Detailing your vehicle (Interior)

[Pb]

I've been getting a few questions about removing stains and stuff in the interior. So I figured I'd post my opinion on how to keep your vehicles interior looking new. Much of this info has been learned with help from David Bynon from http://www.autopia.org/

I'll start out with the basics, and then get more detailed. I generally go overkill when it comes to detailing, so you don't have to do all of these procedures like I do. These are just suggestions, and methods that have worked well for me.

[Pb]

Part 1

Regular vacuuming and dusting of your car’s interior is the best way to keep it looking good. However, surface cleaning alone is not enough. Two to three times a year you will need to detail the upholstery to keep it looking its best.

Warning: Before using any product on your vehicle fabric upholstery, carpet, or vinyl, test for color fading (colorfast) by cleaning a small, inconspicuous area. Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric’s color or texture.



Weekly Care:
1. Wipe down all vinyl, leather and plastic surfaces with a damp cloth. A microfiber towel is excellent for this task, as it will leave a lint and dust-free finish.
2. Pull out your floor mats and shake or brush off the dirt and debris.
3. Pick up trash.
4. Wipe down your door jambs and door sills with a damp towel.
5. Wipe down your interior glass and your rearview mirror with a damp towel. Again, a microfiber towel is great for this job. I like to use Meguiars NXT glass cleaner.

[Pb]

Part 2

Monthly Care:
1. Follow all of the steps for the Weekly Interior Cleanup.
2. Vacuum the interior carpet, seats, seat crevices, and console.
3. Clean interior glass with a good glass cleaner or a microfiber towel.
4. Apply a light vinyl protectant with a UV inhibitor to the dash, and tops of door panels (areas with the most sun exposure). 303 AeroSpace Protectant is good stuff.

[Pb]

Part 3

Quarterly Care

I will sometime dismantle certain parts of the interior to make it easier to clean. The center console usually gets a little sticky from leaking beverages, and it can also get dusty in the cracks around the shifter. It's easy to remove a few parts of the console and wash them in your kitchen sink. If you have an Auto trans. Taco, just pull up on that silver part that surrounds the shifter and has the single cup holder. It will pop loose, and then turn it sideways to get it off of the shifter knob. You can also pop out the dual cup holder pocket in front of the shifter. The storage area in front of the dual cup holders, below the AC controls, will not pop out. It's part of the console. Once these pieces are removed I use a rag to wipe around the shifter and the little verticle window that displays what gear you are in.

1. Follow all of the steps for the Monthly Interior Detailing.
2. Clean and protect all vinyl, kick panels, and door sills.
3. Clean and protect all rubber door, trunk and hood seals.

[Pb]

VACUUMING

There's no special science to car vacuuming. You need a good vacuum, a few attachments, and 10 to 15 minutes to get in there and get the job done.


The two most important attachments are the crevice attachment and the dust brush attachment. Make sure your crevice attachment is plastic, not metal. A metal attachment or a plastic attachment that's in poor condition may scratch or otherwise damage leather or vinyl upholstery.


Use the crevice tool to reach between and under seats, into tight seams, nooks and crannies, and around seat beads. Vigorous movement on the carpet helps to bring up sand and grit.


Use the round dust brush attachment to vacuum the console, dash and vents. You can assist with the dusting by using an interior detailing brush ahead of the vacuum to get deep into vents and cracks.


1. Start your vacuuming job by pulling out the floor mats. Shake out the mats to remove any loose dirt. Use a 4" upholstery attachment or the bare hose end to vigorously vacuum the mats.


2. Work on the rear upholstery and carpet. Push the front seats all the way forward. Vacuum the rear carpet. Use the crevice tool to vacuum around the seat tracks and under the front seats. Use the round dust brush attachment to vacuum the door panels.


3. Push the front seats all the way back to work on the front upholstery. Use the crevice tool to vacuum the cracks of the seats, between the seats and carpeted areas, and around the gas and brake pedal. Now switch to the 4" upholstery attachment to vacuum the carpet in the foot wells and the seats. Use the round dust brush attachment to vacuum the console, vents and door panels.


4. Use the round dust brush attachment to vacuum the headliner. Be gentle, though, as this material is not as durable as your seat upholstery.

Tip: When vacuuming carpet, use the palm of your free hand to beat the carpet just in front of your vacuum hose or tool. As you beat the carpet, dirt that is lodged deep into the carpet will come loose for vacuuming.

[Pb]

Removing Stains and Cleaning Upholstery

Fabric is the most difficult upholstery to detail. Unlike vinyl and leather, fabric upholstery easily soils and stains. You should expect to spend two to three hours detailing a sedan with fabric upholstery, a little less time for a truck or two-seater.

