Car cleaning tips and tricks

If you spend a lot of time in the car, you've probably got a few bits and pieces you'd like to clean up. The sticky fingerprints on the dashboard, for instance. Or the crumbs in the footwell.

Pushed for time? Here are some simple car cleaning hacks to keep it looking (and smelling) great.

Image credit: Pixabay

Cleaning out tricky parts of the car

There's a knack to getting to all those hard-to-reach places - here's how it's done.

Cleaning under the seats: 10 minutes

Firstly, take all the footwell mats and give them a good shake, then put them somewhere out of the way. When refitting them, ensure they are correctly secured and will not get in the way of the brake or accelerator pedals.

Clear out any rubbish or bits and pieces you can take out of the car, and make sure you check under the seats before you starting vacuuming. Take care though - there might be delicate wiring for heated seats, electric seats, or seat belt pre-tensioners which should not be disturbed.

Finish off with a lint roller - it'll nicely 'fluff up' the carpet and is good for any spots you've missed.

Cleaning the air vents: 5 minutes

First things first - don't use water or baby wipes for dusty air vents unless there's something sticky on them you need to remove first. The moisture will only 'mix' with the dust and smear elsewhere - you want to lift the dust off the vents completely. The best way of grabbing the dust and removing it is using a foam brush.

When the vents are clean, you can give them a once-over with a wet wipe - dry them afterwards with a piece of kitchen towel or a soft cloth. If they stay wet, they'll start to attract dust again almost immediately.

Cleaning the roof lining: 15 minutes

From exploding fizzy drinks to chocolatey fingerprints, even the car roof isn't immune to getting a bit grubby.

Still got a dodgy back from last time you attempted to clean the roof lining? Make it easier on yourself.

• Lay the seats back as far as you can, and kneel on the area your back normally rests against.
• Wear socks so you can adjust your position without worrying about your shoes scuffing the seats.
• If a stain is near the car exterior, it might be easier to stand up and tackle it by leaning in the window from the outside of the car.
• Use a mix of water and mild handwashing soap to dab at the stains - don't wet the fabric too much, or it may take days to dry out and start to grow mould.
• For tougher stains, scrub gently with a soft bristled brush with a tiny drop of washing up liquid.
• Tackle grease stains with a teaspoon of white vinegar stirred into a mug of warm water - dab on the stain with a clean cloth, then dab with water to remove the traces of vinegar.
• Dry all of the wet areas with a dry, soft towel. Too much moisture will make the fabric sag.

Cleaning the dashboard: 5 minutes

Tackling the dashboard is tricky for two reasons - your electronics will suffer if they get wet, and the knobs, dials and fiddly bits aren't easy to wipe down.

Start by running an orange stick (they're short, points sticks used for giving manicures) through the dashboard grooves to dislodge any dirt, then go through them again with a cotton bud dipped in water to remove it.

You can clean the dashboard with a wet wipe - antibacterial wipes are best, as we tend to sneeze, cough and constantly touch the dashboard (it's a haven for germs). Dry it afterwards with a soft cloth.

Getting rid of car smells

From wet dog to eau de takeaway, car smells are annoying and occasionally a bit embarrassing. Here's how to keep your car smelling fresh. Use a scented fabric spray on the seat fabrics and carpet - there are some great odour destroyers available online.

Image credit: Pixabay

• Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to cotton balls and pop them under the seats.
• Soak wooden pegs in essential oils overnight, then clip them onto your air vents. When you turn the air on, the fragrance should fill your car.
• If there's a stain which smells, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on it, leave for a few hours, then vacuum it away.

Cleaning vomit from car seats

If someone's been poorly in the car, here's how to make sure your car doesn't smell of sick for weeks afterwards.

Always wear gloves if you're dealing vomit (or anything else which comes from a human body).

Leather or vinyl seats

• Remove any solid stuff (sorry, there's no nice way to say that) and throw it away.
• Blot the vomit with kitchen towel to get rid of any moisture.
• Wipe down with warm soapy water and a sponge - use mild handwashing soap.
• Dry the seat with a clean tea towel or some absorbent kitchen towel.

