An introduction to Detailing – Pt1. Interior

This month with Simply Brands, we’re focusing on Auto detailing! Detailing is more than a thorough wash and those working in the industry will forever be annoyed at being called a car wash/valeter. In essence, Auto detailing is about restoring the exterior and interior of the vehicle back to a showroom condition, and at the same time, protecting the vehicle from the elements.

With Spring on the way bringing warmer weather and lighter nights, investing your time in getting your vehicle looking nice again isn’t such a bad idea especially as it’s not going to be filthy the second you leave your drive.

We will be going over both exterior and interior cleaning methods this month but today, let’s take a look at the interior. After all, that’s where you spend most of your time, so you want the space to be clean and comfortable.

Remember that ‘new car’ feeling and smell when you first got the car? Let’s try and replicate that!

This isn’t about getting it done as quickly as possible so just think about all the little cracks and hard to reach areas. The finish is in the details.

Step 1: Remove rubbish and Vacuum

One of the simplest steps, but additionally, one of the best for looking clean. You wouldn’t believe how much sediment is trapped in your upholstery. Firstly, you’ll want to empty the car or all rubbish and obstacles so grab a bag and get rid of all the rubbish from the floor, seats and pockets. Then, grab a vacuum and pick up all the bits, crumbs and stones from the seats and floors to get the majority of the visible muck and mess away. We find a brush and a thin nozzle attachment are the best for getting the most of the dirt out from your upholstery. For your seats, you may need to apply pressure to the area to access all the crevices.

For on-going maintenance, you can keep a handheld hoover to hand to help keep your vehicle cleaner for longer.

Step 2: Dust that Dash

It’s amazing how dusty the car can get, especially in those hard to reach areas. You don’t even notice it until you start to wipe it clean! A heavy-duty microfibre dust towel works best at removing the build-up of dust. You may find a dry soft brush works well at getting to all those hard to reach areas in vents and around buttons.

Step 3: Clean and Buff

Every car detailer loves their set of microfibres! So be sure to have a good set of quality microfibres and brushes to clean the inside of the door cards, steering wheels and any other exposed areas.

For dirtier areas, such as the pedals, go for a cheaper microfibre option like these Simply buffing cloths. They’re bound to get soiled quicker so a more affordable solution is best. It’s all about quality so take your time when cleaning those extra dirty areas.

Step 4: Leather or Upholstery?

This step largely depends on the type of interior you have in your car. You can get a range of fabric, leather or general cleaners depending on which area of the car you’re working on and what it needs.

If you have fabric upholstery, saturate the seats and carpet with a mix of water and cleaning solution, and work the products in with a firm cleaning brush. Use a specific wet vac to extract and remove as much moisture and dirt as possible.

Leather requires a slightly different cleaning method to upholstery. The material can harvest a lot of grease, oil and dirt that we as humans transfer from our skin. For best results, you’ll want to find a specific leather cleaning solution and a soft cleaning brush. You will notice the material has a matt finish if done correctly but as the leather cleaner removes natural oils from the leather, you will need to replenish the material with a suitable balm or moisturiser to stop the material from drying out and cracking.

Step 5: Plastic Protection

Any plastics in the car can be given a showroom finish or even protection by applying a plastic dressing. Simply spray on a plush microfibre cloth and work it into the plastic. This will keep it looking fresh and new for so much longer!

Step 6: Glass Cleaning

The final step for the interior cleaning of your car is cleaning the glass and one we leave until the end for obvious reasons. Firstly, clean and dry the glass with warm soapy water. Then, use a glass cleaner and suitable cloth to spray and wipe for a streak-free finish. Keep wiping and buffing until there are no smear marks on the glass.

And there you have it! This isn’t something you’re meant to do in your lunch hour and the more time you spend, the better the results will be. In fact, getting into the finer details can become a bit addictive and you’ll eventually find yourself working on your car all day!

Check out the links from each of the products above to learn more about the tools you need to do the job well or see our full car detailing range here.

If you love car detailing, don’t forget to share your tips on our socials too! And check back here later this month when we will be focusing on detailing the exterior detailing process.