clean is executed (and the hard work is done) the last thing to do is to finalise and finish up your cleaning routine.

You can spritz up your car even more with a few sprays of essential oil or by using an in-car air freshener.

You may also want to air out your car for a while if you’re in no hurry to take it for a spin. It’s a good idea to let the seats dry, especially if you’ve been using cleaning products with vinegar in as if not aired, this can leave an unpleasant smell.

To make things easier for you (don’t say we don’t do anything for you) here’s a 13-point checklist of things you should be doing during your cleaning routine to ensure an interior that is literally as good as new:

1. Clean out the clutter
2. Take all valuables and belongings out of the car for cleaning
3. Wipe down the dash/console
4. Get down into those nooks and crannies
5. Clean the inside windows and mirrors
6. Remove all car mats and push the seats back
7. Create a ‘freshen up’ DIY vacuuming mix
8. Vacuum floors, ceilings and car seats (if applicable)
9. Wipe down the seats
10. Vacuum the car mats
11. Air out the car
12. Put everything back in (mats, belongings removed earlier etc.)
13. Add those finishing touches

For more advice on Mercedes maintenance, contact us today.