Fabric seats

• Remove as much vomit as possible using kitchen towel or a washable dustpan and brush.
• For the best results, use an upholstery cleaner. Make sure you follow the manufacturers' instructions - you don't want it staining your car seats.
• If you can't find upholstery cleaner, use warm soapy water to sponge away the residue.
• Stain not shifting? Try a tablespoon of biological washing powder dissolved in a litre of warm water and gently scrub at the stain.
• Rinse the soapy area with clean warm water and a damp cloth.
• Rub the stain with an antibacterial wipe to kill off any remaining bacteria.
• Use kitchen town or a clean tea towel to remove any excess water.
• If the seat still smells after it's dried, pour some baking soda onto the stain and let it sit for an hour. Vacuum the baking soda away - it should have absorbed the smell. 

Shifting sticky drinks on car seats

In an ideal world, drinks would always stay in their containers, but they have a horrible habit of doing just the opposite.

Before you get started, bear these top tips in mind:

• The faster you deal with a stain, the easier it will be to remove it.
• Test cleaning products on a hidden part of the upholstery to check they won’t ruin the fabric.
• Always rinse out one cleaning product before trying another as certain chemicals are not supposed to be mixed.

Fizzy drink stains: 10 minutes

• Blot up as much of the spilled drink as possible.
• Mix one teaspoon of mild handwashing soap with a litre of lukewarm water.
• Using a clean white cloth, dab the stain with the soapy water.
• Blot until the liquid is absorbed - repeat until the stain has gone.
• Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Orange juice stains: 45 minutes

• If the stain is fresh, blot the area with paper towel to remove as much juice as possible.
• Blot the stain with a clean cloth using a mixture of warm water with a teaspoon of mild handwashing soap.
• This will clean up any sugar and stickiness, but you might find there's still a faint yellowy stain. 
• Apply a few generous squirts of stain remover, and leave for half an hour.
• Rinse the stain remover away with a clean, damp cloth and dab dry.
• Pat the area dry with a towel. You could use a portable hairdryer on a low setting to avoid water marks. 

Milkshake stains: 45 minutes

Act fast if you've got a milkshake or milky coffee spill in your car - dairy-based drinks start to smell if they're not cleaned up quickly.

• Mop up as much of the spill as you can with clean paper towels.
• If you're mopping up a thick milkshake, use something sturdy - such as a tea towel - to scoop it up before it melts.
• Using a clean, damp sponge, dab at the stain with a mixture of warm water and a squirt of washing up liquid.
• Keep rinsing out the sponge, otherwise you'll just transfer the stain.
• Using clean water, blot the stain, and allow it to dry. You can use a portable hairdryer to speed the process up. 

Getting rid of sweet treats

Everyone feels tempted by a sugary pick-me-up from time to time - so here's what to do if your upholstery gets an unexpected sugar rush.

Chocolate stains: 20 minutes

• Don't try to remove the chocolate while it's still squishy - it'll just smear it deeper into your seating. Wait for it to cool and harden before you try and remove it.
• If the chocolate won't cool on its own, pop some ice into a sandwich bag and hold it over the chocolate to harden it.
• Scrape off as much as you can with a blunt knife or a teaspoon.
• Mix a teaspoon of mild handwashing soap with a pint of warm water.
• Dampen a clean cloth and dab the stain; it should start to lighten. Rub gently to remove the chocolate.
• Repeat until the stain has lifted.
• Rinse the affected area by wiping it with a clean, damp cloth and wipe it with a dry towel to remove any moisture.

Sweet stains: 15 minutes

• If a boiled sweet is stuck to your car upholstery, don't try to yank it off - you could rip the fabric.
• Instead, soak a clean cloth in hot water and hold it over the sweet. The heat should melt the sugar, so you can pull it away.
• Mix a teaspoon of mild handwashing soap with a pint of hot water.
• Dampen a clean cloth and wipe the stain with the mixture.
• Rinse the affected area by dabbing it with a clean, damp cloth and dab it dry with a towel.

Image credit: Pixabay

Removing mud and sand from the car

Muddy boots, sandy dogs and dirty clothes are signs of a great day out - but eventually you'll want to get rid of the evidence.

Getting mud off car seats: 20 minutes

If the mud's spread to your car mats too, the stains can be cleaned with some warm water, a small drop of washing up liquid, and a scrubbing brush. To rinse, dab at the soapy parts with a damp, clean cloth.

