Cleaning Your Car Interior: Step by Step

Cleaning your car's interior is quickest in a fixed order: first clear out and vacuum, then clean plastics, dashboard and upholstery from top to bottom, and finally the inside of the windows and the care for matt plastics. That way no dust falls onto surfaces that are already clean. You don't need household remedies for interior car cleaning – an interior cleaner that leaves no film and two or three clean microfibre cloths are enough.

In this article you'll learn how to clean your car's interior step by step, which products belong on which surfaces and how often a thorough clean is worth it.

Cleaning the car interior: the right order

1. Clear out: floor mats, rubbish and loose items out, including from door pockets and the centre console.

2. Vacuum: thoroughly vacuum seats, footwells, boot and gaps. A crevice nozzle and a soft brush get the dust out of air vents and seams. Shake out and vacuum the floor mats outside the car.

3. Clean from top to bottom: headliner and sun visors only if needed, then dashboard, steering wheel, centre console, door panels and finally sill plates and footwells.

4. Clean the windows inside: only after the cockpit, so that no cleaner overspray lands on freshly cleaned glass.

5. Refresh plastics: care for matt plastic surfaces last, once everything is clean and dry.

Cleaning the car interior: plastics, dashboard and upholstery

For interior surfaces, use a cleaner that neither smears nor shines. According to the product description, GLOSSDOC INTERIOR CLEAN & FRESH removes dust, grease and dirt from plastics, textiles, dashboards and other interior surfaces – without residue or unwanted shine – and leaves a fresh scent. Here's how:

• Spray the cleaner onto a cloth, not directly onto switches, displays and electronics.
• Work in small sections and wipe with a dry side of the cloth.
• Don't forget the steering wheel, gear lever and door handles: this is where most skin oil collects.
• With fabric upholstery, work spot by spot: put the cleaner on the cloth, dab stains from the outside in, don't rub, and let it dry well. With sensitive fabrics, test the cleaner on a hidden spot first.
• Leather is a material of its own and needs care made for it. Here too, test every product on an inconspicuous spot first.

A good cloth is the GLOSSDOC Blue Interior Microfibre Cloth (40 × 40 cm): it is made for interior cleaning, lint-free and scratch-free, and is used dry or slightly damp depending on the dirt. Only wipe displays and piano black in the glossary trim with a soft cloth and without pressure – such as the microfibre cloth for displays and touchscreens. Why microfibre is gentler than a cotton rag is explained in the glossary.

Cleaning the windows inside

On the inside of the windows, a film forms from plasticisers in the plastic parts and other fumes. In backlight and wet weather it causes glare and streaks. According to the product description, GLOSSDOC QUICK GLAS Glass Cleaner is suitable for windows, mirrors, displays and tinted surfaces and removes dirt, grease and fingerprints without streaks. It is best to work with two cloths: one for cleaning, one for buffing dry. Don't clean windows in direct sunlight, otherwise the cleaner dries before it is wiped off.

Refreshing interior plastics with a matt finish

If the plastic is clean but faded or grey, a care product refreshes it. Inside the car it should look rich but not shiny – shiny plastic under the windscreen reflects in the glass in sunlight. According to the product description, GLOSSDOC BLACK INTERIEUR DEEP MAGIC is developed for matt plastic and vinyl surfaces inside the car, gives a deep black, satin finish without greasy residue and protects against drying out. Apply thinly with a cloth, spread evenly and remove the excess. Leave out the steering wheel, pedals, gear lever and handles – they must stay grippy. More in the guide Getting car plastic black again.

Cleaning the interior with household products?

There are plenty of household tips for the interior, from washing-up water to cooking oil for the plastics. For a rough clean of floor mats or rubber mats, mild soapy water can be enough. On plastics, displays and the dashboard, however, household products are a poor choice: washing-up liquid and all-purpose cleaners are often too harsh and leave residue, oils leave a greasy, shiny film that attracts dust and reflects in the windscreen. What the individual household remedies do to plastic is covered in the guide Getting car plastic black again.

Interior cleaning: DIY or professional valeter?

The regular interior clean – vacuuming, wiping the cockpit, cleaning the windows inside – is something you can do yourself with a few products in a short time. A professional valeter is mainly worth it for jobs that need special equipment:

• deep-set stains or odours in fabric seats and carpet that need wet cleaning with extraction,
• heavily soiled cars, for example after transporting animals or a long period off the road,
• leather interiors that need cleaning and elaborate care,
• when you have no time before selling and need a complete result.

What a valeter charges depends on the size of the car, its condition and the scope of work – it’s best to get a specific quote. Between two professional cleans, keep the interior clean yourself using the order above.

How often should you clean your car's interior?

In everyday use it is enough to wipe the cockpit with a damp cloth every few weeks and pick up dust with a dry microfibre cloth. A thorough interior clean followed by plastic care in the glossary is worth it around the change of season or before selling the car. According to the product page, INTERIOR CLEAN & FRESH is designed for regular interior care. You'll find all products in the Interior category and matching cloths in Accessories.

Frequently asked questions

Does the interior cleaner leave a shiny film?

No. INTERIOR CLEAN & FRESH is designed for a clean, natural finish without a greasy shine.

Does INTERIOR CLEAN & FRESH only clean or does it also care?

According to the product page it combines cleaning and light care. For faded plastics, BLACK INTERIEUR DEEP MAGIC then restores the deep black look.

How do I wash the microfibre cloths afterwards?

Wash them out and let them air dry, without fabric softener. Regular washing keeps their cleaning performance. Everything else is in the guide Washing microfibre cloths.

Inside or outside first?

That is a matter of taste. If you are also washing the car the same day, clean the outside of the windows at the end of the wash and the inside after the cockpit. How the exterior wash works is described in our car wash guide.