There are two basic methods and product choices to clean fabric:

1. Spray-On/Wipe-Off Cleaner (foaming or non-foaming) – These cleaners penetrate and lift dirt and stains to the surface where you can wipe them away.
2. Shampoo – A sudsy soap solution that requires agitation with a brush or sponge and rinsing.

For quick spot cleaning I recommend the spray-on/wipe-off type of cleaner. These cleaners are strong, and get deep into the soil or stain to thoroughly clean. A good example is 303 Upholstery Cleaner. Like I said earlier, before using any product on your vehicle fabric upholstery, test for color fading (colorfast) by cleaning a small, inconspicuous area. Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric’s color or texture.

Rinsing is the key to shampooing your car's upholstery. If you don’t rinse, the dirt and soap remain in the upholstery. Rinse water must be removed with a wet-dry vacuum, extractor or plenty of clean towels. Use a shop wet-dry vacuum, a coin-op car wash vacuum, or a carpet wet-dry machine rented from your local grocery store. Make sure you have the vacuum before you get started. Follow these easy steps:

1. Fill a small bucket with a gallon of warm water.
2. Spray spots and heavily soiled areas with a good spot remover, like 303 Carpet Cleaner.
3. If using a non-foaming cleaner, such as 303 Carpet Cleaner to shampoo the interior, mix four to six ounces of the cleaner in the bucket of warm water. If using a foaming cleaner like Wurth Upholstery Cleaner, spray the cleaner lightly over the area to be cleaned.
4. Use an upholstery scrub brush and a sponge in a circular motion to agitate the upholstery with the cleaner. Apply as little water as possible.
5. Wipe away the suds with a sponge or a damp terrycloth towel. Rinse the sponge frequently.
6. Empty your bucket of soapy water and refill with clean warm water.
7. Rinse your upholstery with clean water by wiping with a damp terrycloth towel. Rinse the soap from your towel often and wring it out. Use as little water as possible to rinse thoroughly.
8. Vacuum your upholstery to extract the remaining rinse water.
9. If you're not working on a warm, sunny day, use a hair dryer to complete the drying process. Be careful not to scorch the fabric by holding the dryer too close.
10. Allow the fabric to dry overnight before using. If possible, keep your windows open slightly to allow the moisture to escape.

To keep your fabric upholstery looking factory fresh for many years, consider using a fabric protectant. My favorite is 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. It blocks the Sun’s damaging rays and repels water, oil, grease and dirt. Use a fabric guard only on new or just-cleaned upholstery. Your upholstery must be dry. Simply spray it on (two light coats is better than one) and let it dry.

[cam2Xrunner]

Nice write up man! I'm gonna detail my truck now

[BANG]

Any good ideas for vinyl/rubber floor mats? I want them mainly for the drivers side so they go way up on the trans tunnel. This would help keep floor clean. Fabric mats SUCK!

I can't let down my tailgate without my Golden ret. jumping in mine. But I don't do much highway driving, I live in the country.

My dog checking out the jon boat I had just got. http://img492.imageshack.us/my.php?i...10100617um.jpg

[Pb]

Originally Posted by BANG

Any good ideas for vinyl/rubber floor mats? I want them mainly for the drivers side so they go way up on the trans tunnel. This would help keep floor clean. Fabric mats SUCK!

Check out this thread about WeatherTech floor mats.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=114862

[pdx]

Damn PB - that is one extensive and detail list for interior detailing, THANKS!

Damn cute dog too...

Does anyone have any ideas on how to remove scuffs / scratches from the semi-soft dash material under the climate controls? That stuff scratches really easily...

Thanks

[docindahouze]

nice write up, my mom has a carpet shampooer/rinser pretty nice one it has small attatchment to, i might use it this weekend to get rid of an old coke stain on my driver side seat.

[BANG]

I was already looking at the weathertech ones, kinda pricey anybody get a good deal on these?

[rjlto1972]

Bang,

I am totally sold on the Husky floor mats. Perfect fit around all the curves and no sliding around. Really easy for cleaning and they have lips to prevent the moisture from running onto the interior. Got mine off of e-bay.



http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2244440

[Pb]

Originally Posted by pdx

Damn PB - that is one extensive and detail list for interior detailing, THANKS!

Damn cute dog too...

Does anyone have any ideas on how to remove scuffs / scratches from the semi-soft dash material under the climate controls? That stuff scratches really easily...

Thanks

Those Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo works wonders on scuffs. Just get the eraser damp and rub the scuff.

Scratches are a different story. The only thing you can really do is massage it with some interior protectant. It will add a little shine, and make the scratch not stand out so much.

[turbos17]

303 Products are the best. I use a lot of there products!