• Wet mud smears everywhere if you try to move it, so allow it to dry before you get started.
• Pick off any larger chunks by hand and remove as much of the mud as possible.
• Using a bathroom sponge, gently scrub at the stain with a mixture of mild handwashing soap and warm water.
• Repeat until the mud's all gone, then dry with clean paper towels.

Getting sand out of your car: 30 minutes

Prevention is the best cure for a sandy car - but here's what to do if you can't help bringing half the beach into the car with you.

• Allow wet sand to dry - you may have to leave the car overnight and tackle the sand the next day.
• Empty the car, take out the car mats, and give them a good shake.
• Once the car is empty, vacuum every nook and cranny - don't forget your gear stick and cup holders. Use a cotton bud to dislodge sand from narrow gaps as you go.
• Sand doesn't stain, so you don't need to wash your upholstery. Wet sand clings to fabric but is easily vacuumed up when dry.

Removing unwelcome extras: Sparkly stuff, stickers and gum

How to get rid of glitter: 15 minutes

Whether it comes from party hats, crafts, cosmetics or kids' clothes, glitter can be a real pain to get rid of, particularly from soft furnishings.

• If there is a large spill on a flat surface, use a damp paper towel to sweep it into a pile. If the glitter is sticking to the surface, use a tumble dryer sheet to sweep it together (these sheets are very soft and smooth, so glitter won't stick to them).
• Use a vacuum cleaner or a dust buster first.
• Use a lint roller to get rid of any stray pieces.
• Finally, use a piece of tape to pick up any remaining bits.
• Blow up a balloon and rub it on a carpet or a woolly jumper to charge it with static electricity, then rub the balloon over the fiddly bits which have avoided capture.  

How to remove stickers: 10 minutes

Sticker books are great for keeping little hands and minds occupied in the back seat. Once they're done wallpapering the passenger doors, here's how to shift any sticky residue.

• Remove as much as you can by hand. Yes, it may tear and look ugly - that's OK. Just take off what you can.
• Don't use a sharp object (such as a stripping knife). You could do yourself a mischief - and damage the upholstery.
• Soak off the glue using a flannel soaked in hot, soapy water. Hold it on the sticker for 1 minute, then gently scrub away with the flannel.
• If there's any extra glue residue, use a pencil rubber to rub it away. You can also dab the glue with a cotton ball soaked with an acetone-based nail varnish remover and gently rub away the glue - but make sure you test it first on a hidden part of the upholstery to make sure it doesn't stain your car.
• If that doesn't work, try a dab of furniture polish to remove glue residue. Just remember to rub it all away with a clean cloth or a piece of kitchen towel.

How to get rid of chewing gum: 10 minutes

Eh, by gum - there's nothing more annoying than gum stuck to the car seat.

• Set a bag of ice directly on top of the gum for 10 minutes; this will 'set' it, and make it easier to remove.
• Use a spoon or blunt butter knife to remove the frozen gum from the fabric of your car seat. Keep the blade flat to avoid poking holes in the fabric, and be patient - this could take a while.
• Use a water-displacing lubricant such as WD-40 to get rid of excess marks. Squirt the product onto a clean, damp cloth and rub away the gummy residue. Grab a new cloth, dampen it, and wipe away any traces of gum from the seat.
• Always, always, always make sure you're 100% sure the lubricant is safe to use on your car upholstery - check the label before using. If it's not safe to use it, use soapy water and a clean rag and scrub out the remaining gum.

Image credit: Pixabay

Our 2016 Patrol Of The Year John Snowling shares his cleaning tips

'I sweep my van out every day to make sure dirt can't build up. It's easier to do a small tidy-up every day that a big clean every week.'

'I clean my car interior with wet wipes once or twice a week. I've got a young daughter, so always have wet wipes to hand!'

'I try to keep my windows clean on the inside and outside; it really makes my van look smarter and well looked after. Use a good quality glass cleaner to avoid smearing.'

'If you have a new car with sticker marks on the windscreen, rubbing the mark with a gentle toothpaste will remove them nicely.'

'Avoid cleaning the outside of your car straight after a journey as the warm engine bay and wheels causes the water to dry quickly and leave water marks. I always wait until an hour or two before dusk so the car is cold, and the water dries evenly.'